Sprotbrough Flash is a popular Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) nature reserve and designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). A rich haven for a variety of Wildlife with a diverse habitat comprising of wetland, open water, woodland and limestone grassland located in the heart of the Don Gorge valley on the river Don and forming part of the 'green corridor' along the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
Since 1957 a total of 193 bird species have been recorded at Sprotbrough flash, 120 Individual species were recorded during 2022. The catchment area for recording purposes includes Sprotbrough flash, Pot Ridings wood, Chalk meadow, Plantation, Trans pennine trail (TPT) and river Don. Adjacent areas where birds are known to travel into or through the catchment area have also been included.
January
A Kingfisher perched on frosty Reedmace above a patch of open water as temperatures plummeted to -4 °c overnight leaving the flash covered in a blanket of Ice at first light. A Bittern is observed in phragmites while at the heron hide another small patch of open water is populated by a large congregation of waterfowl, some on the edges of the ice, others in the water including 22 Shoveler busily swimming in a synchronised circle.
Above: Kingfisher on frosty Reedmace.
Common buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk was frequently recorded while a Peregrine falcon was observed flying over the river on the 21st of January and a Red Kite was reported over Levitt Hagg wood on the 18th. Ring-necked Parakeet was often spotted from the carpark while over the river Green woodpecker was noted regularly along with a calling Tawny owl. Great spotted woodpecker was noted on the 1st and on the 11th.
Magpie and Carrion crow were noted on each visit while Jay and Raven were observed on several occasions. 40 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing were recorded on the 17th while Song thrush and Mistle thrush were recorded several times throughout the month while on the 6th a single male Brambling was reported passing through.
Above: Brambling.
A wetland bird count during the month recorded 16 Greylag geese, 1 Wigeon, 34 Gadwall, 18 Cormorant, 16 Mallard, 32 Tufted duck, 6 Moorhen, 5 Grey heron, 22 Coot, 1 Little egret, 22 Shoveler, 1 Herring gull, 2 Water rail, 6 Mute swan, 2 Canada geese, 1 Little grebe, 1 Little egret, 5 Grey heron, 14 Teal, 1 Jack snipe, 30 Black-headed gull, 1 Common snipe, 1 Bittern, 1 Kingfisher and 70 Pink-footed geese noted passing over.
A total of 73 Individual bird species were noted in January, other sightings of note included Goldcrest, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, Wren, Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Robin, Dunnock, Greenfinch, Starling, Jackdaw, Pheasant, Siskin, Linnet, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge and Blackbird.
Above: Jack snipe was spotted on the 13th January at dusk.
February
Storm Dudley, Eunice and Franklin battered the UK during February bringing widespread gales and floods. A Red weather warning was issued for the first time and roads temporarily closed as the Don burst its banks. Residents braced themselves for a repeat of the 2019 floods before water levels finally peaked 3 metres above the monthly average on the 21st less than 1 metre below the highest level ever recorded, thankfully the water began to recede without causing any significant damage but continued to remain high throughout February.
On the 14th of February a single Great crested grebe returned to the flash looking for a mate while a Bittern was recorded on 5 separate occasions, other sightings of note included 7 Common snipe, 2 Peregrine falcon, 1 Red kite, 1 Tawny owl, 2 Raven, 5 Ring-necked parakeet, 1 Rook, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap 4 Siskin feeding on Alder while on the 7th a pair of Kingfisher's were noted together.
Above: Bittern recorded on 1st, 9th, 10th, 12th, 17th February.
A wetland bird count recorded 9 Mute swan, 24 Greylag geese, 2 Canada geese, 23 Tufted duck, 18 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 24 Shoveler, 9 Cormorant, 4 Grey heron, 2 Little grebe, 1 Water rail, 8 Moorhen, 2 Pochard, 35 Black-headed gull, 13 Teal, 16 Coot, and 2 Herring gull. A total of 72 individual bird species was recorded in February with 78 species recorded for the year to date.
Siskin feeding on Alder 7th, 13th, 17th of February.
March.
Along the TPT the familiar song of a returning Chiffchaff resonates while at the fringe of Pot Ridings wood the "yaffling" of a Green woodpecker prompts a response from Levitt Hagg wood as sightings become a little more frequent. The single Great crested grebe now has a mate and the pair re-affirm their courtship, moving their heads from side to side as they start a perfectly choreographed dance in unison. Butterflies emerge and take advantage of early blossoms as new life begins to provide a welcome splash of colour back to the Flash.
Displaying Great crested grebe's.
A wetland bird count during March noted a total of 8 Mute swan, 26 Greylag geese, 9 Canada geese, 4 Teal, 7 Gadwall, 16 Mallard, 20 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, 28 Tufted duck, 12 Cormorant, 4 Little grebe, 3 Grey heron, 4 Great crested grebe, 3 Moorhen, 24 Coot, 30 Black-headed gull, 1 Water rail, 2 Little egret and 2 Common snipe. Pheasant was recorded most visits along with 4 Red-legged partridge and 7 Grey partridge while a Roe deer was observed heading for cover near the quarry which flushed a Woodcock.
A total of 76 individual bird species was recorded during March making a total of 84 birds recorded for the year to date. Other sightings of note included 1 Song thrush, 1 Mistle thrush, 30 Redwing, 3pr Kingfisher, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Cettis warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Yellowhammer, 3 Skylark, 5 Linnet, 1 Meadow pipit and 1 Lesser redpoll while on the 31st the first sighting of Sand martin was recorded as 2 birds headed over the Flash.
Lesser redpoll at the Kingfisher hide 20th March.
April.
A cacophony of birdsong in early morning sunshine is a good indication that spring has arrived once more. Summer visitors are returning in numbers with Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow warbler, Sedge warbler, Reed warbler and Whitethroat all holding territory along with many of our sedentary birds. The familiar call from a Cetti's warbler loudly rings out around the reserve while the first Mallard ducklings of the year are spotted followed shortly after by Greylag goslings.
A wetland bird count recorded 4 Teal, 12 Mallard, 10 Canada geese, 30 Greylag geese, 3 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 30 Tufted duck, 8 Cormorant, 1 Water rail, 12 Coot, 8 Moorhen and 5 Mute swan. The resident Pen absent and presumed nesting. At the quarry pond, 2 Shelduck were reported on the 20th while back on the flash on the 22nd a Pochard and a Common sandpiper was recorded.
Above: Common whitethroat.
A total of 75 individual bird species was recorded during the month with a total of 89 recorded for the year to date. On the 6th a Brambling was observed in a garden while on the 20th a Yellow wagtail was reported on nearby fields along with several Linnet and Skylark. 5 Sand martin were recorded on the Flash on the 8th and by the month end their numbers had increased significantly and included House martin sightings.
Common sandpiper recorded 13th April.
May.
After several unconfirmed sightings on the Don, early morning on the 5th May an Otter was observed from the Kingfisher hide. The Otter was noted swimming down the Flash towards the Heron hide and was visible for several minutes before disappearing, a few images were taken of the encounter in some challenging light.
On the 2nd of May a Wryneck was spotted on the TPT just above the sluice at around 8.30 am, the bird was observed on several occasions throughout the day and by the morning it had gone, this was the first record of this species at the Flash. A Wood warbler was also reported in the same area, the bird which was last recorded back in 2016 was later heard singing near Levitt Hagg. Garden warbler was noted on several occasions at the Kingfisher hide, Reed warbler and Cettis warbler could be heard calling in the reedbed, while on the middle path, Common whitethroat were observed flitted in and out of the hedgerow.
First ever record of Wryneck on the flash 2nd May.
Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were regularly recorded while on the 2nd a Red kite was noted passing over. The local pair of Peregrine falcon's started nest building but this was sadly abandoned again for the second year in a row. At the end of the month a male Hen harrier was observed from the Kingfisher hide the first record since 1991.
Ring-necked parakeet sightings were few and far between as the birds looked for suitable breeding sites while Tawny owl was heard on several occasions, Cuckoo was recorded on the 9th. Green woodpecker and Great spotted woodpecker were frequently noted along with a pair of Kingfisher observed with 3 juveniles which soon had to fend for themselves as the adults was spotted mating again at the screen.
Common Cuckoo recorded 9th May.
The resident pair of Mute swans chased off their 4 young before the female disappeared and was presumably nesting while Canada geese were recorded with 8 goslings and Mallard, the only breeding duck on the flash had several groups of ducklings. Barn swallow was noted several times along with sightings of Common tern and a pair of Lesser black-backed gulls began to nest in the Tern raft. Shelduck, Lapwing, Little ringed plover and Oystercatcher were also recorded. 82 individual species was recorded during May with a cumulative total of 101 species for the year to date.
Wood warbler recorded 2nd May - previous record 2016.
June.
After an absence of six weeks the resident female Mute Pen emerged in early June with her four cygnets, they were soon joined by the Cob as the pair proudly paraded their new offspring's down the flash. A nesting pair of Great crested grebe followed suit with three young humbugs riding on the back of one of the adults while more mallard ducklings appeared along with Coot and Moorhen chicks.
A single Whooper swan was observed on the flash on the 17th after staying at Denaby Ings for several weeks before being chased off by the male Mute swan while on the 24th and 26th of June a male Mandarin duck in eclipse was noted on the flash. Kingfisher activity continued with a second adult pair successfully fledging 3 juveniles, observed on the 29th at the Heron hide a few weeks after the first pair's 3 young had fledged.
Mandarin duck in eclipse.
Swifts arrived during the month and was observed swooping above the Flash while on nearby fields, Skylark was recorded. The first Hobby of the season was recorded on the 19th along with sightings of Raven, Little owl, Barn owl, Tawny owl and a one-legged Common tern, affectionately known as 'Hoppy'. Grey wagtail juveniles were recorded during the month while Pied wagtail were seen carrying food, on the 16th a Yellow wagtail was reported at the Kingfisher hide. A total of 74 individual bird species were recorded during June with 106 species recorded for the year to date.
'Hoppy' - Common tern.
July.
The UK endured its hottest day since records began with temperatures soaring to levels usually reserved for the likes of the Mediterranean, Black-winged stilts successfully bred at Potteric, the most northerly record in the UK while in Norfolk a small colony of Bee-eaters began nesting in a quarry in Trimmingham. Closer to home, Spoonbill, Great white egret, Whooper swan and Purple heron were all reported at Denaby Ings.
Meanwhile back at the flash, Kingfisher activity remained the main attraction for visitors on the reserve with both hides providing great views of these colourful and animated birds. 2 more juveniles were recorded along with another 2 adults regularly seen fishing the area, a solitary male was also spotted carrying fish in a delivery position. In total 8 Kingfishers have fledged so far from 2 pairs and 3 broods with potentially more fledglings to come in the next week or two, sadly one of the fledglings died on the 11th of July.
Juvenile Kingfisher - Images © Ian Unwin.
Water levels continued to recede in July, on the wader bays sightings included Lapwing, Common sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Green sandpiper and Water rail. Coot and Moorhen were observed attending to their young and Little grebe was spotted back on open water, Great crested grebes lost one of their three chicks and were now down to two. Grey wagtail and Pied wagtail were both frequently recorded while several Yellow wagtail, Yellowhammer, Skylark and Common quail were reported on Cadeby mile.
On the 4th a Hobby was recorded at the Flash while on the 11th a Common buzzard was observed carrying a rabbit, a Peregrine falcon was reported over Cadeby on the 23rd and a Kestrel was noted on the meadow.
Over in Levitt Hagg the calls of young Sparrowhawks intensified as both parents circled overhead and on the 28th a Red kite was reported as it passed through while on the 8th of July a pair of Spoonbills were observed passing over the Flash heading towards Denaby. Reed warbler young were noted at the Kingfisher hide along with Blackcap, Robin and Wren while at the screen a juvenile Common whitethroat was recorded.
Hobby 4th July.
Chiffchaff, Willow warbler and Cetti's warbler were also recorded along with Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Nuthatch, Song thrush, Treecreeper, Jackdaw, Reed bunting, Starling, Long-tailed tit, Jay, Great tit, Blue tit, Coal tit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Magpie, Blackbird, Goldcrest and Dunnock. 83 individual bird species were recorded during July with with 109 species being recorded for the year to date. Green woodpecker activity increased with several juveniles spotted on the meadow along with sightings over at Levitt Hagg wood while Great spotted woodpecker was also recorded on a number of occasions at Nightingale corner, the Plantation and in Pot Ridings wood.
2 Juveniles and an adult Green woodpecker on Chalk meadow Image © Paul Peters.
August.
On the 16th a Whinchat was observed opposite the Kingfisher hide and was the first sighting for this species since 2014, the bird was noted in bushes then later foraging on the ground where it sat for some time before being disturbed by a Magpie. A pair of Raven passed over Pot Ridings wood while on the TPT several Jays had begun gathering acorns and local fields became dominated by Carrion crow and Jackdaw.
Whinchat 16th August.
On the 13th a wetland bird count revealed 40+ Mallard, 20+ Gadwall, 2 Tufted duck, 2 Teal, 1 Little grebe, 3 Great crested grebe and 2 male Wigeon. On the 18th a Garganey in eclipse was noted from the Kingfisher hide while Coot and Moorhen remained prevalent. 2 Water rail, 1 Snipe and 3 Green sandpiper were noted on the wader bay at the Heron hide while on the 25th a Common sandpiper was observed. 2 Lapwing which had been residing at the Flash for several weeks were briefly joined by 25 on the 3rd while on the 15th a single Lesser black-backed gull returned to join the dozen Black-headed gulls on the spit.
Garganey in eclipse 18th August.
On the 9th a pair of Sparrowhawk successfully fledged two chicks while several juvenile Common buzzard were also noted. Kestrel, Red kite and Hobby were recorded throughout the month with a Peregrine falcon reported passing over. Other sightings included Red-legged partridge, Pheasant, Grey partridge, Goldcrest, Blue tit, Coal tit, Great tit, Lon-tailed tit, Skylark, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song thrush, Dunnock, Reed bunting, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and 6 Linnet. A total of 83 individual species were recorded during August with a total of 112 species for the year to date.
Sparrowhawk.
September.
September marks the beginning of a seasonal transformation down at Sprotbrough as summer visitors make way for autumn migrants. Birds are on the move once again providing a welcome boost to sightings after the quieter summer months. Pink footed geese begin passing over in large numbers, 800 birds in 14 skeins noted while on the 26th an Osprey is spotted for the first time as it flies low along the river Don down at the Flash.
Pink-footed Geese.
The resident pair of Mute swans still had their 4 Cygnets while a further 4 more were noted on the river on a number of occasions. Wetland bird surveys also indicated 23 Greylag geese, 18 Mallard, 30 Gadwall, 2 Great crested grebe, 16 Coot, 12 Moorhen, 1 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon, 2 Tufted duck, 3 Snipe,1 Pochard, 4 Little grebe, 1 Water rail, 1 Common sandpiper, 2 Lapwing + 40 overhead, 4 Great egret, 5 Grey heron, 2 Little egret, 9 Cormorant, 1 adult Kingfisher feeding 3 Juveniles and 1 Garganey in eclipse.
A Bittern was noted flying down the Flash on the 12th then observed again a few days later re-locating in the reedbed, 700 Black-headed gulls dropped onto the flash on the 17th. Ring-necked parakeet, Magpie, Green woodpecker, Great spotted woodpecker, Jackdaw, Carrion crow and Jay were also recorded the latter busily collecting nuts while on the 28th a pair of Raven was observed over Pot Ridings wood.
Jay with Beech nuts.
Common buzzard, Sparrowhawk & Kestrel were recorded during September along with a Hobby, observed hawking on several occasions over the corner field. Red kite was observed passing over on the 27th while on the 12th a Marsh Harrier was noted on the Flash. Reports of a large raptor attacking a Cormorant on the 21st was followed by a sighting of a potential Goshawk with its kill, the unfortunate victim, a Wood pigeon was left when the bird was spooked by a passing cyclist. On the 26th an Osprey was observed on the river heading towards Doncaster, and later reported heading back up the river towards Sprotbrough.
Swift, Sand martin, House martin, Swallow, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Cetti’s warbler, Linnet, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Long-tailed tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Wren, Greenfinch, Meadow pipit, Skylark, Blackbird, Reed bunting, Robin, Song thrush, Dunnock, Grey wagtail, Bullfinch, Pied wagtail, Red-legged partridge, Grey partridge, Tawny owl and Pheasant were all noted during the month contributing to a total of 83 individual bird species and 118 species recorded for the year to date.
Goshawk 21st September - Image © Darren Thompson.
October.
Falling leaves form a vibrant mosaic along the TPT as the Don Gorge bursts into Autumnal colour, Mistle thrush perch on overhead wires as Fieldfare begin to pass through in numbers, 180 spotted in the last few days. The first Redwing's of the season are noted feeding on Hawthorn berries creating competition for the growing number of Blackbird's, Song thrush rustle through leaf litter while the song of a Robin rings out.
Fieldfare.
An Osprey which was first reported last month heading down the river was later spotted fishing on the Flash and roosting at Fowlsyke, this young female is the longest staying bird on record. A female Marsh harrier was noted on the 19th while on the 3rd an adult Sparrowhawk was observed with 2 juveniles. Common buzzard was recorded most visits along with several juveniles and a Peregrine falcon was reported on the 10th near the carpark. Kestrel was regularly recorded, one of the birds, a female, has a badly damaged eye but continues to successfully hunt prey despite her obvious impairment.
Osprey which stayed for 40 days.
A Barn owl was also recorded from both hides while on the 26th a Tawny owl was reported in the trees at the left-hand side of the Heron hide. Several sightings of Ring-necked parakeet were recorded during the month, After hearing "pinging" for a few days a female Bearded reedling (tit) was seen on the 13th in the phragmites opposite the Kingfisher hide, sightings of a male shortly followed, and the pair were observed in the reedbeds on several occasions during the course of the day. A few record shots managed to positively identify the birds which is the first record for the reserve, the female was noted again a few days later.
First record of Bearded reedling at the flash 13th October.
Several wetland bird counts recorded 8 Mute swan, 1 Whooper, 22 Wigeon, 4 Greylag geese, 72 Gadwall, 16 Teal, 48 Mallard, 14 Shoveler, 12 Tufted duck, 9 Cormorant, 5 Little grebe, 2 Water rail, 27 Moorhen, 44 Coot, 13 Lapwing, 1 Green sandpiper, 6 Common snipe, 500 Black headed gull, 2 Herring gull, 1 Lesser black-backed gull, 3 Great egret, 6 Grey heron, 1 Little egret, 1 Bittern, 5 Kingfisher and a skein of around 120 Pink footed geese passed over on the 17th.
A total of 81 individual bird species was recorded during the month with a total of 118 species for the year to date, including Red-legged partridge, Meadow pipit, Pheasant, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Starling, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Cetti's warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great tit, Blue tit, Coal tit, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Feral pigeon, Stock dove, Collared dove, Wood pigeon.
Great spotted woodpecker, Green woodpecker, Raven, Jay, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Song thrush, Grey wagtail, Pied wagtail, Siskin, Linnet, Reed bunting and Grey partridge.
Barn owl 26th October.
November
The month started with the resident Osprey finally continuing on her journey to warmer climes after a total of 40 days present at Sprotbrough and Fowlsyke flash. The young female was last noted from the Heron hide on the 4th of November at around midday after catching several fish. Confirmed as one of the birds reported regularly at Ecclesfield pond before being spotted on the 26th of September at Sprotbrough, the Osprey was the fourth to take up residence at the Flash and became the longest staying on record.
Osprey with a catch at Fowlsyke flash.
A wetland bird survey undertaken during the month noted 6 Mute swan, 1 Whooper swan, 2 Greylag geese, 3 Wigeon, 16 Teal, 102 Gadwall, 22 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 1 Great white egret, 4 Tufted duck, 14 Cormorant, 3 Little grebe, 4 Grey heron, 14 Coot, 2 Lapwing, 8 Moorhen, 120 Black-headed gull and 1(j) Herring gull. Sadly the Whooper swan was found dead on the river just a few days later. The Great white egret which was identified through a coloured ring as a young male, was ringed on the 07/05/22 as a nestling at RSPB Ham Wall. On the 8th a male Goosander was noted on the river, the first record of the year.
Great white egret.
Grey partridge, Red-legged partridge and Pheasent were recorded during the month along with sightings of Ring-necked parakeet. Common buzzard was noted most visits, as was kestrel and Sparrowhawk. On 28th a Merlin was reported as it flew across the field and over the river. Barn owl was noted during the month along with Tawny owl while Green woodpecker and Great spotted woodpecker were both recorded from the path along the Trans Pennine Trail. In total 72 individual bird species was recorded during the month with 119 species recorded for the year to date.
Merlin 28th November.
December.
Overnight temperatures dropped to minus 6 °c and once again the flash was covered in a thick blanket of ice. A pair of Common buzzard take advantage of a dead Coot which has succumbed in the cold snap and begin squabbling over the free lunch while most of the wetlands birds have now dispersed in search of open water.
The resident pair of Mute swans actively began ejecting their 4 youngsters during the month and as the flash began to freeze over, a Swan had died overnight on the river, and was most likely one of the 4 evicted young.
The remaining 3 juvenile Swans continued to be pursued by the resident adults once the flash was free of Ice, over at Newton Ings, 15 Whooper swan and 10 Common snipe were reported while on the 12th, 16 Greylag geese were recorded on the field opposite the hides. At Sprotbrough falls, 4 female Goosander were observed and a Wetland bird count recorded 3 Wigeon, 48 Gadwall, 9 Teal, 14 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 1 female Pochard, 2 Tufted duck, 15 Cormorant, 3 Grey heron, 2 Little grebe, 2 Water rail, 6 Moorhen, 8 Coot, 5 Mute swan, 28 Black-headed gull, 1 Juvenile Herring gull and 2 Lapwing. Mute swan eviction.
On the 2nd, 2 Grey Partridge were recorded on a nearby field while on the 12th, 7 Red-legged partridge were also noted. Pheasant was recorded during most visits. Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw were regularly seen while on the 7th, a pair of Raven was heard calling as they passed over the flash. A Merlin observed from the Kingfisher hide on the 1st, flew over the flash and briefly landed in a willow before heading over the river. Sparrowhawk was observed on a number of occasions around the reserve, as was Kestrel while on the 15th, 2 Common buzzard squabbled on the ice over a dead Coot.
A Tawny owl was heard calling on the 4th while several sightings of Water rail were noted during the month, Kingfisher activity continued throughout, but visits to the hides were less frequent the birds opting to spend more time on open water on the river. Cetti's warbler were regularly calling and a sighting was noted near the sluice along the TPT on the 23rd. 2 Little egret were reported as they passed through while Great white egret visited the flash on two separate occasions during the month and Grey heron was noted each visit. Water rail
Ring-necked parakeets headed over the river on the 2nd and a Green woodpecker was recorded over at Levitt Hagg wood, back on the TPT, Great spotted woodpecker foraged for food and a flock of 20 Fieldfare passed over, 3 Goldcrest were also noted along with sporadic sightings of Song thrush and Mistle thrush while over at Newton Ings, 50 Redwing were reported on the 9th.
A total of 72 individual bird species was recorded in December with a total of 120 species recorded for the year to date, other sightings included Blackbird, Blue tit, Great tit, Long-tailed tit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Coal tit, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Dunnock, Wood pigeon, Chiffchaff, House sparrow, Rock dove, Stock dove, Blackcap, Robin, Collared dove, Wren, Starling, Skylark, Grey wagtail, Pied wagtail, Meadow pipit, Reed bunting, Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Linnet. Goldcrest.
Other local sightings included a Dipper on the river Don close to St Mary's bridge, Purple heron, Spoonbill, Bittern, Pintail, Egyptian goose, Whooper swan and Great white egret over at Denaby Ings and a Quail was the victim of roadkill along the Cadeby mile, link for sightings list: Sprotbrough flash sightings list for 2022
Other sightings of note at Sprotbrough flash:
Mammals: Otter, Roe deer, Muntjac deer, American Mink, Stoat, Weasel, Bank vole, Red fox, Grey squirrel, Rabbit, Brown rat and Mole.
Amphibians and Reptiles: Red-eared terrapin, Grass snake, Common frog and Smooth newt.
Fish species: Pike, Rudd, Carp, Roach, Perch, Eel and Tench.
Above: Otter © Mark Prior Below: Dark green fritillary.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Small tortoiseshell, Small white, Large white, Peacock, Green-veined white, Comma, Orange tip, Speckled wood, Holly blue, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral, Dark green fritillary, White-letter hairstreak, Common blue, Large skipper, Meadow brown, Ringlet, Painted lady and Silver Y.
Dragonflies and Damselflies: Banded demoiselle, Common blue damselfly, Broad-bodied chaser, Black-tailed skimmer, Common darter, Ruddy darter, Migrant hawker, and brown hawker.
Other Insects: Bee fly, Scorpion fly, Ruby-tailed wasp and Oak-bush cricket.
Plants: Early purple orchid, Bee orchid, Greater butterfly orchid, Birds nest orchid, Twayblade,
Above: Damselfly © Simon Basford Below: Bee Orchid
Pyramidal orchid, Common spotted orchid,
Wood anemone, Common dog violet, Ground ivy, Primrose, Lesser Celandine, White dead nettle, Wood forget me not, Bluebell, Cowslip, Field woodrush, Greater stitchwort, Red campion, Common milkwort, Common bugle, Yellow iris, Germander speedwell, Wild strawberry, Dog rose.
Avian influenza continued to be a huge problem with additional confirmed outbreaks prompting a further response from the government followed by a new set of instructions from YWT. Procedure: please report any dead bird sightings at Sprotbrough flash, Denaby Ings, Potteric Carr and Thorpe marsh to the YWT team (details on the left) also send this information to DEFRA via an online form. See the link below: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds
Next Report January 2023.
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