Leeshaw

Saturday April 13th a.m.
 An overcast start to the day with NO frost for a change and a temperature of 4.5°C on
our arrival at Leeshaw Reservoir. A good start to the morning with the sound of
Oystercatchers when we got out of the car also Lapwings were calling & displaying.
We walked along the track seeing Canadas & Greylags in a nearby field, just a couple of
Mallards on the water. Carrying on the track there were a few Meadow Pipits & in a distant
field Pheasant were present and a Pied Wagtail flew over.Turning the bend along the track up
the hill Curlew were  seen and higher up another pair of Oystercatchers, with more Lapwings.
With a reasonable haul of birds we began making our way back along the track along side the
reservoir checking the Canadas a red pair of legs appeared, Redshank which flew over the wall
into the next field quickly followed by a second. Then in front of us where the farmers muck is
piled a pair of Grey Wagtails with a couple of Pied Wags & more Meadow Pipits.Then another
bird moved in the grass a bit further away not a Mipit, it was brown on top with a light rump, yes
a female Wheatear, my first of the year and at this location.
 Well what a morning, birding at its best and not finished yet as I was editing a picture of a Lapwing,
on the wall low down is what looks like a Little Owl. Another lesson learnt don't just scan the
tops of walls look on ledges further down too.
 Well as I said things couldn't get any better than this, read my next report as we moved to Fly Flatts
via Paul Clough to see if they did.
15 - BH Gulls
25 - Canadas
6 - Curlew
4 - Greylag
2  - Grey Wagtails
25 - Lapwing
1 - Little Owl
10 - Meadow Pipit
4 - Pheasant
5 - Pied Wags
8 - Oystercatcher
2 - Redshank
1 - Wheatear female
plus others

Curlew

Grey Wagtail

Grey & Pied Wagtail

Meadow Pipit

Oystercatcher

Redshank

female Wheatear



Lapwing & back right Little Owl I think



Leeshaw Canadas

Leeshaw Wheatear

Mystery bird update

Thursday April 11th
 After doing a bit of searching on Google I found a bird called a Northern Bobwhite or
Virginia Quail, which is native to the Eastern USA,Mexico & the Caribbean.After seeing
pictures of the male bird, in my opinion its a dead ringer for the one seen today in our
neighbours garden.They are apparently a domesticated bird but this does not explain fully
how it has ended up in Cullingworth.
Try Google Northern Bobwhite & see if you agree on the species, here are a few more pics.

possible Northern Bobwhite

Unusual Garden Visitor

Thursday April 11th
 An unusual visitor to our neighbors garden today, I was unsure weather it was a
Partridge or a Quail. Looking at the snaps I've plumped for Quail but I'm still not
sure,the bird was eating seed & some water was put out for it.Don't know where
its appeared from but seems healthy enough if it can avoid the local Cats etc.

Quail I think ?

Anglers Country Park

From Monday April 8th p.m.
 A visit to Anglers Country Park near Wakefield yesterday afternoon, where it was
overcast with the odd bit of sunshine.This is a big lake with Wintersett Reservoir close
by which is another large body of water.We made our way to the main hide seeing
Cormorants,Oystercatchers,Gadwalls,Tufted  & Goldeneyes from here. Continuing our
walk we saw a Kestrel perched in a tree and a large number of Wigeon with some Coots
feeding on the grass near the lake. We also saw a Gt C.Grebe,Canadas & Mute Swans as
we walked round,an enjoyable walk.

Kestrel

Gt C. Grebe

Goldeneye

Wigeon

Cormorants

Wigeon & Coots

Wigeon

Oystercatcher & Gadwall Ducks

Anglers CP

Redcar Tarn

Monday April 8th a.m.
 A quick visit to Redcar Tarn this morning with a strong cold wind blowing,overcast
sky & a temperature of 3.5°C.The usual waterfowl were present with the addition of
Lapwings & an Oystercatcher in the adjacent fields.Walking round also seen were
Chaffinch,Dunnock,Pied Wagtail & a few Corvids. 
7 - Canada
4 - Chaffinch
c125 - BH Gulls
42 - Common Gulls
1 - LBB Gull
15 - Jackdaw
1 - Rook
1 - Oystercatcher
3 - Pied wags
21 - Tufted Duck
plus others

Tufted Duck

Canada & Greylag

Pied Wag

Gulls on the island

Yeadon Tarn

Sunday April 7th a.m.
 After a frosty start the sun was out again with a temperature of 3.5°C on our arrival at Yeadon
Tarn.There were less birds on the water than recent visits but we still saw Canadas,Mallards,
Moorhen,Coot,Mute Swan,Tufted Duck & Gt C. Grebe.We had an enjoyable walk round the
Tarn with some birds to see out in the fresh air.

Mute Swan

Moorhen

Tufted Ducks & Gt C. Grebe

Yeadon Tarn

Hornsea Mere

Saturday April 6th
 We arrived at Hornsea Mere with the sun shining & the temperature at 7°C,seeing
Canadas,Greylags,Mallards,Coots,Mute Swan & Moorhen near to where we parked
the car. We went to the mere cafe for some lunch then noticed someone with a camera
taking pictures so went to see what they were snapping & there near the jetty was a Drake
Long-tailed Duck, wow what a great bird, and another lifer for us.Needless to say out came
the cameras and we managed several decent snaps before the bird moved further away.We
also saw Cormorants flying over Herring Gulls,Goldeneye,Tufted Ducks & a Pied Wagtail.A
good end to a fantastic days birding as we set off for home.

Drake Long-tailed Duck

LT Duck about to dive

Pied Wagtail

Herring Gulls