Hewenden Reservoir

Thursday 30th January p.m.

With the sun shining brightly and a temperature of 4°C I couldn't resist a walk on to Hewenden Reservoir seeing a Kestrel perched on a pole. There were c50 Canadas grazing with a dozen Moorhen and a single Wigeon.  Also in the same area it was great to see my first Oystercatcher of the year, there were five Goldeneye and seven Tufteds on the water.  There were over 20 Cormorants perched on the fallen trees in the water, c25 Lapwings flew over, others were BH Gull, Herring Gull, Pheasant, Robin & Wren.  

Oystercatcher

Pheasant

Wigeon & Moorhen

Wigeon

Lapwing

Kestrel

Goldeneye

Tufteds

Cormorant

Hewenden Reservoir

Canadas at Hewenden Reservoir 30/1/2025

Redcar Tarn

 Thursday 30th January a.m.

Bright and sunny again this morning with an overnight frost, the temperature up at the Tarn was 2°C.  Good numbers of birds including the usual BH, Herring and LBB Gulls, Canadas, Greylags, Tufteds, Rooks and Pied Wagtail.  

Pied Wagtail

Rook

Tufted

Greylag

Herring Gull

LBB Gull

Redcar Tarn 30/1/2025

Cromwell Bottom NR

 Wednesday 29th January a.m

A ride out to Cromwell Bottom in bright sunshine with a temperature of 5°C, on arrival heading to the Ski Lake.  It was good tosee the pair of Scaup still present although the female is hard to pick out of the Tufteds at distance with some of them with white above their bill.  Several Goldeneye and a couple of Goosanders, others were Grey Heron, BH, Common, Herring and LBB Gulls.

Scaup

Scaup & Tufteds

Goldeneye

Goosander

Grey Heron

Cromwell Bottom 29/1/2025

Swillington Ings

Sunday 26th January a.m.

Another frosty morning at just 1°C with full cloud cover and plenty ice on the footpaths at Swillington.  Starting at Astley Lake there were Lapwings, Cormorants, Shoveler, Goldeneye, Tufteds and I was surprised to see nine Great Black-backed Gulls.  The Lake was altered last Autumn with parts of it filled in creating more nesting places and hopefully more waders in the spring.  Near the Lake a Kestrel was perched on a post with some prey, a careful walk on to the main Lake where there were Gadwall, Gt C. Grebe and more of the same species seen earlier, further along were Grey Heron, Teal & Wigeon.  After walking round the reedbed I came back to Astley Lake where now there were nine Curlew, walking back to the car park there were more Gadwall,Teal & Tufteds in the River Aire plus a Little Grebe. 

 

Kestrel

Teal

Little Grebe 

Teal & Little Grebe

Gadwall

Pochard

Goldeneye

Grey Heron

Gt C. Grebe

Lapwing

Wigeon

GBB Gulls

Curlew

Astley Lake, Swillington Ings 26/1/2025