Myself and Steve K did a trip into deepest Yorkshire, after our plan to go into the Midlands to see a Pacific Golden Plover, had to be changed after the plover departed! We left Rochdale with Steve driving around 7am on a really nice morning. We arrived at Broomhill Flash, near Barnsley at 8-10am. A search through the wildfowl proved very interesting, then the bird we had gone to see was found, a nice Black necked Grebe. It was seen in amongst lots of Little Grebe's who looked like they have had a good breeding season. The bird showed nicely but would not come close enough for a picture. A Great White Egret had roosted in the area, but was not seen by ourselves (it was later found at Old Moor reserve) Another new reserve was visited, Wombwell Ings, but it was a little quiet this time of year. Near the River Dearne the hoped for Lesser Whitethroat's were not seen, but Garden Warbler showed well and 2 Barn Owls sunned themselves! The sighting of a single Swift had us thinking that the summer is drawing to an end. New's of a Ruddy Shelduck at Edderthorpe Flash had us calling at this unspoilt area (no hides or people) with lots of birds to watch and the Ruddy Shelduck was seen. An area that we both have wanted to go to for a while was selected for our next destination, Alkborough Flats, north of S****horpe. You can see the area from Blacktoft Sands, its 20 miles away by road. Anyway, after problems with the motorway we carried on and reached Alkborough. In the village the reserve is well signposted having 2 entrances and around 5 hides? We missed the high tide roost but, a few birders leaving, told us we had missed very little. A Montagu's Harrier had been seen earlier in the morning. Around 300 Avocet, quite a sight greeted us along with 10 Little Egret, 3 Yellow Wagtail and a single Little Gull was found by Steve K. A move to the "hide on stilts" should have revealed Spoonbills but alas, no. A few regular waders were seen, but everything seems a long way away, a scope is needed at this nice reserve, we will be back I am sure. At Blacktoft Sands we saw:- 27 Spotted Redshank, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 20 Avocet, 12 Snipe, 18 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 20 Black tailed Godwit, 1 Little ringed Plover along with around 6 Marsh Harriers. Always a great reserve to visit and listening to some of the assembled throng trying to look though various fieldguides and naming the species is enlightening. We always help a few aspiring birders with ID problems though, "We all have to start somewhere". Time for home and a great days birding in lively sunny weather. Dave O.
