Birdwatchers flock to Doncaster to catch a glimpse of rare birds

Darren Burke, Digital Reporter 

Birdwatchers have been flocking to Doncaster to catch a rare glimpse of a flock of waxwings. "Twitchers" have been heading to bushes near Sandall Park with their binoculars in order to see the birds which have been nesting in the area. 

Waxwings are known for their distinctive look - brown and pale grey with silky plumage, a black and white eyestripe, a crest, a square-cut tail and pointed wings. Some of the wing feathers have red tips, the resemblance of which to sealing wax gives these birds their common name. Birdwatchers have been gathering near the Furniture Barn store opposite the park in order to see the birds in nearby trees. According to Emily Grant, who took a photo of the birds, said there more than 70 waxwings near to Sandall Park.

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Rare bird of prey spotted in Doncaster

Darren Burke, Communities reporter

A rare bird of prey has been spotted at a Doncaster nature reserve - en route to Africa. 

The osprey has moved away from its breeding site - either in Scotland or Scandinavia - on the start of its migration down through Europe into West Africa and has been on the Potteric Carr reserve for the last two weeks, the site’s longest staying osprey. Andy Dalton, Potteric Carr programme manager said: “The osprey is fuelling up for an epic journey to Africa - probably taking advantage of the good weather we have had so far. "It could depart any day soon – so we encourage people to come down for the chance to see this amazing animal. "A juvenile osprey stayed at our Sprotborough Flash nature reserve for six weeks a few years ago - so fingers crossed this one stays a few days more!” The spectacular fish-eating bird of prey is an Amber List species because of its historical decline (due to illegal killing), and low breeding numbers. The bird is best looked for at Potteric from Duchess Hide overlooking Huxter Well Marsh and late mornings have been a good time to view the bird so far.

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Fluffy Doncaster comeback for birds once driven out

A rare and once threatened bird species is making a comeback at one of Doncaster’s most popular beauty spots this summer.

Concerted efforts to nurture habitats have paid off for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust volunteers who have seen three healthy marsh harrier chicks hatch at its Potteric Carr nature reserve. The wetlands here provide ideal conditions for the birds.

Raising young marsh harrier chicks is no mean feat, as the female has to sit on the eggs for more than a month, only leaving the nest briefly to catch food dropped mid-flight by the male. Once the young fledge they sit on visible perches waiting to be fed - a sight the Trust expects to be common on the reserve in the next couple of weeks.

The breeding of marsh harriers at Potteric Carr is exciting for twitchers as the bird was extinct in England by the end of the 19th century as a result of habitat loss and persecution. Although numbers are still very low, the species has returned to breed in eastern England in recent years.

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UK RARE BIRD SIGHTINGS: Rare bird sets up home at Potteric Carr

willow tit

Potteric Carr Nature Reserve in Doncaster had a bumper bird year in 2013, a recent report by local volunteers has shown.

Bird highlights for this urban nature reserve, one of the largest inland wetland sites in the whole of the United Kingdom included a spectacular show of starlings at the beginning of 2013, with over 10,000 birds displaying over the entrance to the nature reserve.

In addition a number of birds of prey were recorded on several occasions including a peregrine falcon, marsh harrier and three species of owl.

Other notable records was that of the willow tit, a bird which has seen its UK population decline by 93% over the last 40 years with no real conclusive evidence as to why.

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