Park Dam

Sunday 24th July a.m.
 We followed our earlier visit to Harold Park by moving the short distance down the road to Park Dam where the temperature was still at 18°C.On approaching the lake we saw a pair of Little Grebes feeding five young chicks which were able to watch for quite sometime. Canadas flew from a nearby field on to the lake and there were several broods of Coots along with Moorhen & Tufted Ducks.A pair of Gt Crested Grebes were on the other side of the lake with three chick and flying above were Swallows and Swifts.It was also good to see a pair of Grey Wagtails fly past us & land on the overhead wires where we were able to get a snap.

Little Grebe with chicks

Little Grebe chick

Little Grebe chicks

GCG with chicks

Coot with chicks

Grey Wagtail

Park Dam 24/7/2016

Harold Park

Sunday 24th July a.m.
A cloudy but dry start to the day with a temperature of 18°C on our arrival at Harold Park.We headed for the lake where there were a pair of Mute Swans with four cygnets.The pair of Great Crested Grebes still have four chicks which have grown well since our last visit.One adult was resting with one chick whilst the other adult was busy feeding three hungry chicks.There was also the usual Canadas,Mallards,Tufted Ducks,Coots & Moorhens.In a tree on the island was a Grey Heron and nearby was a Collared Dove.Higher up in the park near the bowling green a Pied Wagtail was feeding a juvenile.

Mute Swan Cygnet

GT Crested Grebe chick

GCG with chick

Collared Dove

Grey Heron

Pied Wagtail

Mute Swans and GC Grebes 

Harold Park 24/7/2016

Denholme Clough

Saturday 23rd July a.m.
 A bright sunny morning with a temperature of 15°C as we went through the gate that leads into the field at the start of our Denholme Clough walk to Doe Park Reservoir.As we went into the field we saw several Blackcaps and Willow Warblers, also a couple of Jays.As we followed the beck through the Clough we saw a good number of Willow Warblers & Swallows were also flying around.When we arrived at the reservoir which had no shoreline and no birds, oh I tell a lie we saw one BH Gull.
We headed back seeing more Willow Warblers and Goldfinch were feeding on the Thistle seeds, a Grey Wagtail flew past and soon after a pair of Oystercatchers flew over.In a distant tree we saw a couple of Linnets, our attention turned to the large numbers of Butterfly getting a couple of snaps of these.

Willow Warbler

Jay

Swallows

Goldfinch

Large Skipper

Meadow Brown

Denholme Clough

Doe Park Reservoir

Harden Moor

Sunday 17th July a.m.
A cloudy start to the day with a strong blustery wind and a temperature of 13°C, which we have found are not the best conditions for Harden Moor as it proved to be.Despite the conditions we started well with an Adult and juvenile Green Woodpecker, the juvenile posing for a picture.The Sand Martins are still in the quarry as was a single Oystercatcher, other birds tended to keep out of the wind with the exceptions of plenty Meadow Pipits,a Kestrel & a couple of LBB Gulls flying over.
We had a walk round the moor just spotting one Willow Warbler and a Song Thrush, a Robin with a couple of juveniles in tow rounded the morning off.

Juvenile Green Woodpecker

one of a number of Mipits

Song Thrush

Robin Juvenile

Redcar Tarn

Saturday 16th July a.m.
A cloudy morning up at Redcar Tarn with a temperature of 14°C where many of the usual species were to be seen.There was a post breeding flock of around fifty Lapwings in the surrounding fields,also Starlings,BH  & LBB Gulls.Swallows were swooping low over the water whilst House Martins were feeding above the trees.A Curlew made an appearance and it was good to see two Stock Doves a species we've not seen much of this year.

LBB Gull

BH Gull

Coots

Lapwings

Rook

Redcar Tarn 16/7/2016

Cullingworth

Sunday 10th July a.m.
 A cloudy morning with a strong blustery wind but the occasional sunny spell brightened our hopes as we set off on our walk.We soon saw House Martins above the houses then swooping down to feed chicks chirping in their nest,probably the second brood of the year.These as usual built of mud on the wall of the house under the eves over hang, so only a quick look at this activity is advisable so as not to upset residents.Higher above the House Martins a couple of Swifts were feeding, other common species were seen on route with more good numbers of House Martins seen possibly post breeding birds which tend to flock together as the summer progresses.More Swifts were seen at the viaduct and a Chiffchaff was belting out its song,on the reservoir were 25 Canadas and 26 Mallards.A pair of Oystercatchers were on the Dam wall with a LBB Gull passing through overhead.Down Station Road a Greenfinch was calling with several Swallows feeding and some going in to a barn, no doubt to feed young.A juvenile Pied Wagtail was seen and also a Juvenile Blackbird, we headed back under the viaduct seeing a charm of c15 Goldfinch in the field starting on the Thistle seed heads already.
Little else was seen until we got to the mill where we saw another Chiffchaff singing, then as we came back to the village more House Martins,Swallows and Swifts were seen.

Swallow

Greenfinch

Juvenile Blckbird

Juvenile Pied Wagtail

Oystercatchers

Hewenden Reservoir