Sunday, 8 April 2012

Dowley Gap, Bingley

Sunday April 8th a.m.
 Yet another dull morning but it did brighten up with a few sunny spells later in the morning the
temperature when we arrived was 8°C. There were several Greenfinch at the side of the road
where we park with three Greylags and a Mistle Thrush in the field. On the canal there was another
Greylag along with a couple of Mallards, a Song Thrush sang in a nearby tree. As we looked over to the Sewage Works there were c150 Black-headed Gulls and we spotted a Fox which laid down and was
surrounded by Magpies. Further along there were four Pied Wagtails and we watched a Wren singing.
As we were stood a pair of Oystercatchers flew low over us and landed in the Sewage works.We went
over the Aqueduct and into Hirst Wood alongside the River Aire seeing a female Goosander on the river.
There was Chiffchaff singing and we could here a GSW drumming, we had another low fly over, this time
by a Grey Heron which landed at the side of the river in front of us, again we were not quick enough to
get a snap.There were plenty Woodpigeons around and we saw four Stock Doves. We retraced our
steps back taking a snap of a couple of Feral Pigeons as we went over the Aqueduct, we saw some Chaffinch singing here. We went back along the canal over the bridge and in to a wood called Bull Copy again walking along the bank of the River Aire. The rowing boats were out on the river so apart from a
couple of Robins and Carrion Crow it was quiet. We admired some of the flowers making most of the
light before the leaves appear on the trees. We saw Butterbur,Lesser Celandine,Wood Anemone and
Bluebells. A good mornings birding and seeing some spring flowers in the woodland.
Greylag

Goosander

Wren

Feral Pigeons

Grey Heron

Fox

Fox surrounded by Magpies

Butterbur

Bluebells

Lesser Cellandine

Wood Anemone

Bull Copy Wood

Saturday, 7 April 2012

Leeshaw Reservoir and Damems

Saturday April 7th a.m.
A dull start to the day again with the odd bit of drizzle, a chilly 4°C as we made our way to Leeshaw
Reservoir near Oxenhope. There were Lapwings displaying and a couple feeding in the fields, there
were also Oystercatchers flying around and we spotted a couple feeding in a field where a Curlew
approached them and was quickly chased off. On the water just a couple of Mallards with a few
Canadas in the fields and then as we were about to leave 30 or so came flying in landing on the water.
c40 - Canadas
2 - Cormorant
2 - Curlew
2 - Grey Heron
14 - Lapwing
4 - Mallard
6 - Meadow Pipit
2 - Pheasant
4 -Pied Wagtail
6 - Oystercatcher
  From here we decided to go back to Damems near Keighley and explore a little more, it was still
cloudy with the temperature up slightly to 5°C. There were plenty Chiffchaff singing again and we
managed to spot a couple of them in the trees. We went down to Damems Station which is part of the
Worth Way Railway where they regularly run steam trains. Further along the line is Oakworth Station
where the film the Railway Children was filmed. We spotted the entrance to the Nature Trail which is
next to the station, this wooded area takes you between the railway line and the River Worth to a
picnic area. Also here is a viewing platform for steam train enthusiasts to watch the trains and take
some snaps. It was good to see a Jay in this area a bird we've not seen for a while.
3 - Chaffinch
4 - Chiffchaff
3 - Jay
4 - Mallard
1 - Mistle Thrush
plus other common species.
Oystercatcher

Curlew

Lapwing

Pied Wagtail

Cormorants

Canadas coming in to land

Mistle Thrush

Damems Station

Friday, 6 April 2012

Yeadon Tarn

Friday April 6th a.m.
 After our visit to Lister Park we went over to Yeadon Tarn where it was still cloudy although
the sun broke through now and then,temperature was 7.5°C. The usual species were here
including Canadas,Mallards,Coots,Moorhen,Mute Swans and Tufted Duck. As we were walking
round we spotted a Mandarin Duck which always adds a bit of colour to the day. There was an Oystercatcher flying around the island which is a first for us at this site. At the airport end there were six
Great Crested Grebe which is the highest number we've seen here. Other common species were in the
surrounding trees, the car park area always good to see these including Blue Tit,Great Tit,Chaffinch,
Collard Dove and Woodpigeon.
Mandarin Duck 1

Mandarin Duck 2

GT Crested Grebe 1

Great Crested Grebe 2

Mute Swans

Oystercatcher

Great Crested Grebes



Lister Park, Bradford

Friday April 6th a.m.
 Our first visit of the day was to Lister Park where it was dull and grey with a temperature of
5°C. The boats were out on the pond which is probably a sign of last weeks good weather but
in general there were fewer than normal birds about. I had some bread with me to feed the ducks
and geese but as we walked up to the pond area we were mobbed by c100 Ferral Pigeons. On
the water there were Canadas,Mallards,Coots,Moorhen,Tufted Duck and a Greylag. One
Tufted Duck which was on the grass posed for us while we took a couple of snaps, there were also
a pair of LBB Gulls on the other side of the pond. At the far end of the pond we found a group of
four Gulls that were a lighter grey colour than the LBB Gulls which led us to think they could be
Herring Gulls or Yellow Leg Gulls. One of them was an immature Gull but they soon flew off leaving
us only a couple of poor snaps so no definite ID, unless anyone can tell us from the snaps below.
 Elsewhere it was fairly quite with us seeing Robin,Dunnock,Blue Tits among the other common
species and of course plenty Grey Squirrels.
Tufted Duck 1

Tufted Duck 2

Greylag

Dunnock 

Grey Squirrel

LBB Gulls

Herring or Yellow Leg Gull?

Herring or Yellow Leg Gull 2?

Herring or Yellow Leg Gull? with immature in the middle

Thursday, 5 April 2012

Redcar Tarn

Thursday April 5th p.m.
  It was feeling pleasantly warm in the sunshine with only a gentle breeze and a temperature
of 8°C, I'm glad I was not up here in yesterdays blizzard, there was still snow up here. There
were good numbers of Gulls and I saw a pair of Oystercatchers on the island, first time I've
seen them up here.
c100 - BH Gulls
5 - Canadas
20 - Common Gull
12 - Coot
10 - Lapwing
3 - LBB Gull
c50 - Mallards
4 - Meadow Pipit
2 - Moorhen
1 - Mute Swan, Juvenile
2 - Pied Wagtail
4 - Rook
15 - Tufted Duck
plus other species.
Rook

Common Gull 1st Winter

Pied Wagtail

Pied Wagtail in the snow

Redcar Tarn 1

Redcar Tarn 2

Sunday, 1 April 2012

Garden Visitors

Sunday April 1st
 A sunny afternoon with a cool breeze blowing we had a few birds visiting the feeders, so
I took a few snaps. Elsewhere in the garden Primulas, Anemone and Snakeshead Fritillary are
all flowering.
Greenfinch 1

Greenfinch 2

Collard Dove

Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

Blackbird

Primula

Anemone

Snakeshead Fritillary 1

Snakeshead Fritillary 2

Local Walk

Sunday April 1st a.m.
  A cold frosty start this morning with a temperature of just 1.5°C when we set off taking the dog
for a long walk the same route as earlier this week. The sun was out though and it quickly began
to warm up. We saw many birds this morning getting distant views of most of them including
Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Dunnock, GSW, Grey Heron, Goldfinch, Kestrel, LT Tits, Pheasant, Pied
Wagtail and Wren. Some of the more common species we were able to get snaps of, we did see
a couple of male Pheasant squaring up to each other and feathers began to fly as they fought over
territory.
Chaffinch

Dunnock

female House Sparrow

male House Sparrow

male Blackbird

feathers fly as these cock Pheasants come to blows

Hewenden Reservoir very calm and quiet with Denholme village above