Leeshaw

Saturday April 20th a.m.
 On arrival at Leeshaw the temperature was on the up at 6°C, and the sun was out with blue
skies.The Oystercatchers were on the Dam wall a bit closer to us for a change,Lapwing in the
surrounding fields,some were displaying, a Little Owl was sat on a ledge sticking out from a
boundary wall.There were Canadas & Greylags in the top field which later went onto the water
joining a few Mallards & a couple of Cormorants.Pied  & Grey Wagtails were again on the muck
pile, these were joined by Mipits & Wheatear.There were other Wheatear about in the surrounding
fields, & a couple of Curlew were also seen.We were also surprised to see our first Willow Warbler
of the year here, a first for us at this location, also a couple of Swallows were flying around.Another
good mornings birding here & on the way home we finished off at Leeming.

Oystercatcher

Grey Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

Little Owl

Lapwing

Cormorant

Wheatear

Oystercatchers - one doing a balancing act

Canadas coming in to land

Paul Clough

Saturday April 20th a.m.
 A frost last night which meant a chilly start to the day but the early hazy sunshine soon
brightened increasing the temperature as the morning wore on.After last weeks success
we returned to Paul Clough where the temperature was 1.5°C, soon after getting out of
the car we saw a group of eight Wheatear near a wall in the distance. Curlew & Mipits
along with a couple of Lapwings were the other birds seen here. We walked along the
road a short distance where there were more Wheatears a bit closer to us giving us chance
to get some snaps. Happy after seeing these we moved to Leeshaw followed by Leeming
Reservoir.

female Wheatear

male Wheatear

male Wheatear among the grass

Paul Clough

Garden Visitors

Tuesday April 16th
 Another reasonable day with sunshine and temperatures again into double figures,the
wind still strong & gusty at times.With the improved weather the Queen Bees will be
feeding up on pollen & looking to start new colonies.First thing in a morning though they
can be motionless on the floor waiting for their wings to dry out.This morning there was
one on our drive so we all took care where we stepped to enable it to go on its way later
in the day.With the decline in the Bee population watch out for Queen Bees on the ground,
we need as many as possible to start colonies, so new Bees can pollinate flowers & crops.
 In the garden over the last week or so we have had regular visits from Bullfinch,Blue,Great &
LT Tits,Blackbirds,Greenfinch,,Jackdaw,Woodpigeon & Robin.With all these birds we
decided to move the bird feeder up the garden nearer the house to hopefully get some better
snaps Dunnock,Siskin & Goldfinch obliged this evening.
 This morning it was good to see the return of two House Martins flying over the same location
in the village as the last couple of years.

Queen Bee

Pair of Bullfinch

LT Tit & Siskin

Jackdaws

Dunnock

Goldfinch & Siskin

Siskin

Leeming Reservoir

Monday 15th April p.m.
 On arrival at Leeming the sun was out with a temperature of 15°C, the first bird seen was a
Curlew flying overhead, with a Pied Wagtail near the water.I could here a loud call from a
bird but couldn't see it then two birds flew across the water to the opposite bank, they were
Redshanks a first  for us here. As I walked down the side of the reservoir I looked ahead with
the binoculars hoping to see the  drake Goldeneye still present, it was. As I got closer I could
see two Drakes & a female Goldeneye & a pair of Goosanders another first for us at  this site.
Then I heard another noisy bird call, an Oystrecatcher flew across the reservoir and landed
briefly before disappearing into the surrounding fields.Phew! I was glad I had stopped here on my
way home as a few Swallows with a couple of Sand Martins added to the tally.The small amount
of exposed shoreline already attracting waders this site looks promising over the next few weeks.
As I was leaving to round things of nicely a Kestrel hovered near the chimney as I drove past.
2 - Curlew
3 - Goldeneye
2 - Goosander
1 - Kestrel
1 - Oystercatcher
2 - Pied Wagtail
2 - Redshank
2 - Sand Martin
6 - Swallow
plus others

Goldeneye

Drake & female Goldeneye

Goosander

Pied Wag - That water looks cold

Its OK once your in

record shot of Redshank

record shot of two Redshanks

Leeming Goldeneyes & Goosanders

Shoreline at Leeming Reservoir

Leeshaw

Monday April 15th p.m.
 Another mild day with sunny spell this afternoon with the temperature in the mid teens.
Back to school today for me but my dad had an afternoon to spare & with the weather set
fair guess what he decided to do some birding. Here's his report from Leeshaw Reservoir
which will be followed by one from Leeming where he stopped off on the way home.
 As Danny has said it was a pleasant afternoon but there was a strong blustery wind blowing
at Leeshaw when I arrived.I could see Canadas & Greylags grazing in the top field with a cock
Pheasant & Lapwings in a nearby field, there was also a small bird on the dam wall.Through the
binoculars I could see it was a female Wheatear with a male nearby on the grass.I scanned the
boundary walls carefully & managed to pick out two Little Owls, our lesson learnt from Saturday.
There was a pair of Redshank & several Oystercatchers around which were all quite mobile, I also
got a distant view of a couple of Curlew. A pair of Grey Wags where making some noise near the
Little Owls who showed no concern, a couple of Swallows appeared feeding over the water.
47 - Canada
6 - Greylag
2 - Grey Wagtail
c35 - Lapwing
2 - Little Owl
5 - Oystercatcher
4 - Pheasant
2 - Curlew
2 - Swallow
2 - Wheatear
plus others

Lapwing

Little Owl

Oystercatcher

female Wheatear on Dam wall

Leeshaw Reservoir

Dowley Gap

Sunday April 14th a.m.
 A very mild start to the day with a stong blusterly wind & a temperature of 14.5°C on
our arrival at Dowley Gap.It was overcast with the sun breaking through now & again plus
the odd light shower.The first bird we saw was a Mute Swan at the side of the canal, there
were also Greylags & Mallards. Looking over to the water works there was a pair of
Oystercatchers & some Pied Wagtails. Also flying above were Swallows & Sand Martins,
good to see them back with the usual singing Wrens. Further along near the Aqueduct a
Chiffchaff was calling, the river was very quiet with just a few Mallards.
7 - Greylags
10 - Mallards
1 - Mute Swan
2 - Oystercatchers
6 - Pied Wags
4 - Sand Martin
8 - Swallow
2 Wren
plus others

Mute Swan

Oystercatcher

pair of Mallards

 

Paul Clough & Fly Flatts

Saturday April 13th a.m.
 On we went with the sun now out & the temperature rising to 7°C towards Fly Flatts
hoping to see some more Wheatear. Turning off the main road from Oxenhope we went up
the steep hill as it leveled out at the top a Red-legged Partridge ran at the edge of the road,
I was well genned up on this bird after recent events, no doubt about this one.We approached
the mast near the top of Paul Clough seeing three Wheatear here before pulling up at Paul Clough.
This is a tree lined steep sided valley well know among local birders as a hot spot for migrants we
soon  saw several more Wheatear, as well as Lapwing & Curlew. We saw another bird through the
bins which we thought we recognized but not being 100% sure decided to let go.
 We moved to Fly Flatts having to negotiate the deep pot holes in the road which are only passable
with great care & fingers crossed! No sign of Wheatear higher up along the road,Canadas were on
the water & an Oystercatcher was seen and again Curlew,Lapwing & Meadow Pipit.With time
running out and my dad having other stuff to do we headed back to Paul Clough.
 Here we saw more Wheatear,then on the skyline a drumming Snipe, pleased with ourselves we
went back to the car.Then just before we set off the bird we saw earlier re-appeared on the fence
20m from the road,this time we were in no doubt as a second bird landed, Stonechat. A first for us
& we managed to get a record snap, did things get even better than our earlier visit to Leeshaw, I
think they did.
c40 - Canada
7 - Curlew
8 - Lapwing
10 - Meadow Pipit
1 - Red-legged Partridge
1 - Snipe
2 - Stonechat
10 - Wheatear

Stonechat

Snipe

female Wheatear

male Wheatear

Paul Clough Wheatear

Paul Clough with Leeming Reservoir in the distance (picture taken last year)

Looking up towards Paul Clough