Rodley Nature Reserve

From Sunday 17th June
 After our visit to Yeadon Tarn we made the short trip to Rodley Nature Reserve where
the sun broke through from time to time and the temperature had risen to 12.5°C.Here there
are a number of hides overlooking lagoons and with the River Aire to the back edge of the
reserve anything could turn up.The first birds we saw were a pair of Common Terns which
had at least one chick on the raft in the middle of the lagoon.There were a pair of Mute Swans
with seven Cygnets,elsewhere we saw another Mute Swan with two Cygnets.There was also
Little Grebe,Great Crested Grebe,Tufted Duck,Gadwall,Shoveler,Kingfisher,Oystercatcher,
Greylag,Grey Heron and Moorhen. Reed Warblers were flitting about and there were good
numbers of Swift overhead, as we walked towards the bird feeding area there was a Lapwing
in the middle of the field calling and looking a bit lost.We also saw a pair of Bullfinch and in the
distance a Kestrel was hovering looking for food. At the bird feeding area there were two
male bullfinches one on the bird table quite near to the screen so we were  able to get a decent
snap.At the back of this area a GSW was pecking away at a some wood even though a hole
was already in it for the the GSW to go into. Some good birds here and an enjoyable mornings
birding.

male Bullfinch 1

male Bullfinch 2

Mute Swans with Cygnets

Cygnet

Oystercatcher

Shoveler

Gadwall

Common Tern

GSW

male Bullfinch