Harold Park

Sunday 4th January a.m.
 Another cold night with a sharp frost this morning as we headed for Harold Park where it was sunny on our arrival with a temperature of 0°C.As we entered the park there was a small flock of birds in the trees which included Blue,Long-tailed Tits & Chaffinch.The lake was full of birds with Cormorant,Gt Crested Grebe,Mute Swan & Tufted Duck among the other common species.In the trees at the edge off the lake were two Grey Herons ,some Gulls were at the corner of the lake where a section of the water was frozen over.We stood here for a while & saw two of the three GC Grebes approach us, they were not happy with the ice one of them testing it with its beak.They were close to us with the sun shining on them just right for anyone wanting a few snaps.Walking back into the other area of park we spotted a Collared Dove & a couple of Mistle Thrushes.The Blackbirds were lifting leaves on the ground looking for food,a Wren was spotted as we watched them, then several Redwings were also seen doing the same as the Blackbirds.A great hours birding here, so we decided to continue down the road at Park Dam, report to follow.

Great Crested Grebe

Harold Park List

BH & Common Gull

Grey Heron

Collared Dove

Mistle Thrush

Redwing

Hard work getting a snap as dogs kept chasing the birds

Pair of Great Crested Grebe

Yeadon Tarn

From Friday 2nd January
 After my dads earlier visit to Mixenden we set off to Yeadon Tarn where it was sunny with a temperature of 6°C. As we walked round we could see good numbers of birds but the wind was very strong making the water very choppy & difficult for taking snaps.The drake Goldeneye was still present spending its time in the middle of the Tarn near the island.Other notable birds were Goosander, Gt C. Grebe, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck & Pied Wagtail. It was also good to see five Pochards, one of them a female which we have not seen here before, we managed to find some shelter from the wind & get some descent snaps of them.

Pochard

Yeadon Tarn List

male Pochard

female Pochard

Goldeneye & Goosander

Goosander & Gt C. Grebe

Gt C. Grebe

Moorhen

Pied Wagtail

Tufted Duck

Mute Swan

Yeadon Tarn 2/1/2015

Mixenden Res

Friday 2nd January a.m.
 My dad decided to have a quick visit to Mixenden Reservoir before we went to Yeadon Tarn, must have been some good birds there because we set off later than planned.Here is his report, sunny on arrival at Mixenden Reservoir I soon caught sight of the Great Northern Diver which has stayed longer than anybody expected.There were also a pair of Goosanders near the trees which I think soon left as I headed down passed the trees hoping for a decent picture of the GND.I saw a fellow birder who got some good views of the bird through his scope he also put me on to a Grey Wagtail as it flew passed me,so thanks to him.I was distracted by some LT Tits & a Coal Tit as I walked down then I got a couple of decent pictures of the Diver.I was also delighted to see a small flock of Goldcrests, a Treecreeper was also seen & a GSW which was too quick for a good picture.A Robin was also watching me wondering what all the fuss was about.All in all a great visit rounded off by a Kestrel perched on a distant tree which flew off as I approached camera range.Danny's report on Yeadon Tarn to follow N.P.

Goldcrest

Great Northern Diver

Coal Tit

LT Tit

GSW a bit too quick for me

Treecreeper

Robin keeping an eye on me

Long staying Great Northern Diver

Some early sunshine

Mixenden Reservoir 2/1/15

Redcar Tarn

Thursday 1st January a.m.
 A mild but dull start to the New Year with a temperature of 10°C as we headed off for a walk on to Hewenden Viaduct.A good number of the usual species were around getting our annual list off to a good start, the most notable birds came from the reservoir area which included Pheasant, Goosander, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan & Kestrel.
 We later went up to Redcar Tarn to see what was about, still high numbers of birds here including Lapwing,BH Gull,Mallard,Tufted Duck,Starling,Chaffinch,Muscovy,Pied Wagtail,Robin,LBB Gull & Common Gull.We caught up with the flock of Chaffinch on Tarn Lane but they were very flighty & we couldn't locate a Brambing in the flock today.There was another Gull that gave us a problem with ID, at first glance we thought Common Gull but it was too big.Then we thought Herring Gull right size but no red spot on the bill, we concluded maybe not a full adult, possibly 3rd or 4th Winter bird & settled for Herring Gull.

LBB Gull

Mallard & Pied Wagtail

Muscovy Ducks

Chaffinch

Herring Gull - 3rd or 4th Winter bird

male Tufted duck

female Tufted

Lapwings with Ovenden wind farm in the distance

Lapwings,BH Gull & Starlings