Recent Records

November 2006 - February 2007

The following records cover November 2006 to February 2007 and are largely unchecked.
(RVCP = Rother Valley CP, TCP = Thrybergh CP)

Black-necked Grebe: A single in winter plumage was found at Langold Lake on 12th Nov, where it remained until 8th Dec.

Leach’s Petrel: A dead bird was found outside a beauticians in Flanderwell on 10th Dec.  This record coincided with a national influx when several birds were ‘wrecked’ inland.

Bittern:  A single bird was still present at Pit House West and continued to be seen going to roost during Nov into Jan.  Unfortunately it was not seen after the strong winds in mid Jan, which flattened most of the reed bed here.

Bewick’s Swan: 2 at RVCP on 11th Nov.

Whooper Swan: At RVCP, 2 were present on the main lake on 1st Nov.  On 10th Nov, 5 arrived at Thrybergh CP from the west before leaving north.  On 25th Nov, 3 flew North over RVCP.

Pink-footed Goose: Small skeins were reported throughout the period.  A spectacular movement occurred on 30th Jan, when an estimated 15,000-20,000 passed over North Anston with up to 8,000 reported over Ulley CP.

Bean Goose: 2 flew north over RVCP on Christmas Day.

Egyptian Goose: A single remained at RVCP often frequenting the main lake.

Shelduck: A single was present at the main lake, RVCP during Jan.  2 were at Thrybergh CP on 24th Jan.

Mandarin: At RVCP, 2 were present on 9th Dec.  During Jan and Feb a drake was present at Ravenfield Park and Firsby Res.

Scaup: An immature male was at Thrybergh CP from 8th to 28th Dec.

Common Buzzard: Now quite a common site in Rotherham, there was an amazing count of 21 birds from Kings Wood Corner, Roche Abbey on 18th Feb.

Merlin: A single was at RVCP on 23rd and 26th Dec.  A single was at Slade Hills on 28th Dec.

Peregrine: A single was seen at Rackkford Lane, Dinnington on 9th Dec.  Just outside the recording area, 2 birds roosted on the Cooling Towers by the M1 close to Meadowhall.

Water Rail: Up to 3 birds were present at Pit House West, RVCP.  A single found at Thrybergh CP on 3rd Dec, remained into Feb.  At Thrybergh Tip, 2 were present on 21st Jan.  A single was also seen Ulley CP on a couple of dates during Jan.  A single was flushed at North Anston Pit Top on 11th and 12th Feb.

Oystercatcher: A single was at RVCP on 26th Jan.

Golden Plover: The wintering flock at Axle Lane peaked at 3000 on 27th Dec.

Dunlin: 2 were at Thrybergh CP on 30th Nov.  A single was at RVCP on 27th Dec.

Woodcock: On 4th Nov, a single was at Anston Grange Farm. A single was flushed at North Anston Pit Top on 11th - 12th Feb.

Jack Snipe: A single has wintered at Silverwood Pit Top.  2 were with 9 Common Snipe at Thrybergh Tip on 21st Jan.  At Brampton Common a single was seen on 3rd and 4th Feb.
Bar-tailed Godwit: A single was present with the Lapwing flock by the main lake at RVCP from 25th to 29th Dec.

Knot: A single was present with the Lapwing flock by the main lake at RVCP from 24th Dec to 7th Jan.

Redshank: Up to 6 were present at RVCP.  A single was at Thrybergh CP on 4th Dec.  3 at Thrybergh CP on 4th Feb.

Green Sandpiper: On 7th Feb, a single was at Roche Abbey.

Little Gull: A first winter bird flew north at RVCP on 30th Dec.

Ring-necked Parakeet: A single was on Falconer Lane near Treeton Dyke on 2nd Dec with another (or the same) at RVCP on New Years Day.

Barn Owl: A single was seen near Stone on 16th and 18th Jan.

Stonechat: Winter birds included a single on Kiveton Pit Top, and up to 3 at both Silverwood Pit Top and Brampton Common.  At Thrybergh CP a pair was present from 9th to 23rd Nov, with male present here from 2nd to 4th Dec.  On 12th Jan, a pair was at Carr Hill.  On 11th Feb a male was near Long-Thwaite Wood.  

Blackcap: A female was rung at Thrybergh CP on 5th Nov.

Chiffchaff: A single was at Ulley CP on Boxing Day.  A single was at RVCP on 20th Jan.  2 were found along the river by Aldwarke SF on 4th Feb.

Raven: A pair was seen over Roche Abbey on 28th Dec, with further singles here on 8th Jan and 18th Feb.

Lesser Redpoll: 44 were at Thrybergh CP on 27th Dec.  Up to 30 were present at Pit House West, RVCP in Jan.

Tree Sparrow: Up to 100 at Thrybergh CP during Dec.                             

 August 2005 - November 2005
  
Bittern: A single at Pit House West, RVCP from 23rd Oct, returning to the area for its third successive winter.
 
Whooper Swan: 9 NW over Ulley CP on 27th Oct.  At RVCP, 8 flew SE on 5th Nov.
 
Pink-footed Goose: In September the first birds were noted at RVCP on 9th when 25 flew S, with 750 ESE on 17th.  At TCP passage was noted on 16th with 100, 17th with 118, 26th with 160 & 28th when 102 passed through.  Also in Sept at Ulley CP, 65 flew east on 17th & 32 flew east on 26th.  In Oct at TCP, 90 were seen on 13th, while at Ulley CP 150 flew NW on 27th.  At RVCP in Oct, 500 flew SE on 20th.
 
Shelduck: 3 were at Silverwood Pit Top on 15th & 16th Aug with 4 here on 19th Aug.
 
Pintail: At RVCP in Sept, 3 were present on 5th with 6 here on 25th and a single was at TCP on 11th Oct.  On 25th & 27th Oct, 3 were at RVCP.
 
Red-crested Pochard: A female was at Ulley CP from 11th-18th Sept.
 
Common Scoter: Parties of 4 at RVCP on 11th Sept & 4th Oct and a single on 17th Oct & 2 on 24th Oct.
Osprey: A single at TCP on 24th Aug.
 
Merlin: A male at TCP on 20th Aug.
 
Peregrine: Singles at TCP on 3rd Aug & on 3 dates in Sept. Singles were also at Axle Lane during Oct.
 
Hobby: Sightings at TCP included 4 dates in Aug and on 1st & 4th Sept.  In Sept, singles were at Axle on 3rd & 4th and at Dinnington Marsh on 6th.
 
Oystercatcher: Singles at RVCP on 1st Aug & at TCP on 22nd Aug & on 5th & 7th Sept.
                                                                                    
Knot: Singles in Oct at TCP on 1st & at RVCP on 6th.
 
Little Stint: A single at Silverwood Pit Top from 5th-8th was a rare long stayer for the area.
 
Curlew Sandpiper: A single flew E at RVCP on 3rd Sept.
 
Ruff: Singles at TCP on 24th & 28th Aug and was presumably the same bird that was at Silverwood Pit Top from 27th Aug-1st Sept.  There was also a record from RVCP on 26th.
 
Jack Snipe: In Nov singles at RVCP & Silverwood Pit Top.
 
Black-tailed Godwit: On 1st Aug, 6 were at Silverwood Pit Top with 4 at RVCP on 3rd Sept and 3 were at Thrybergh Tip the next day.  Back at RVCP, 2 were present on 24th Sept.
 
Whimbrel: Singles at RVCP on 26th & 30th Aug & at TCP on 9th Sept.
 
Greenshank: A single was at RVCP on 5th Aug with singles at TCP on 18th & 24th Aug & 1st Sept.  At Thrybergh Tip singles were present on 7th & 21st Aug with 3 here on 14th.  A single was at Silverwood Pit Top on 7th Sept.  A single as at RVCP on 24th Sept.
 
Green Sandpiper: 1-2 birds in the Don Valley during Aug & Sept with records from Thrybergh Tip & CP as well as Aldwarke SF & Silverwood Pit Top. 
 
Turnstone: A single was at RVCP on 12th Aug.  At TCP 2-3 on 28th Aug & 6 flew SE on 25th Sept.
 
Grey Phalarope: An all too brief occurrence at RVCP on 1st Oct.
 
Arctic Skua: On 10th Oct, an immature NW over Axle Lane must have been a nice surprise.
 
Little Gull: At RVCP, 2 were present on 23rd Oct with a single here on 5th Nov.
 
Roseate Tern: An immature was at RVCP on 16th Sept.
 
Arctic Tern: In Sept at RVCP 4 were present on 9th with a single on 23rd.
 
Barn Owl: 1-2 at TCP during Oct.
 
Short-eared Owl: A single was at North Anston Pit Top on 29th-30th Aug.  At RVCP singles were seen on 29th Sept & 5th Nov.
 

Recent Records November 2004 - February 2005

Whooper Swan: A single flew east at RVCP on 3rd November.  On 5th November 4 flew south at TCP.  At Wentworth Lakes, 15 flew east on 9th November, while on 11th November a single flew north at TCP.  On 14th November there was an impressive sight of 26 at Silverwood Lagoon.
 
Bittern: The Bittern remained at Pit-house West into the new year.
 
Shelduck: At TCP in December, 2 flew north on 1st and single was present on 26th.
 
Scaup: In January, a female was found at Harthill Res. where it was present from 12th-15th, while this or another female turned up at TCP on 31st.
 
Pintail: A single was at RVCP on 2nd November.
 
Mandarin: 1- 2 drake were at RVCP into the new year.
 
Red-breasted Merganser: A redhead was present at TCP during December from 11th-19th and then again from 25th-30th. 
 
Peregrine: An immature was at Axle Lane on 8th November and a male was at RVCP on 23rd November.  In December at TCP, singles flew east on 6th and north on 21st.  At Axle Lane an immature hunting Golden Plover on 25th December.  There were further records from Axle Lane on 4th & 28th January.
 
Jack Snipe: Up to 5 were at North Anston Pit Top in November.
 
Knot: A single was at TCP on 6th & 7th November.
 
Green Sandpiper: Singles were at Pit-house West, RVCP and TCP on 20th November.
 
Turnstone: 2 flew west on 20th December at TCP.
 
Yellow-legged Gull: A single was at Blackburn Tip on 10th December.
 
Glaucous Gull: A single was at Blackburn Tip in February.
 
Caspian Gull: An adult was at Blackburn Tip during December.
 
Iceland Gull: A single was at Blackburn Tip during December and January.
 
Kittiwake: An adult was at RVCP on 1st November.
 
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker: A single was at RVCP on 2nd & 9th November.
 
Barn Owl: A single was seen hunting at RVCP on 20th November.
 
Short-eared Owl: On the boundary of the area there have been reports of up to 2 at Langold Pit Top and up to 5 on Tickhill Common.  A single was at Dinnington Marsh on 22nd January.
 
Long-eared Owl: Up to 5 roosting in the Brampton area in January.
 
Ring-necked Parakeet: A single in Clifton park on 14th November.
 
Waxwing: Another big influx into the UK this winter with up to 400 reported in Sheffield.  A single flew east at RVCP on 3rd November.  At Rackford Lane, Dinnington, 3 were present on 13th November.  On 18th December, 15 were present in Aughton.  In January, 3 were at B & Q on 4th, with 4 at Rawmarsh the day after and 10 at Wath on the 15th.  Birds were again reported from around B & Q in February with 60 present on 3rd, increasing to 150 the next day and with 100 still present, this time at St Anns Roundabout on 7th.
 
Bearded Tit: A single was still at Pit-house West on 1st November.
 
Brambling: 5 were at North Anston Pit Top on 11th November.
 
Corn Bunting: 9 were at Axle Lane on 4th November.
 

Recent Records August 2004 - November 2004

Little Egret: On 28th August a single flew north at RVCP
 
Pintail: 9 flew north west on 29th August at RVCP and a single was at RVCP on 13th September.
 
Mandarin: A drake at RVCP on 26th September
 
Garganey: 2 were at RVCP on 14th September.
 
Red-crested Pochard: An immature male at RVCP from 12th September to 6th October.
 
Scaup: A female was at RVCP on 2nd August.
 
Common Scoter: A female was at RVCP on 2nd August and 2 were at TCP on 16th October.
 
Honey Buzzard: An immature passed south on 30th August.
 
Marsh Harrier: Immatures at RVCP in August flew south on 9th and southeast on 19th.
 
Osprey: A single flew southeast at RVCP on 21st August.  In September singles were reported over Rawmarsh on 22nd and over Firsby Res on 24th.
 
Hobby: In August singles were at Treeton Dyke on 11th and at RVCP on 15th. Singles were at RVCP on 1st & 13th September.  Also in September singles were at Axle Lane on 1st & 7th.
 
Dotterel: 2 were found by George Shentall while undertaking the Golden Plover survey on Axle Lane on 5th October. 
 
Grey Plover: A single was at RVCP on 23rd September.
 
Knot: A single was at RVCP on 15th September.
 
Little Stint: A single was at RVCP on 8th September.
 
Curlew Sandpiper: A single was at RVCP on 9th September.
 
Ruff: A single was at RVCP on 27th August. 
 
Jack Snipe: An amazing count of 8 present with 33 Common Snipe was made at North Anston Pit Top on 10th October.
 
Black-tailed Godwit: Small flocks recorded at RVCP of 6 on 2nd and of 11 on 16th.
 
Bar-tailed Godwit: A single was at RVCP on 10th August.
 
Turnstone: In August at RVCP, a single flew north west on 1st, with 2 on 5th and a single on 16th.
 
Mediterranean Gull: A single was at RVCP on 30th & 31st August.
 
Little Gull: A single was at RVCP on 18th September.
 
Arctic Tern: An immature was at RVCP on 21st August.
 
Black Tern: In August there was a flock of 14 at Treeton Dyke on 10th, followed by a single at TVCP on 13th and 3 were reported heading south over Dinnington on 31st.
 
Tree Pipit: A single passed over Kiveton Pit Top on 24th August.
 
Rock Pipit: Singles were at RVCP on 16th October.
 
Dipper: A single was on the Chesterfield Canal at Turnerwood on 24th August.
 
Redstart: A male was at RVCP on 16th August
 
Ring Ouzel: A single was at Harthill Res on 11th October.
 
Bearded Tit : There was an excellent record of 4 at Pit House West (the RVCP extension) on 30th October.
 
Raven: 2 immatures flew west over RVCP on 15th August.
 
Corn Bunting: A count of 25 was made on Axle Lane on 23rd August.

OLDER RECORDS

March 2004
The 3 (2 males and a female) Scaup remained at TCP until mid-month at least and the male Mandarin was still at RVCP. There were 3 Ringed Plover at Silverwood Lagoon on 1st where a Curlew flew west.  At Silverwood Lagoon on 2nd, 3 Shelduck were present.  On 2nd a Red Kite passed north through Wentworth, while at Creigton Woods, there were 4 Nuthatch (see site guide).  The 4th was a day for Common Buzzard with singles over Thrybergh CP and Tip and Firsby Res, with a pair over Ulley CP and 3 at Wentworth Park. Also at Ulley CP on 4th a female Merlin was present briefly before leaving NE.  At RVCP on 4th, a Curlew flew north.  A Green Sandpiper was at Aldwarke SF on 8th, while at RVCP, 4 Common Buzzard were seen.  On 9th, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker were drumming in Creighton Woods (see site guide) and 9 Common Buzzard were at Roche Abbey. A Ruff was at RVCP on 11th.  At RVCP on 12th, an Oystercatcher was present and remained until the 13th, when it was joined by 12 Dunlin and a Kittiwake.  At Roche Abbey on 13th, there were 2 Water Rail and a Hawfinch.  There was an excellent count of 38 Shoveler at Catcliffe Flash on 15th.  On 16th, a Red Kite passed south through Rotherham where it was first picked up over Bramley then over Ulley CP, before finally being seen over RVCP.  The first 3 Sand Martins of the year were at TCP & RVCP on 17th, with 2 Shelduck present at the latter site, with a further Sand Martin over Lindrick.  Also on 17th a male Wheatear was at Kiveton Pit Top.  At RVCP on 18th, a Little Gull was found.  On 19th, a Woodcock was flushed at Ulley CP and a Little Ringed Plover was at RVCP.  At RVCP on 20th there was a Kittiwake and a male Wheatear on Pit-house West, while at Ulley CP a male Brambling was found.  There was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Listerdale Woods on 21st.  Also on 21st, Roche Abbey produced a pair of Shelduck, 6 Common Buzzard and a Hawfinch, while at Axle Lane a Peregrine was present.  A male White Wagtail was at RVCP on 22nd.  On 23rd an Osprey was reported moving east over Parkgate.  A Hawfinch was at Kings Wood on 25th.   On 26th, 36 Pink-footed Geese flew NW over Hill Top Lane, Silverwood.  At Kiveton Pit Top on 27th, there were single Peregrine and Merlin, along with 2 Wheatear.  A Rock Pipit was present briefly at RVCP on 28th.  At Firsby Res on 29th, a Water Rail was calling.  Up to 20 Brambling were at Harley on 30th, with 3 still at RVCP, and the same day that 9 Redwing passed east through Ulley CP.  On 31st, a Redshank was at Harthill Res (see site guide). 
 
April 2004
The 1st saw 6 Black-tailed Godwit at Silverwood Lagoon and Black-necked Grebe was found at RVCP where it remained until 8th.  On 2nd, a Swallow was at TCP and 4 Whooper Swan passed north over Ulley CP.  A Willow Warbler was at RVCP on 3rd.  A single Dunlin was at Silverwood Lagoon on 4th and a Green Sandpiper was at Aldwarke SF.  Also on 4th, 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker were in Listerdale Woods while at RVCP there was a Kittiwake, and a Peregrine.  At TCP on 5th, there was an adult Little Gull.  On 8th, a single Corn Bunting was singing at Loscar farm.  An Osprey flew west over Cliffe Road, Brampton on 9th, and a Garden Warbler was singing at Bolehill, Treeton.  On 11th, a Wheatear and a House Martin was at TCP.  A male Wheatear was at Silverwood Colliery tip on 12th the same day a male Siskin was singing at Ulley CP.  At Thrybergh CP on 13th, a Common Sandpiper was present and a Peregrine passed east over RVCP.  A Common Tern was at TCP on 14th, while at RVCP there was a Mediterranean Gull as well as a Yellow Wagtail and 5 Oystercatcher.  On 15th, 5 Fieldfare were at Silverwood Colliery tip and a Yellow Wagtail was at TCP.  A Whimbrel flew north at RVCP on 16th and 4 Common Sandpiper were also present.  On 17th, a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker were again seen in Listerdale Woods and a Lesser Whitethroat was at RVCP.  On 18th, a single Oystercatcher was at Thrybergh Tip and 2 flew south over Cliffe Road, Brampton, with the Green Sandpiper was still at Aldwarke SF and a Whitethroat was at Thrybergh Tip.  The same day RVCP produced single Whimbrel, Greenshank and Arctic Tern and an Osprey flew north. On 19th, there were 700 Sand Martin at TCP.  6 Wheatear and a Swift were at RVCP on 20th, with Whitethroat at Kiveton Pit Top and 7 Corn Bunting, 6 Yellow Wagtail and 6 Wheatear at Axle Lane.  A single Dunlin was at Silverwood Lagoon on 22nd and a Cuckoo was at Firsby Res, while at RVCP the first Grasshopper Warbler of the year appeared and a Peregrine flew west. There were 9 Brambling at Firsby Res on 23rd.   There was an excellent count of 8 Wheatear at Firsby Res on 22nd, increasing to 12 the next day.  At RVCP on 24th, the first Reed and Sedge Warbler of the year were present, while at North Anston Pit Top there were 1-2 Ring Ouzel and a Tree Pipit, with a Cuckoo at Ulley CP.  A Common Buzzard passed over Rawmarsh along with a Raven on 25th, while at Silverwood Lagoon a Green Sandpiper was present.  Also on 25th, 2 Grasshopper Warbler were at Thrybergh Tip, and a Sandwich Tern flew north over RVCP. A Grasshopper Warbler was at Treeton Dyke on 25th, with another at North Anston Pit Top along with a Turtle Dove.  On 27th, 2 Swift passed north over Rawmarsh, the same day that 250 arrived at RVCP.  Also at RVCP a Whimbrel flew north and 39 Arctic Tern passed through, while at TCP single Bar-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank and Greenshank passed through.  Also on 27th, a Whooper Swan was at Langold Lake. On 28th, there were 8 Shelduck at Silverwood Lagoon, while at RVCP an Osprey and 2 Black-tailed Godwit passed north .  At RVCP on 29th, there were 15 Arctic Tern and a Kittiwake, with upto 38 Arctic Tern at TCP.  A cream crowned Marsh Harrier passed through Firsby Res on 30th, while at RVCP there were 2 Kittiwake, 3 Arctic Tern and a Hobby.  Also on 30th a Red-rumped Swallow was found in with upto 2000 hirundines, making it hard to find.
 
May 2004
The Red-rumped Swallow was seen again at TCP on 1st, where a pair of Shelduck were also present.  What was presumably this same pair of Shelduck were seen at Aldwarke SF, back at TCP and at Silverwood Lagoon into June.  At RVCP on 1st, 2 Arctic Tern flew north.  On 2nd, a Dunlin was at Silverwood Lagoon, increasing to 3 on 7th & 8th and peaking at 11 on 9th, with 7 the next day, 3 on 12th and finally a single on 22nd.  Also on 2nd, a Curlew flew west, while at RVCP a Whimbrel was present and a Black Tern was at TCP.  On 3rd at RVCP, there was a single Whimbrel, 4 Oystercatcher and 2 Arctic Tern flew north.  A Grasshopper Warbler was still present at Treeton Dyke on 5th.  A Hobby was at RVCP on 6th & 7th.  Also on 6th, a Grasshopper Warbler was at Harthill Res (see site guide).  A Ring Ouzel was found on Ravenfield Tip on 7th.  On 8th at RVCP, single Whimbrel, Sanderling and 8 Arctic Tern all passed north.  At RVCP on 9th, there was a Turtle Dove, 2 Arctic Tern and 2 Whimbrel.  There were 2 Wheatear at Silverwood Lagoon on 8th, with further singles here on 9th & 12th.  On 10th an Oystercatcher was at TCP, while at RVCP, there were 4 Arctic Tern, a single Greenshank and a Honey Buzzard passed north, with a Grasshoppper Warbler at Ulley CP.  The 11th, saw single Hobby and Arctic Tern at RVCP, along with 7 Dunlin.  A Red Kite passed through TCP on 12th, where there was also 2 Arctic Tern, with 3 here the next day.  There were also 3 Arctic Tern at RVCP on 12th.  Also on 11th a Spotted Flycatcher was at Ulley CP.  A Turnstone at TCP on 13th, was presumably the same bird that turned up at Silverwood Lagoon on 14th & 15th and was seen at both sites on 16th.  Also on 13th, RVCP produced a record of a Long-tailed Skua heading north.  A Whimbrel flew north at RVCP on 14th.  On 15th, at RVCP there were 2 Black-tailed Godwit, a Whinchat and a Honey Buzzard flew north east.  A Grasshopper Warbler was at Warren Vale on 16th.  A summer plumaged Knot was at TCP on 17th.  At Silverwood Lagoon, an Oystercatcher was present on 19th, while at RVCP there were 2 Sanderling.  Also on 19th a male Montagu's Harrier passed south west, low over Axle Lane.  At RVCP on 20th, there were 3 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, an Arctic Tern and a Peregrine which flew south east.  A Hobby was at RVCP on 21st.  A single Greenshank was at Silverwood Lagoon on 22nd & 24th.  At RVCP on 22nd, 4 Dunlin and a Sanderling were present.  A Little Egret was at RVCP on 23rd, where a Red Kite passed north. There was 2 Yellow-legged Gull at RVCP on 24th.  A Turtle Dove was at Silverwood on 27th.  Also on 27th the male Mandarin was at RVCP, where a Honey Buzzard was seen, with a further sighting the next day.  On 29th a Hobby was at RVCP, while a Red Kite was reported at Laughton was probably the same bird seen the next day on the Chesterfield Canal near Old Spring Wood.  Also on 29th, a Quail was calling at Brands Lane.  On 30th, a Hobby and a Curlew passed through TCP, while at RVCP a male Garganey was present. On 31st a Turtle Dove and a Grasshopper Warbler were both in song at Thrybergh Tip.
 
June 2004 
The pair of Shelduck remained at Silverwood Lagoon to mid-month at least.  At TCP 4 pairs of Common Tern nested on the raft here producing 8 young.  On 2nd a Curlew was at Firsby Res and a Common Tern was at Kilnhurst Ings.  At RVCP on 4th a Peregrine was seen.  A Turtle Dove was at TCP on 6th and 2 Grasshopper Warbler  sang at Thrybergh Tip.  A Kingfisher was at Catcliffe Flash on 7th.  At Firsby Res on 9th, a Turtle Dove was present and a male Common Scoter was at RVCP.  A Corn Bunting was singing on Loscar Common on 16th.
There were 2 Oystercatchers at TCP on 9th.  At Harthill Res on 24th, a Curlew flew south, with 4 Common Tern, a Sedge Warbler and 6 Reed Warbler also present.  Also on 24th a Common Sandpiper was at Ulley CP.  A Hobby flew NW over Silverwood Pit Top on 21st.  At Aldwarke SF on 27th a Green Sandpiper was present, while at RVCP a male Ruddy Shelduck flew north.  There was an interesting record of a Dipper on the River Don at Kilnhurst Bridge on 28th.  On 29th a Kingfisher was at Ulley CP.
 
July 2004 
There were 9 Common Sandpiper at Ulley CP on 2nd.  At RVCP on 4th, Rotherham 2nd ever Roseate Tern was found.  On 5th a Curlew flew west over Listerdale.  At Silverwood Lagoon on 7th, there were 3 Dunlin, while at Brown Baileys, the Sand Martin colony held 17 nest holes.  On 10th, a Stonechat was at Pit House West, RVCP.  At Treeton Dyke on 11th, there were single Hobby and Peregrine, with a Grasshopper Warbler at Thrybergh Tip and 3 Common Sandpiper at TCP.  A Black-tailed Godwit was at RVCP on 12th.  At Silverwood Lagoon on 13th, there were 2 Dunlin and a Greenshank.  On 16th, 2 Golden Plover passed over Axle Lane, while at RVCP there was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and a Black-tailed Godwit.  At RVCP on 18th, there was a Greenshank and a Water Rail, while at Aldwarke SF, there were 2 Green Sandpiper.  At Treeton Dyke a Grasshopper Warbler was singing on 19th and a Spotted Flycatcher was at Rosehill Victoria Park, Rawmarsh.  On 20th, a Grasshopper Warbler was singing at Wentworth. 

February 2004
The 3 Scaup remained at Thrybergh CP during the month.  The Glaucous Gull continued to visit the Tip at Blackburn until the 5th.   The male Mandarin remained at RVCP along with the Brambling flock.  On 1st, 2 Common Buzzard were at Ulley CP, with a single at RVCP, while at Dinnington Marsh there were 14 Snipe and 82 Pied Wagtail.  The Golden Plover flock, numbered 2000 at Axle Lane on 2nd.  On 3rd a Waxwing was again near Bellows Road, Rawmarsh with 35 present, with up to 150 here from 5th to 7th.  On 10th the Waxwing flock had moved to near the Tabard on Herringthorpe Valley Road, with up to 150 present. The last report from this location came on 15th when 49 were still present.  At Blackburn Tip on 5th, a pair of Peregrine were present.  On 6th a Ringed Plover was at Thrybergh CP. At Kings Wood raptor watch point on 8th, 9 Common Buzzard were seen.  On 15th there was a Jack Snipe at Kiveton Pit Top and 200 Pink-footed Geese flew west over Laughton.  At Axle Lane on 9th, 6 Corn Bunting were present.  The 12th saw a large movement of Pink-footed Geese including 570 NW at Ulley CP, 200 SW over the town centre, 200 NW over RVCP, and 3 skeins over Wentworth.  At Rosehill Park, Rawmarsh on on 15th, 48 Pink-footed Geese flew NW and a Shelduck passed NE.  Also on 15th, a drake Scaup at Firsby Res, was probably one of the Thrybergh birds with Merlin and Barn Owl also present here.  A Barn Owl was along the A57 at Axle Lane on 16th. 
There was a count of 26 Snipe at Dinnington Marsh on 17th, with a Woodcock also present here. Also on 17th, a pair of Peregrine moved SE.  More Waxwings were found on 19th, when 50 were just off Centenary Way.  On 20th a female Merlin was on Axle Lane.  On 22nd, a Water Rail was found along the river Don at Eastwood, while at the Canal Basin at Parkgate, Mute Swan numbers had increased to 23.  

January 2004
The Brambling flock remained at the feeding station at the nature reserve car park at RVCP all month, including a count of 40 on 14th.  The male Mandarin was also present all month at RVCP.  The 2 Scaup remained at Thrybergh CP all month where they were joined by a 3rd from 11th.  The 1st started with a excellent report of a Great Grey Shrike on Hawk Hill Lane, Thurcroft.  An Orange-winged Parrot at Ulley Village on 2nd was a surprise.  On 3rd, a Firecrest was found on Moorgate Road, between Godstone Road and Gerard Road by one lucky observer who was on his way back home after shopping in the town centre.  The bird was last seen on the 6th.  Also present in this area were 2 female Blackcap on 4th.  At Catcliffe Flash on 5th and 9th a redhead Red-breasted Merganser was present.  There was a count of 110 Goosander at RVCP on 6th, where a Dunlin was also present, while 120 Pink-footed Geese passed west over South Anston and 5 Corn Bunting were at Axle Lane. A flock of up to 80 Pied Wagtail were at Treeton SF on 7th. A Dipper was found at RVCP on 7th where it remained until 25th.  At Hoober on 9th, 2 Buzzard were seen, while at RVCP a Bittern was flushed, but could not be relocated. On 10th, 120 Pink-footed Geese passed NW over Rawmarsh. 
At Ulley CP on 11th, 2 Buzzards were seen close to the park.  At Catcliffe Flash on 12th a male Goldeneye was present.  There were 2 Chiffchaff and 9 Redshank at RVCP on 14th.  On 15th, 2 Shelduck and 190 Pink-footed Geese passed west over Rawmarsh.  There were single Jack Snipe and Kingfisher at North Anston Pit Top on 17th.  At Thrybergh CP a single Pintail was present on 18th with 5 here the next day.  Also on 18th, 180 Pink-footed Geese passed over RVCP, while at Anston Stones Wood there were 5 Marsh Tit and a Common Buzzard.  A female Peregrine was at Axle Lane on 19th.  The first Waxwing of the year were found on Barber Road, Rawmarsh on 20th when 9 were present.  Also on 20th there were 58 Skylark and 112 Yellowhammer at New Stubbin, Rawmarsh and 37 Tree Sparrow at Nether Haugh. 
On 21st a Water Rail was heard calling at Harthill Res. At Thrybergh CP on 22nd, a Ringed Plover was present, while at Grange Park there was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.  At RVCP on 23rd a total of 1500 Pink-footed Geese flew NW.  From the Kings Wood raptor watch point on 24th, 5 Common Buzzard were seen.  On 25th at RVCP there were 87 Goosander, 20 Great Crested Grebe, 17 Grey Heron, 71 Mute Swan, 186 Wigeon, 53 Gadwall, 15 Goosander, 1 Water Rail, 639 Lapwing, 2 Jack Snipe, 3 Common Snipe and 3 Redshank, while on the New Rother at Treeton 2 Redshank were present.  Also on 25th a flock of 200 Pink-footed Geese flew west over Todwick.  A first winter Glaucous Gull was found at Blackburn/Kimberworth Landfill on 26th where it was seen on and off to the month end.  Also on 26th a Common Buzzard flew north over Brampton Common.  On 27th an immature Peregrine was at Axle Lane.