Saturday 31 August 2019

Redcar Tarn

Saturday 31st August a.m.
A cloudy morning with a strong blustery wind and a temperature of 14°C up at Redcar Tarn where there was a nice surprise in the form of two Bar-headed Geese, probably escapees. They were with a flock of c100 Canadas, on the other side of the road there were c100 Lapwings with c50 Starlings. On the water the usual Mallards, BH Gulls and c25 LBB Gulls mainly 1st year birds.Others seen were Grey Heron on the island, Chaffinch, Robin, Rook, Jackdaw and Pied Wagtail.
Lapwing


Bar-headed Goose



Grey Heron

LBB Gull Juv


Redcar Tarn 31/8/2019

Monday 26 August 2019

Cullingworth & Hewenden Reservoir

Monday 26th August a.m.
A foggy start to the morning so I set off a bit later than usual with the temperature just 13°C seeing a flock of House Sparrows and Starlings in the mist.By the time I got to to Hewenden viaduct the mist was lifting and soon after it cleared leaving bright sunshine.There was a Kestrel on a pole in the distance, BH Gulls were on the Dam Wall and a Cormorant and Mute Swan could also be seen.I could just make out a Kingfisher before I moved on seeing Swallows,Goldfinch and a Herring Gull down Station Road.
 I went through the wood and the pond in the old quarry had a Little Grebe I was now seeing more Butterflies in the bright sunshine including Speckled Wood,Small Copper,Large White and Wall Brown.In addition I saw three Common Blue Damselflies nearing the farm I could make out a couple of Grey Wagtails near the reservoir overflow and a Pied Wagtail flew over with House Martins over the reservoir and more Goldfinch were feeding on the Thistle Seeds.
Swallow Juv

Swallow Adult

Goldfinch


Herring Gull

House Sparrow

Kestrel

Spot the Kingfisher

Kingfisher on the railing around 100m distance

Mute Swan

Large White

Small Copper

Speckled Wood

Wall Brown


Common Blue Damselfly

The mist starting to clear over Hewenden Reservoir

Hewenden in the sunshine 26/8/2019

Saturday 24 August 2019

Denholme Clough to Doe Park Reservoir

Saturday 24th August a.m.
 A bright sunny morning with a start temperature of 17°C as I made my way through the Clough. I didn't see many birds for a while then a couple of Blackcaps and Willow Warblers started me off well then the highlight of the morning as I approached the tunnel under the old railway line a couple of Spotted Flycatchers and above on the fence line in the distance a Wheatear. Through the tunnel and at the other side a Whitethroat was seen and another couple of Spotted Flycatchers and a couple of Jays.At the reservoir there was a Coot, Moorhen and Cormorant until 53 Canadas flew in to join them.
Spotted Flycatcher






Distant Wheatear

Willow Warbler

Jay

Painted Lady

Canadas arriving

Doe Park Reservoir 24/8/2019

Sunday 18 August 2019

Lister Park

Sunday 18th August a.m.
 A bright sunny morning with a strong wind blowing and a temperature of 14°C as I made my way around the Lake at Lister Park.There were c100 BH Gulls, just one LBB Gull and C50 Canadas along with the usual Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. The flock of Feral Pigeons numbered c50 and of the 25 Tufteds it was good to see a female with two chicks.
 Elsewhere in the Park a GSW was briefly seen along with Chaffinch, Nuthatch, Grey Wagtail and ten House Martins overhead.
Grey Wagtail



GSW

LBB Gull

Moorhen

Nuthatch

male Tufted

Tufted chicks

chicks with mum

BH Gull

Chaffinch


Feral Pigeon

Lister Park 18/8/2019