Author Archives: John Gardner

Waxwings in Crofton

Posted on January 17, 2017 by John Gardner

Earlier today, Chris Swaine tweeted his sightings of a small flock of waxwings near the former Slipper pub in Crofton. Although there seems to be hundreds of waxwings up and down the country at the moment, these are the first … Continue reading →

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Raven over Anglers Country Park

Posted on January 13, 2017 by John Gardner

Chris Swaine, a regular birder at Wintersett, just Tweeted this great image of a raven over Anglers Counrty Park. This is a very unusual bird for the area and Chris informs me that he also saw it just before Christmas … Continue reading →

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Black Redstart in Ossett

Posted on January 9, 2017 by John Gardner

John Hamilton Tweeted his sighting of a rare visitor to the district that he stumbled upon in Ossett – a black redstart! The bird has been seen in North Ossett churchyard and may have been around some time as there … Continue reading →

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Autumn colours, fungi and goosander at Nostell Priory

Posted on November 13, 2016 by John Gardner

Nostell Priory seems to be proving popular with WNS members just now with Roger heading there last Friday and bunping into Barbara and Richard, and us there today also bumping into Barbara and Richard! I suspect we will make it … Continue reading →

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November meeting change of speaker

Posted on November 2, 2016 by John Gardner

Due to an error on my part, the November meeting will now be local photographer Ron Marshall giving his talk entitled – “Alaska – the final frotier”. The talk covers his trip to the very north of Alsaka to the … Continue reading →

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Chiffchaff in the Ryhill garden

Posted on October 21, 2016 by John Gardner

A sure sign of autumn for me is the flocks of titmice passing through the garden along with the occasional Phylloscopus warbler and today’s offering was a lovely chiffchaff/ The bird was fliting in the autumn red and yellow leaves … Continue reading →

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Ruddy darter at Nostell Long Row

Posted on October 16, 2016 by John Gardner

After an anazing day at Sourn yesterday viewing eastern migrant birds like never before, a visit to the local patch was somewhat of a let down! However, I did manage to catch up with a couple of late ruddy darters … Continue reading →

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Sightings from Woolley Colliery

Posted on May 29, 2016 by John Gardner

I had a quick trip down to Haig yesterday. Despite my efforts earlier in the year, it is getting pretty overgrown. It is full of singing blackcap; willow,  sedge, and reed warblers, reed buntings and a load of bird song I … Continue reading →

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Darvic rings fitted to the peregrines

Posted on May 29, 2016 by John Gardner

During the previous ringing of the peregrine chicks it wasn’t possible to fit the Darvic rings due to a fault with them and so tonight, again with the aid of licensed bird ringers, the Darvic rings were fitted. The Darvic … Continue reading →

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Peregrine chicks ringed

Posted on May 21, 2016 by John Gardner

In order to keep track of our young peregrines and find out where they head off to in the future, the chicks were today ringed by licensed and experienced bird ringers from the mid-Derby Ringing Group. This involved taking the … Continue reading →

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