'GEMS OF POTTERIC CARR' is a new book illustrating Potteric Carr Wildlife — £7.50 from the entrance Shop. It includes a section on birds. See Cover (pdf). To order this item delivered by post (£8.70 inc p&p), 'phone 01302 570077.
We apologise that due to circumstances beyond our control, Potteric Carr volunteers will only be able to provide irregular updates to the Bird News and Wildlife News pages on this website from 30th June 2009
June 2009
Sunday 28th
Bittern was seen twice today, the first flew from Huxter Well Marsh cell 4 to Seven Arches Carr (SF) and was later seen at Piper Marsh. Black-tailed Godwit numbers peaked at 7 on West Scrape late morning, but later flew off. Single Green Sandpipers were on East Scrape and Loversall Pool. Similarly, single Little Egrets were on Loversall Pool and Huxter Well. There were Kingfisher sightings at Huxter Well, Piper Marsh and Willow Pool. A Common Tern flew through (SMB). The Red-legged Partridge and one chick was near Loversall Field. 2 Common Buzzards were over Huxter Well. A Lesser Whitethroat continued to sing along Cottage Drain. There was a family party of Treecreepers in Black Carr Wood.
Red-legged Partridge chick, Potteric Carr, 28th June 2009 © Adrian Andruchiw
A Potteric Carr-bred young Redshank, West Scrape, 28th June 2009 © Robin Mokryj
Saturday 27th
The BITTERN was again seen at Piper Marsh, this time allowing ostensibly unique summer months photographs (see home page) of this species at Potteric Carr (RM). The Black-necked Grebes and 25-day-old youngster were still on Willow Marsh (MAB). A HOBBY raced through (KF). Waders remained of much interest on Huxter Well, with a Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Common Sadpiper, Dunlin and 2 Oystercatchers, also Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers.
Kingfisher was seen in front of Willow Pool Hide fishing. The Red-legged Partridge and two young were near the Reedbed Filtration Ponds. An astonishing brood of 15 Tufted Ducks was seen for the second time since 25th (MAB). A family party of 8 Greenfinches was a useful sighting and a young Sedge Warbler was seen, as well as some young Lapwings on Central Grassland. The Shelduck family of 8 young was still present. Grey Heron numbers remained high, including 6 on Loversall Pool.
Black-tailed Godwit with Black-headed Gulls, West Scrape, 27th June 2009 © Robin Mokryj
Curlew, West Scrape, 27th June 2009 © Robin Mokryj
Friday 26th
A male RUFF still in breeding plumage was on West Scrape in the afternoon (PJ), also a Green Sandpiper (juv) and Dunlin, and were joined in the evening by Common Sandpiper, Curlew, and 4 summer-plumaged BLACK-TAILED GODWITs (MR) amongst other waders. Black-necked Grebe and young were on Willow Marsh and Kingfisher fed young at Piper Marsh.
Male Ruff, West Scrape, 26th June 2009 © Sue Bird
Thursday 25th
2 Little Egrets were on Loversall Pool (IH) and the Black-necked Grebe and one young were on Willow Marsh. A Green Sandpiper was on West Scrape (MAB).
Ringed Plover, West Scrape, 24th June 2009 © David Roberts
Wednesday 24th
The BITTERN was seen again in flight, but this time at Piper Marsh (RM et al.), and Red-legged Partridge with two young was photographed.
Red-legged Partridge with two chicks, Potteric Carr, 24th June 2009 © Robin Mokryj
Tuesday 23rd
A BITTERN was seen in flight on two occasions at Willow Marsh and photographed (RM, MAB et al.), and the Black-necked Grebe and young also showed from Beeston Hide. 4 Little Egrets were on Huxter Well, including the colour-ringed individual seen yesterday on Old Eaa Marsh (see photo). Green Sandpipers were on West Scrape (TF) and Loversall Pool (BGAB, MAB). Yellow-legged Gull was amongst other gulls on Huxter Well. A Common Tern only stayed briefly in the morning. Kingfisher was returning with fish to the Piper Marsh tunnel throughout the day. Grey Heron numbers remained high on Huxter Well, including 13 on West Scrape. 2 Common Buzzards enjoyed thermals south of the Reserve. A Carrion Crow took another Lapwing chick (TF). 7 Little Ringed Plovers were seen and amongst the Ringed Plovers, two full-grown juveniles. A Red-legged Partridge and 2 young were on Willow Bank (per BGAB).
Bittern, Willow Marsh, 23rd June 2009 © Robin Mokryj
A colour-ringed Little Egret on Old Eaa Marsh on 22nd June 2009 © David Roberts
Monday 22nd
A Green Sandpiper was on East Scrape in the afternoon and Common Tern flew through (SF). 2 Little Egrets and one Avocet were again on Huxter Well Marsh and later, one on Old Eaa Marsh (DR). Kingfishers were seen at Willow Pool (juv), Piper Marsh and the Mother Drain rail bridge. The pair of Black-necked Grebes and young were still on Willow Marsh. Water Rails were noted at Decoy Marsh and Willow Marsh. On Central Grassland, predation by a Carrion Crow was again witnessed with Lapwing and Moorhen chicks being taken. A Collared Dove flew across Huxter Well.
Sunday 21st
A Black-tailed Godwit and 5 Oystercatchers were on Huxter Well (TE). Common Buzzard was seen and 2 Collared Doves flew across Huxter Well.
Saturday 20th
4 LITTLE EGRETs were present, three on Huxter Well and one on Loversall Pool (BGAB, MAB). The pair of BLACK-NECKED GREBEs and one young were still on Willow Pool, with Kingfisher also there. Huxter Well retained the Shelducks with 8 young (cell 1b), Great Crested Grebes with 3 young (cell 1b), Pochard with 4 young (cell 2a) and Tufted Duck with 6 young (cell 2a) amongst other waterbird families. The tern-raft was again occupied by 2 Herring Gulls. Common Buzzard flew over Rossington Carr Fields.
Goldfinch, Potteric Carr, 20th June 2009 © Robin Mokryj
Friday 19th
Shoveller and 4 young were on Huxter Well cell 2a (MR).
Thursday 18th
2 LITTLE EGRETs remained on Huxter Well (MAB). The pair of Black-necked Grebes and one young were showing on Willow Marsh from Beeston Hide. A common Tern arrived on Huxter Well, where 11 singing male Reed Warblers were counted (MR). Kingfisher was noted.
Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Huxter Well, 17th June 2009 © Tony Elliott
Wednesday 17th
2 Yellow-legged Gulls were on Huxter Well including an adult (TE), and 2 Black-necked Grtebes were also there.
Adult Yellow-legged Gull, Huxter Well, 17th June 2009 © Tony Elliott
Tuesday 16th
3 LITTLE EGRETs were on Huxter Well Marsh. 2 Common Terns again attempted to settle on the tern-raft but were removed by large gulls. At least 2 Common Buzzards were noted over the Reserve. A single Avocet was on West Scrape. Juvenile Treecreeper was seen. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was heard from Loversall Bank.
Sedge Warbler, Potteric Carr, 16th June 2009 © Robin Mokryj
Monday 15th
A pair of Common Terns tried to occupy the new tern-raft in Huxter Well Marsh but were driven off by a pair of Herring Gulls (SMB, RWB). Two more broods of Tufted Ducks with 7 young on Huxter Well and 6 on Old Eaa, whilst on Huxter Well new broods of 7 and 4 young Pochards appeared. The Black-necked Grebe a one young were on Willow Marsh. 3 Oystercatchers were on Huxter Well, where post-breeding Lapwing numbers had increased to 162.
Juvenile Kingfisher, Willow Pool, 15th June © Adrian Andruchiw
Sunday 14th
3 LITTLE EGRETs included two on Huxter Well and 1 on Loversall Pool. Today's WeBS count totalled 19 Grey Herons on the Reserve, 13 of which were looking for meal on Huxter Well Marsh. A HOBBY was reported and Common Buzzard was seen over Willow Marsh. The pair of Black-necked Grebes with one chick were on Willow Marsh, with a second pair on Decoy Marsh. Garganey was seen on East Scrape in the morning (SP), where Little Ringed Plover remained with 4 young. 3 Lesser Whitethroats were in song, including one near West Scrape Hide and one along Cottage Drain. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling.
Summary of Mute Swan brood-size in 2009: Decoy Marsh 4; Willow Marsh 5; Loversall Pool 7 (4 normal grey colour and 3 of the rare white form*); Huxter Well Marsh 6; Huxter Well Marsh (Rossington Carr) 5; Piper Marsh 7; Low Ellers Marsh still sitting. So far, seven pairs have produced 34 young, the highest figures ever recorded at Potteric Carr reserve (SMB).
[* White cygnets are well known, if more rare than the 'normal' grey form. As they grow, the white cygnets produce all-white juvenile feathers rather than the brown feathers grown by the grey cygnets. They also have pale, rather than black legs and feet, and this feature persists into adulthood. The form is much commoner in eastern Europe, where up to 20% are white, but very rare in the British Isles. They have been known as 'Polish' Swans ever since London poulterers imported them from the Baltic Sea at least up to the nineteenth century, though they may well have come from the Swedish coast rather than the Polish. A single gene seems to be responsible for the white or grey colour, but the white gene is recessive to the grey. It occurs on the sex chromosomes, of which males have two but females only one. A female with a white gene will therefore be 'Polish', where as a male with one white and one grey will be grey, but a male with two white genes will be Polish. Around seven out of ten 'Polish' swans will be female. Robin Prytherch (ornithologist), BBC Wildlife Magazine, March 2002].
Saturday 13th
The Black-necked Grebes were on Willow Marsh and one of the ten-day-old chicks was seen (MAB), with a brood of 8 Tufted Duck young (first of the year) on the same marsh. A WHIMBREL settled on West Scrape (IH) and a Yellow-legged Gull was amongst the Huxter Well gull flock. BGAB reports: Kingfisher down Cottage Drain, Lesser Whitethroat at Cottage. Bullfinch family along Willow Bank, Common Whitethroat singing on wires near Sedum house (MAB/BGAB), Bullfinch pair near Decoy Lake, Mallard plus small young on Decoy Lake, Little Grebe plus young on Decoy Lake, Garden Warbler singing near Loversall Pool Hide, Chiffchaff singing near pumping station. 2 LITTLE EGRETs at Piper Marsh, also 1 seen on HWM 3a (differant bird). On Huxter Well, 2 Oystercatchers on bank between cells 1a/1b, 2 Redshanks on West Scrape, 2 Little Ringed Plovers on West Scrape and 8 young Shelducks, plus Great Crested Grebe with 3 young on 2b and a pair of Mute Swans with 6 young on cell 2a.
Common Whitethroat with Comma caterpillar, Potteric Carr, 12th June 2009 © Robin Mokryj
Friday 12th
A similar day to yesterday with the pair of GARGANEY on the grazing marsh between West Scrape and Mother Drain (DC), the pair of MARSH HARRIERs (inc. imm. male) at Willow Marsh (AG, HW, DC), 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and 3 Dunlins on Huxter Well (TE). A LITTLE EGRET on Loversall Pool was wearing colour-rings which were read in the field (DC), and had also been seen at Potteric Carr on 27th April. A Common Buzzard flew over Huxter Well, where an Avocet was on West Scrape. The family party of BLACK-NECKED GREBEs remained on Willow Marsh.
It is now 25 years since Potteric Carr became famous due to a pair of Little Bitterns that nested and produced 3 young at Low Ellers Marsh
Thursday 11th
Some good birds today included a female MARSH HARRIER around 10am (TR) and at mid-day both male and female were seen at Willow Marsh. West Scrape held a Common Sandpiper (TR, DF, MAB) and the pair of GARGANEY and Shelduck with 8 young remained there. At Willow Marsh, the pair of BLACK-NECKED GREBEs were with their young, now off the parent's back, swimming and even diving by the larger one. Huxter Well held 3 Dunlin, an Avocet and 2 LITTLE EGRETs.
Young Shelducks, West Scrape, 10th June 2009 © David Roberts
Wednesday 10th
One of the second-year YELLOW-LEGGED GULLs was still on Huxter Well in the morning (TE, SF), also 2 LITTLE EGRETs and Little Ringed Plovers with three young on East Scrape.
Tuesday 9th
3 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKERs including a dependent juvenile was at St Catherine's Copse/Willow Bank (DC, HW).
The pair of GARGANEY was again on West Scrape (MB, HB) and 2 LITTLE EGRETs on Huxter Well (SMB), as well as a Grey Wagtail, 2 Herring Gulls and the 2 second-year YELLOW-LEGGED GULLs (JC). 2 Common Terns visited Huxter Well in the morning (SMB), and the pair of Shelducks still had 8 young and Pochard 5 young, there. BLACK-NECKED GREBEs accompanied their 2 young on Willow Marsh. Lesser Whitethroats were at Cottage Drain and Big Hedge. Other birds at Huxter Well included a single Meadow Pipit and 2 Oystercatchers. 2 Song Thrushes were in song. Over 100 Gadwall were counted on the Reserve.
Swift, Potteric Carr, evening of 9th June 2009 © Robin Mokryj
Monday 8th
The GARGANEY pair remained on Huxter Well Marsh, and Black-necked Grebe with young on Willow Marsh. 2 LITTLE EGRETs and 2 YELLOW-LEGGED GULLs were on Huxter Well in the afternoon (JC), and another new brood of Pochard (5 young) appeared there.
Grey Heron, Potteric Carr, 7th June 2009 © David Roberts
Sunday 7th
A pair of GARGANEY visited West Scrape (JH, IH), but were harassed by the Shelducks with 8 young. 2 LITTLE EGRETs were also on Huxter Well (IH). 3 Common Buzzards were together over Willow Marsh/Beeston Wood (SMB). A Pheasants nest contained 8 eggs (CS, CR). On Willow Marsh, a brood of 8 Gadwalls was seen, and the pair of Black-necked Grebes carried their 2 young.
Saturday 6th
3 Little Egrets were on Huxter Well (BGAB, MAB), where a female Pochard was with a new brood of 4 ducklings, and a single Dunlin remained.
Brood of 6 and 9 Mallards were on the Lagoon. 25 adult Mute Swans were on Huxter Well.
Black-necked Grebe feeding young, Potteric Carr, 6th June 2009 © Tim Munsey
Jay, Potteric Carr, 6th June 2009 © Tim Munsey
Friday 5th
4 SANDERLINGs were on Huxter Well Marsh in the evening (MR), where a second-year Yellow-legged Gull was found in the morning (TE); also 1 Dunlin and 3 Avocets. The nest of Jackdaws in the roof of Sedum House fledged 3 young today. A Song Thrush was noted and a pair of Bullfinches was near Cottage Drain Hide. The Black-necked Grebes remained on Willow Marsh with two young. 280 Swifts were over Lakeside in the morning, increasing to 400 in the evening (DWo).
Black-necked Grebe, Potteric Carr, 4th June 2009 © Robin Mokryj
Thursday 4th
A Marsh Harrier was over Willow Marsh (per MAB), where the Bittern was again seen in flight (RM) and a pair of Black-necked Grebes were with their two young (see photo); the latter species was also present on Low Ellers Marsh. Other birds included an Avocet, one Dunlin, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 24 Lapwings, Shelduck with 8 young, Pied Wagtail with 3 young and 3 Redshanks on West Scrape. On East Scrape, 2 Ringed Plovers and 2 Redshanks, with 2 Oystercatchers, and two pairs of Coots accompanying 4 and 6 young on Huxter Well. Great Crested Grebe was with 3 young on Decoy Marsh (and 2 displaying adults on Low Ellers) and Little Grebe had young on Willow Marsh.
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Black-necked Grebe carrying two chicks, Potteric Carr, 4th June 2009 © Robin Mokryj
Wednesday 3rd
2 Woodcocks were in flight at dusk (RWB, SMB).
54 Greylag Geese flw in in the evening.
Tuesday 2nd
4 Common Terns flew through Huxter Well (TF) followed by a single. Bittern was again seen today. Black-necked Grebe appeared with young (SMB). A Red-legged Partridge was on Willow Bank (BGAB). Three Lesser Whiterthroat males were singing from territory. 5 Little Ringed Plovers and 9 Redshanks were noted. At nearby Balby Carr a Long-eared Owl was hunting over the fields (BGAB). The Shelduck still h all 8 young on Huxter Well.
Kingfisher, Potteric Carr, 1st June 2009 © Jamie MacArthur
Monday 1st
The Bittern was confirmed again today. A family party of 2 adult and 8 young Shelducks was at Huxter Well and visited West Scrape. 7 Little Ringed Plover adults, 6 Redshanks, and 2 Oystercatchers were on Huxter Well Marsh (SMB, RWB). A Common Buzzard was over Loversall Carr Field. 488 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also on Huxter Well. Kingfisher was present at Piper Marsh, where second brood nesting was underway. Black-necked Grebe was noted.
The Potteric Carr Nest Record Scheme 2008 (165 KB PDF). A summary of the Potteric Carr Nest Record Scheme 2008.
Revised Names for Areas of the Reserve Extension Land (Revised names at Huxter Well).
Potteric Carr NR 'Recorder' Newsletter (2008 edition) (550 KB PDF). A 12-page review of Potteric Carr NR highlights in 2007.
2004 Potteric Carr Extension Land BBS (717 KB PDF). A survey of birds breeding on the Reserve's extension land in 2004.
2005 Potteric Carr Extension Land BBS (525 KB PDF). A survey of birds breeding on the Reserve's extension land in 2005.
2006 Potteric Carr Extension Land BBS (610 KB PDF). A survey of birds breeding on the Reserve's extension land in 2006.
2007 Potteric Carr Extension Land BBS (445 KB PDF). A survey of birds breeding on the Reserve's extension land in 2007.
2008 Potteric Carr Extension Land BBS (625 KB PDF). A survey of birds breeding on the Reserve's extension land in 2008.
Potteric Carr Top-ten Bird Listers (100 KB PDF). A list of birders that have seen the most bird species at Potteric Carr NR.