Redcar Tarn

Saturday 28th November a.m.
 A cloudy morning with a strong blustery wind making it feel a lot colder than the recorded 4°C at Redcar Tarn.Good numbers of the usual Mallards & BH Gulls, with others including Canadas,Tufted Duck,Muscovy Duck,Common Gull,Moorhen,Pied Wagtail,Jackdaw & Rook.We just did a quick circuit of the Tarn then we had a walk on Tarn Lane where we found the Lapwing flock with some Starlings & a few more BH Gulls.In a field on the other side of the road was a good sized flock of Starlings we estimated c250, good to see them particularly when they all lifted together.There was a small pond in the field where we watched some of them have a bath & preen their feathers.Also here a Pheasant made an appearance before we headed back to the car to try & warm up as we went home.

Lapwing

Pheasant

Pied Wagtail

Rook & Jackdaw

Moorhen

Muscovy Duck

Tufted Duck

BH Gull

Common Gull

Starlings having a bath

Starling Flock

Redcar Tarn area 28/11/15

Harold Park & Park Dam

Sunday November 22nd a.m.
Another cold frosty start with a temperature of 3°C on our arrival at Harold Park with cloudy sky overhead.We went straight to the lake where we got a great surprise in the form of a drake Goldeneye out in the middle,a first for us at this site.A couple of Great Crested Grebes were also here the Godeneye kept out in the middle but we managed a couple of snaps, the BH Gulls kept harassing it so it dived several times taking evasive action.There was a Grey Heron on the island, others included a Mute Swan(Yellow Tag 162),Tufted Ducks,Moorhen & Coots.
Down the road at Park Dam there were still a pair of Gadwalls,BH & Common Gulls,Cormorant, Little Grebe,Canadas,Tufted Duck & a pair of Mute Swans(Yellow Tag 468 & Red Tag Y725).

Drake Goldeneye

GC Grebe

Moorhen

Mute Swan

Common Gulls

Cormorant

Gadwalls

Little Grebe

Harold Park 22/11/2015

Dowley Gap

Saturday 21st November a.m.
After our earlier visit to Lister Park we move a few miles up the road to Dowley Gap where the temperature had risen by a degree to 3°C.The sun was still out but there was more cloud, our first birds in the field opposite the car par were Goldfinch on the Thistle seeds although not so many left now.Walking along side the canal towards Bingley it was quiet until we saw a Jay in the grass,we turned round back towards Dowley Gap locks.Near a bridge spotted a Kingfisher which soon moved but we caught up with it to get a few snaps, always good to see these birds.As we approached the water works there was a good number of BH Gulls & in the tanks were Grey & Pied Wagtails along with a couple of Meadow Pipits, also a couple of Greenfinch in the bushes.

Kingfisher

Jay

Pied Wagtail

Dowley Gap 21/11/2015

Lister Park

Saturday 21st November a.m.
A cold wintry start with a temperature of 2°C when we arrived at Lister Park but it was dry with some early morning sunshine.The first bird we saw was a Jay in the trees,we headed for the lake where there were plenty of birds to see.Mallards,Canadas,Tufted Ducks,Coots,BH Gulls & Feral Pigeons were the most numerous.Good to see a Mute Swan (yellow Tag201) & a male Goosander, we just spotted one Common Gull & a large Gull which we think was a Herring Gull with a Juvenile in tow.Others included Dunnock & Robin with several hybrid ducks, one of which looked like a Muscovy but we weren't sure.We always like to see the Grey Squirrels in the Park but we were not so keen on the Brown Rat which was after the food being left for the birds.

Jay

Mute Swan (Yellow Tag201)

Dunnock

male Goosander

Herring Gull

Herring Gull with Juvenile

Hybrid Duck

Not so keen on Brown Rats

Prefer Grey Squirrels

male Tufted Duck

Good selection of birds

Lister Park 21/11/2015

Redcar Tarn

Saturday 14th November a.m.
A cloudy morning with a strong wind blowing & showers & feeling bitterly cold although the temperature was a deceptive 6°C.We just had a quick walk round the Tarn seeing Dunnock & Chaffinch in the surrounding hedges with Jackdaws & Rooks in the fields.The water held the usual Mallards,Muscovy,Canadas,Coots,Moorhen,BH Gull,Common Gull & LBB Gulls.We got back into the car as a heavy shower started seeing a couple of Pied Wagtails as we did. We watched the birds from here for a while before heading home.
As we came down the hill approaching Cullingworth there was a mixed flock of BH & LBB Gulls in a field along with a flock of c150 Starlings.

BH Gull

BH Gull 1st Winter

Common Gull

LBB Gull Juvenile

LBB Gull 1st Winter

LBB Gull

Coot

Pied Wagtail

Redcar Tarn 14/11/2015