The March field trip took us once again across the Pennines into darkest Yorkshire, this time to the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve Potteric Carr on the outskirts of Doncaster. With the reserve being new to the Society, the day would be one of exploration. As we headed across the Pennines we were greeted by thick fog, this dropped the temperature by 5C and would remain until lunchtime. Six hardy souls met on the car park at 9:30am as the reserve opened, Robin, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Greenfinch and Goldfinch provided the songs as we laced our boots in readiness for the day. We left the car park for the short walk to the Visitors Centre and café where we were greeted by two members of the Yorkshire Wildlife team. After a quick pit stop, with map in hand we headed into the reserve with fifteen hides, a similar number of waters and five miles of trail to explore.
We exited the Visitor Centre onto a large decking area overlooking the first reed-lined water, here Coot, Cetti’s Warbler and Little Grebe were added to the list before we headed right, into the Discovery Zone to follow a winding trail through mature forest. Here we added several woodland birds including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest and Chaffinch with Wren, Long-tailed Tit and Redwing added before we exited the Discovery Zone onto the Dragonfly Trail. Extensive work had recently taken place clearing the view to a slender stretch of water surrounded by trees to our left and a wet meadow, Loversall Carr, to our right. Several small passerines were flitting about the tree tops; these were quickly identified as Lesser Redpolls and a Coal Tit with a pair of Mallard on the wet meadow.
Continuing along the Dragonfly Trail we soon came across our first hide named Cottage Drain, as we approached the hide a Buzzard gave great views as it passed over just above the tree tops. The hide at the point of a triangular water, exposed recently cleared bank sides with a reedbed approximately eighty yards in front. To our right a Wren was actively entering the base of a tree, probably its nest, in front a single Little Egret was fishing whilst the wildfowl consisted of ten Pochard, three Shoveler, a few Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Teal along with a pair of Lapwing. As we exited the hide a noisy pair of Greylag Geese passed over before we continued along the Dragonfly Trail towards the Pumphouse.
At the Pumphouse we crossed the Mother Drain, a water channel that runs the length of the reserve and beyond, this revealed several Chub under the railway which passed above. A sharp right turn brought us onto the tree lined Wetland Walk with railway to our right and an expanse of reed-lined waters to our left. We soon arrived at a hide named Duchess that overlooks Huxter Well Marsh, here we added Cormorant to the list, sat on its nest in the distance with a Little Egret in the same tree. In the reeds in front a Reed Bunting was also added as several Long-tailed Tits zipped about.
The fog had now lifted as we made our way to the next hide, Hawthorn Bank, along the same path bit overlooking a different but similar size water also in Huxter Well Marsh. Here we added Canada Goose, Great Crested Grebe and twelve Snipe spread over two islands along with Cormorant and a smattering of mixed wildfowl including several Shoveler. As there were several people in the hide, we continued to St Catherine’s hide located at the point of the same lake, here we took lunch whilst watching a Little Grebe fishing in front of the hide. Two Great Crested Grebes began displaying near the reedbed on the far side of the water but soon made their way across to the front of the hide seemingly to move the Little Grebe. A female Marsh Harrier then came into view hunting the far side reedbeds, waking all that previously slept below, a welcome addition to the days tally along with a Kingfisher that flew from the front of us, obviously hidden out of view whilst we ate our lunch.
As time was pressing, we continued to the next hide, Tofield, on the way the song of a Chiffchaff was heard from a bird high in the trees. This hide gave better views of the Cormorant stood on its nest with the Little Egret still perched below. Shelduck were added to the list as a pair preened in the water in front of the hide along with another fishing Little Grebe and several Pochard. We moved on to Roger Mitchell hide, the hide were the recently recorded Black-necked Grebes had been seen but unfortunately, we were out of luck as the same cast of characters were present. A move along to West Scrape hide didn’t produce anything new so we moved to the sight screen overlooking East Scrape, this was an overgrown area that soon produced the female Marsh Harrier hunting in front of us. The squeal of a Water Rail would be the last addition to the tally as we were at the furthest point of the reserve with only an hour or so before closing and several other hides to pass. We called in at Piper Marsh hide on our way back to reception, another pair of Lapwing the only birds of note.
We only managed to cover eight of the fourteen hides as the reserve closed at 4pm, the time is extended once the clocks go forward.
This is a reserve full of reedbeds with at least three Bitterns known to be on site along with Bearded Reedlings, unfortunately the luck was not with us today but we will be back and next time once the clocks have gone forward.
51 bird species, a Roe Deer and Grey Squirrel were seen during the day, an excellent total for a reserve bordered by railway and motorway.
I hope to see you on the next field trip.
Keith Williams
Keith Williams
L.O.S. Fieldtrips Officer
