Yeadon Tarn

Saturday 16th January a.m.
A real cold start to the day with plenty frost and ice around, we had a start temperature of 0°C on our arrival at Yeadon Tarn.As we got out of the car we had to set the camera up straight away as there was a charm of c30 Goldfinch feeding in the nearby trees.We walked down to the Tarn which was about 60% covered with ice which some of the BH Gulls,Mallards,Moorhens & Coots were walking on.Good to see three Pochards here as well as Mute Swans,Tufted Ducks,Canadas & Great Crested Grebes.As we went around the boat end a Grey Wagtail flew over landing on a distant roof, further along a Pied Wagtail flew over which we caught up with on the tarmac at the feeding area.A good walk round the Tarn in the early morning Winter sunshine added a few more common species, such as Robin,Chaffinch & House Sparrow before heading off with a full camera of snaps to sort out & share with you.

Mute Swan

Goldfinch

Robin

Mallard on the ice

Moorhen on the ice

female Pochard

female Tufted Duck & male Pochard

Pied Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Gt Crested Grebe

Yeadon Tarn 16/1/2016

Redcar Tarn Gulls

From Sunday 10th January
I've been sorting through the snaps of Gulls we took at Redcar Tarn yesterday to try and ID with some success.Sometimes though even when looking through reference books or pictures on the internet ID is still hard work.On one of the snaps below is what we think are two LBB Gulls probably 1st Winter & 2nd Winter birds, but still the possibility of GBB Gulls was difficult to dismiss altogether.A third winter Herring Gull we were more sure of because its newer plumage on its mantle and back were so pale.Another picture of flying Gulls we were pretty sure has a GBB Gull adult in the centre showing its black back,pink legs and large areas of darkness on the under wing.Here are the snaps any knowledgeable Gull watchers feel free to comment if were wrong or right.

Common Gull

BH Gulls

Herring Gull 3rd Winter

BH & Herring Gull

Common & Herring Gull

LBB Gulls

LBB 2nd Winter we think, but didn't dismiss GBB Gull

LBB 1st & 2nd Winter Gulls again GBB was an option

BH Gulls with GBB Gull above

GBB Gull centre,Herring Gull top & three Common Gulls

Redcar Tarn

Sunday 10th January p.m.
Another poor morning with heavy rain showers meant putting our birding off until this afternoon when we visited a blustery Redcar Tarn with a temperature of 5°C.There were high numbers of BH Gulls & Mallards with the usual Canadas,Tufted Ducks,Jackdaws & Rooks.There were also Common Gulls & Lesser Black-backed Gulls,with other large sub adults.These we got some snaps off so hope to make a stab at ID later but for now here are some to be going on with.

BH & Common Gull

female Tufted Duck

male Tufted Duck

I like these little white Hybrid Ducks

Common Gull with BH on lookers

Canada,BH & Common Gull

BH Gulls

LBB Gull

Redcar Tarn 10/1/2016

Lister Park

Saturday 9th January a.m.
A poor morning with fog and drizzle turning to more heavy rain later in the morning, the temperature at Lister Park on arrival was 4°C.We concentrated on the Lake area which held good numbers of Canadas,Mallards,Tufted Ducks,Coots & Moorhens.There were also four male & two female Goosanders which was good to see.

male Goosander

female Goosander

All six Goosanders if you can spot them among the Mallards,Coots & others

Lister Park 9/1/2016

Harold Park & Park Dam

Sunday 3rd January a.m.
A cloudy but dry start to the day with a temperature of 6°C on our arrival at Harold Park where we headed straight for the Lake.It was good to see a male Goosander here along with the two resident Great Crested Grebes.Others included Mallards,Tufted Duck,Coot & Moorhen.We then headed for the small pond higher up in the park & were surprised to see another four Goosanders here along with Canadas,Mallards & Moorhen.
 We then went the short distance down the road to Park Dam where there were c75 Canadas grazing in the adjacent field.On the lake we counted five Little Grebes, along with Coots,Moorhen,BH Gulls, Common Gulls & Tufted Ducks.There was a bigger Gull which had a pale back & we noted as  a Herring Gull.We moved to the middle of the Lake & saw two Pied Wagtails fly past us, soon after a Grey Wagtail flew over our heads & landed at the other side of the Lake under the Dam wall.We noticed a couple of other birders arrive at the edge of the Lake so walked round to find D.P. & his wife adding a few birds to their New Year list.The bird we had logged as a Herring Gull had a fly round showing its pink legs, it was joined by a couple of younger birds which were difficult to ID.Looking at the snaps we took we think they were 1st Winter Herring Gulls, they did seem larger than the adult Herring Gull though.

GC Grebe

male Goosander

female Goosander

Goosanders on small pond

Little Grebes at Park Dam

Four of the five Little Grebes seen

Herring Gull & BH Gull

Herring Gull & Common Gull

1st Winter Herring Gull with adult

Harold Park Goosanders & Mallards

Harold Park pond with the Lake in the background