A Barn owl was on a post at the edge of a nearby field which was covered in snow making hunting difficult, over at the flash the snow was replaced by a blanket of ice making it slippery underfoot. The current resident Mute swans (Y413 and 793Y) had taken to the river and on the canal a female Goosander was spotted diving the open water. At the Kingfisher hide a second female Goosander was noted among a small group of ducks including Shoveler, Gadwall and a single male Pochard while at the Heron hide a Great spotted woodpecker began to drum as several Jays cached nuts from the feeders, occasionally interrupted by a belligerent Magpie.
Ice had melted sufficiently by the 3rd to enable a female Kingfisher to fish from a Willow branch at the side of the Kingfisher hide. A water rail was heard calling but remained elusive. Black-headed gulls were spooked by a passing Sparrowhawk while at the screen several Common snipe were visible at the edge of the reedbed. Wetland bird counts recorded 2 Mute swans, 4 Greylag geese, 4 Canada geese, 34 Gadwall, 18 Tufted duck, 24 Mallard, 8 Shoveler, 1(m) Pochard, 2(f) Goosander, 18 Cormorant, 4 Grey heron, 2 Little grebe, 4 Teal, 14 Moorhen, 46 Coot, 68 Black-headed gull, 1 Herring gull and 1 Little egret reported at Sprotbrough falls.
By the 6th rain had caused localised flooding along the TPT and at the Boat Inn, Pastures road had to close temporarily and the car park at Denaby Ings remained under water for the rest of January. Wellington boots were necessary to reach the Heron hide, the path taking several days to clear as water levels started to recede. At the Kingfisher hide a Chiffchaff was seen foraging along with a Wren and a Cetti’s warbler. A Kingfisher perched on the heads of the reedmace and a Common buzzard was spotted in a tree. Bullfinch was recorded along the TPT path on several occasions feeding on brambles and a Goldcrest was noted near the sluice gate.
Jackdaw and Carrion crow were frequently seen while a Raven was spotted on the 9th passing over the TPT. 50+ Starling, 30+ Redwing, 2 Meadow pipit and 4 Mistle thrush was reported on Cadeby road and a Lesser redpoll was reported at Newton Ings. Stock dove was spotted several times on the Owl box at the Kingfisher hide, Wood pigeon was recorded each visit. Song thrush was seen from the screen and Ring-necked parakeet were noted in the trees at the lock, Grey partridge and Red-legged partridge were seen locally. Temperatures dropped to -5° and a Kingfisher was observed fishing beyond the lock. 2 Grey wagtail were recorded on the canal near the abandoned barge and a female Pheasant was noted in a tree along the TPT path.
The cold snap continued for several weeks displacing much of the usual resident bird population except for a few Black headed gulls, Coots, Mute swans and a Water rail observed skating on ice at the Kingfisher hide. On the 15th a Fox was reported crossing the ice on the flash and during the early hours of the 26th an adult Badger was seen at close quarters on the TPT path after crossing the field at Tower cottages. A Grey heron was seen with a large fish on the canal while at the Heron hide feeders a female Blackcap was spotted along with Great tit, Blue tit, Coal tit, Long-tailed tit, Chaffinch, Treecreeper, Dunnock, Robin and Blackbird.
A Red kite was reported several times during the month while Common buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were noted regularly. On the 22nd a Merlin was reported at nearby Scabba wood while on the 30th a pair of Peregrine falcons were observed over Levitt Hagg wood. Milder conditions prevailed towards the end of the month but with it came more disruption as Storm Éowyn brought a tree down at the Kingfisher hide which partially blocked access to the hide and took down a section of fencing. The fallen tree has now been cleared.
A single sighting of a Siskin was followed by several sightings of Reed bunting and Greenfinch, Nuthatch was recorded in Pot Ridings wood and on the 19th a Tawny owl was reported along the TPT between both the hides at first light. A total of 72 Individual bird species was recorded during the month which included Green woodpecker, Pied wagtail, House sparrow, Collared dove and Feral pigeon. Other sightings included Grey squirrel, Fox, Bank vole, Rabbit and Badger. Reed bunting
Next report February 2025.
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