Cold means a boom of bittern sightings
Frozen ponds and reedbeds are forcing normally elusive birds such as bitterns and water rails out into the open as they search for food.
Two bitterns have been showing well on the Nature Reserve lake at Pugney's Country Park, near Wakefield, flying along the edge of the reedbed and occasionally climbing to the top of the reeds to survey the surroundings.
Another was showing well on Willow Marsh at the Potteric Carr reserve near Doncaster where there are several present during the winter. Two more bitterns were present this week in the reedbed at the RSPB's new Saltholme Pools reserve on Teesside.
It seems likely that with temperatures plunging in Europe more bitterns from there will cross to Britain and join our resident birds
Bitterns had their most successful season in this country since the 19th century this year, with 82 booming males, a sevenfold increase since 1997.
Numbers of pairs breeding are estimated by the number of booming males as each individual has a slightly different call enabling one to be told from another. Each is attempting to establish a territory and attract a mate. Some will mate with more than one female.
In addition, nests are counted and 39 were found this year on 43 sites compared with 41 last year.
This year's young bitterns will be roaming far and wide and with the additional birds arriving from Europe one could turn up almost anywhere now, even a site with quite a small patch of reedbed.
Water rails are also coming out from the reeds at such reserve as Blacktoft Sands while at Potteric Carr one is giving excellent views as it comes out in front of the feeders at the Willow Pool hide, a good chance to see its rich brown plumage, barred flanks and long red bill. There have also been three jays coming to the feeders, another chance for close views, great spotted woodpeckers and large numbers of other birds.
Three willow tits, bullfinches and tree sparrows have been coming to the feeders at the Old Moor reserve, South Yorkshire while a male and female blackcap have been seen in gardens in East Yorkshire and at least two in Leeds.
A ringtail hen harrier has been hunting over the reserve at Swillington Ings, Leeds while a male was see at Sunk Island on the Humber.
Marsh harriers, barn owls and merlins have been coming in to roost at the Blacktoft Sands reserve and visitors to two roosts at the weekend saw four marsh harriers, two merlins and two barn owls.
A drake smew continues to be seen at Far Ings and more smews can be expected in the region as birds arrive in this country from Europe.
One of the largest starling roosts seen at RSPB Fairburn Ings for many years, some 10,000 birds, is coming in to roost at around 4pm each day. Anyone hoping to see this spectacle needs to
walk to the top of Redshale Road on the reserve's riverbank trail. Call at the visitor centre and staff will give directions.
Steve Wadsworth, RSPB Fairburn Ings warden, said: "It's the largest flock seen here since the 1960s. I can remember seeing flocks of almost a million birds passing over but we just don't get that any more.
"There are few places in Yorkshire where you can see such a large flock, but, suddenly, RSPB Fairburn Ings has become one of them."
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Weather for Yorkshire
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
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