Swillington Ings

Saturday 22nd February a.m

A trip out to Swillington with some sun and a very mild 7°C and plenty of birds with c50 Lapwings on Astley Lake.  Also here were Curlew, Little Egret, Pochard, Shelduck, Tufted, Oystercatcher, Cormorant and Shoveler.  A good walk around the site produced more birds including a good count of 43 Curlew, Goldeneye, Teal, Gt C. Grebe, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, Gadwall and Red Kite. 

Red Kite

Reed Bunting

Shoveler

Stonechat

Gadwall

Goldeneye

Little Egret

Mipit

Pochard

Curlew

Swillington Ings 22/2/2025

Hewenden Reservoir

Tuesday 18th February p.m.

Another dull cold morning so it wasn't until this afternoon when some sun appeared and the temperature had risen to 3°C before I ventured out.  Another walk on to Hewnden Reservoir where it was full of birds, c50 Canadas, c150 Gulls, c50 Lapwings, 15 Teal and 20 Cormorants.  There were now nine Oystercatchers but I only spotted one pair of Goldeneye, others seen were Buzzard, Stock Dove, Moorhen, Tufted and Goosander.

Oystercatcher

Plenty worms to eat

Teal

Cormorants

Goldeneye

Lapwing

Buzzard

Goosander

Stock Dove

Herring, LBB & BH Gulls

Oystercatchers

Lapwings, Oystercatchers & BH Gulls

Hewenden Reservoir 18/2/2025

Leeshaw

Sunday 16th February p.m.

After a foggy morning there was a glimmer of sunshine which prompted me to go to Leeshaw where the sun disappeared with full cloud cover and just 3°C.  There were c50 Canadas with a few Greylags, the Red-necked Grebe was still present.  Also a pair of Goosanders and a female Goldeneye, plus two Oystercatchers, Cormorant and Pheasant.

Red-necked Grebe

Canadas

Cormorant

Goldeneye

Leeshaw Reservoir 16/2/2025

Hewenden Reservoir

Thursday 13th February p.m. 

Making the most of a dry day I had a walk on to Hewenden Reservoir, still chilly at 3°C, on my way through the village seeing a couple of Collard Doves and a GSW.  The Buzzard was back on top of a pole, occasionally dropping down into the field below, there were c50 Canadas grazing and c100 Lapwings.  There were four Oystercatchers, five Teal, four Goldeneye, one Goosander and eight Tufteds.  Also there were c20 Cormorants and c100 Gulls, mainly BH Gulls with a few each of Herring & Common, heading back a Kestrel capped things off.

  

Kestrel

Lapwings

Oystercatcher 

Buzzard

Goldeneye

Goosander

Cormorant

Hewenden Reservoir 13/2/2025

Redcar Tarn

Thursday 13th February a.m.

Finally a half decent morning with no rain or fog but still full cloud cover and chilly at 2°C.  Good numbers of birds at the Tarn with c50 Herring Gulls, c50 BH Gulls & c30 Canadas plus a returning Oystercatcher.  The male Pintail & Wigeon were present, others included LBB Gull, Common Gull, Pied Wagtail, Greylag, Tufted, Jackdaw & Rook.

Oystercatcher

Pintail

Wigeon

 

Pied Wagtail

LBB Gull

Jackdaw & Oystercatcher

Herring Gull

Greylag

Redcar Tarn 13/2/2025