Sunday 29 January 2017

Cullingworth & Hewenden Reservoir

Sunday 29th January a.m.
 A keen overnight frost and a temperature of just 0°C as I headed for Hewenden Reservoir, the sun was rising though giving a bright sunny morning.As I approached the viaduct a flock of Canadas flew past as they left the reservoir quickly followed by a second then a third came by which time the camera was ready to use.Not much to see here apart from a couple of Blue Tits,Carrion Crows and Jackdaws with BH Gulls on the dam wall.At the bottom of Station Road there were a couple of Fieldfares, one posing well as did a Goldfinch and Greenfinch in the same area.The wood was very quiet with nothing seen as I came round the other side of the Res a Kestrel was perched in a distant tree.On the water were eight Tufteds,three Goosanders,three Goldeneye, two Cormorants and a pair of Wigeon plus Mallards and Moorhen.Further on I caught up with the Kestrel again, a Robin and a Wren posed briefly and Gulls were in the fields otherwise a quiet walk home.
Nigel.
Fieldfare


Goldfinch

Greenfinch

Kestrel


Robin

Wren


Blue Tit

male Goleneye

Tufted Ducks

Goldeneye and Wigeon

Goosander and Wigeon

Canadas on the move from Hewenden Reservoir 29/1/2017

Sunday 22 January 2017

Yeadon Tarn

Sunday 22nd January a.m.
As I walked round Yeadon Tarn there was a chill in the air with a temperature of just 1°C and dull skies making difficult conditions for photography.The path was icy in places after an overnight frost, the bird numbers were down too with just common species on view.The most notable being a couple of Juvenile Mute Swans (Red 511Y & 515Y), Tufted Ducks, Moorhen, BH and Common Gulls.The Coots did have a good number of forty which was higher than usual and as I headed to the car park there was a charm of c25 Goldfinch and five Greenfinch.
Nigel.
Juvenile Mute Swan


male Tufted Duck

female Tufted Duck

BH and Common Gulls


Dunnock

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

male House Sparrow

female House Sparrow

Moorhen

Yeadon Tarn 22/1/2017

Saturday 21 January 2017

Dowley Gap & Hirst Wood

Saturday 21st January a.m.
A dull morning with a temperature of 4°C as I walked alongside the canal at Dowley Gap with the sound of a Song Thrush giving an excellent tune.Also nearby was a couple of Jays but little else so an about turn heading back towards the water works where there were BH Gulls and c75 Pied Wagtails in the filter tanks with three Grey Wagtails also seen.Further along through Hirst Wood and down to the River Aire where there were three Goosanders and a Dipper which stayed around giving chance of some pictures.Also nearby a Goldcrest and Coal Tit were seen before heading back again to the water works where there were Wrens,Robin and a Reed Bunting could be seen in a distant tree.As I went back along the canal a Kingfisher was seen perched but as I began to move the camera it was off into a nearby Holly tree.
Nigel.
Dipper




Goosander


Pied Wagtail


Robin singing

Song Thrush singing

Wren


Goosanders at Hirst Wood 21/1/2017

Saturday 14 January 2017

Park Dam

Saturday 14th January a.m.
 As the sun got brighter I made my way the short distance over to Park Dam where there were nine Goosanders, 3 Cormorants, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Gt C. Grebe and 60 Canadas which were grazing in the field.There were also BH and Common Gulls among the other more common species, one bird stood out which I thought was a Teal it was at full range of the bins so I wasn't 100% sure, the picture I took of it later confirmed my original ID of a male Teal.
Nigel.
Great Crested Grebe




Little Grebe

male Teal

BH Gulls

Common Gull

Cormorant

Goosander


Cormorants & Goosanders

Canadas

Park Dam 14/1/2017