Harold Park & Park Dam

Sunday 14th February a.m.
 A bright sunny start to the day for a change making a big difference to our mornings birding, still cold with a temperature of 1°C on arrival at Harold Park.We went straight to the lake where there were good numbers of birds including Canadas,Coots,Moorhen Tufted Ducks,Mute Swans & BH Gulls.Always good to see the resident Great Crested Grebes, today there was an additional one possibly a first year bird, it was well away from the other two.Also up in a tree was a Grey Heron & under the trees near the island a first for us here in the form of a male Pochard.We walked to the small pond first hearing then seeing a pair of Greenfinch on our way, at the pond there were still five Goosanders along with two Mute Swans, Coots & Moorhen.
   We then moved the short distance to Park Dam where there was eight Goosanders,Canadas, Tufted Ducks, Cormorant,BH & Common Gulls,a single first year Mute Swan and seven Little Grebes.

Grey Heron

Pochard

male Goosander

female Goosander

Adult GC Grebe

GC Grebe poss first year

female Tufted Duck

Canada - Park Dam

Cormorant - Park Dam

Little Grebe - Park Dam

eight Goosanders at Park Dam

Harold Park Lake

Harold Park Pond 14/2/2016

Rodley Nature Reserve

Sunday 7th February a.m.
We followed on to Rodley from Yeadon Tarn where there were some sunny spells in between the clouds.On the ponds were Gadwall,Goldeneye,Little Grebe,Tufted Duck,Teal and Mute Swans, it was also good to see two Black Swans.The flock of Linnets c75 birds did a couple of fly pasts before settling in a distant tree and they moved on as we approached.In the feeding area we saw Reed Bunting,Pheasant,Greenfinch,Chaffinch,Jay,Bullfinch & others with the bonus of a Red Kite passing over in the distance.As we went back passed the ponds we saw a GSW & there was an early Oystercatcher on one of the islands.

Reed Bunting

male Bullfinch

female Bullfinch

Greenfinch

Pheasant

Chaffinch

Linnet

some of the Linnet flock

Gadwall

Goldeneye

Black Swans

Good to see the Black Swan

Rodley NR 7/2/2016

Yeadon Tarn

Sunday 7th February a.m.
We set off in the rain this morning but by the time we had reached Yeadon Tarn there was some sunshine with a strong blustery wind and a temperature of 3°C.The usual birds were present, always good to see the GC Grebes here, only two Mute Swans & generally a quiet circuit of the Tarn.

GC Grebe

Moorhen

Mute Swan

Tufted Duck

Wren

BH Gull

Yeadon Tarn 7/2/2016

Lister Park

Saturday 6th February a.m.
A dull morning with a temperature of 4°C as we made our way to the lake at Lister Park which held good numbers of the usual water birds.Good to see four Goosander and ten Greylags which are less frequent visitors to the park.After a walk round the lake we headed up to the stream which has a wooded area, by now it had begun to rain which was a shame because we found some good birds here.A Grey Wagtail was in the steam with other birds nearby, then we spotted a Treecreeper, which to snap what a dilemma or should we put the camera back in its case altogether as the rain was getting heavier.The result was a poor snap of each in the deteriorating conditions, then we saw Siskin feeding on the ground but the camera was back in the dry by now & it was time for us to do the same as we headed off for the car.

Treecreeper

Greylags

Tufted Duck

Goosander

male Goosander

Common Gull

Robin

Grey Wagtail

Mallards enjoying the view

Lister Park 6/2/2016