Hewenden Reservoir

 Tuesday 1st April p.m.

With some strong sunshine and a temperature of 11°C I set off to Hewenden Reservoir although the wind was now stronger than I expected making it feel cooler.  As I headed passed the farm I was surprised to see half a dozen Sand Martins flying around and despite my efforts I failed miserably in my attempt to get a picture of them.  Soon after a Kestrel was on a wire, there were two Oystercatchers next to c25 Canadas grazing. Others were Buzzard, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Moorhen, Teal and Tufteds.

Kestrel

Mute Swan

Oystercatcher 

 

Cormorant 

Canadas

Buzzard

Tufteds

Teal

Hewenden Reservoir 1/4/2025

Goit Stock Wood

Tuesday 1st April a.m.

A lovely sunny morning starting at 5°C so I headed down to Hallas Bridge and walked alongside Hallas Beck through Goit Stock Wood to the caravan park at Harden.  As hoped for I soon saw a Dipper and later a second, there were also a couple of Grey Wagtails, Chiffchaffs were singing. Others seen were Nuthatch, Jay, Coal Tit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Greenfinch. 

Dipper

Grey Wagtail

 

Hallas Bridge

Hallas Beck

Goit Stock Waterfall 1/4/2025

Harden Moor

 Wednesday 26th March a.m.

After a dull start the sun came out and the temperature rose to 10°C, I went for a walk on Harden Moor.  A couple of Jays flew over the quarry and there were over 10 Skylarks singing, three Chiffchaffs were heard and one seen, others were Linnets & Mipits. 

Linnet

Chiffchaff

Harden Moor 26/3/2025

Leeshaw

Monday 24th March a.m.

A sunny morning with a temperature of 10°C when I arrived at Leeshaw, where there were still c20 Oystercatchers.  Also seen Kestrel, Curlew, Lapwing,Canada, Greylag & Pied Wagtail.

I also had a walk on Trough Lane on the edge of Cullingworth Moor seeing my first Wheatear of the year as well as Stonechat, Meadow Pipit & Curlew. 

Oystercatcher

Wheatear on Trough Lane

Curlew

Kestrel

Lapwing

Pied Wagtail

Birds gathering at the waters edge

Leeshaw Reservoir 24/3/2025

Hewenden Reservoir

Friday 21st March p.m.

An overcast day with some brief spells of hazy sunshine, I had a walk on to Hewenden Reservoir this afternoon with the temperature up to 12°C.  There were two Oystercatchers  and I was pleased to see two Redshanks, others were Mute Swan, Teal, Canada, Cormorant, Tufted, Moorhen & Gulls.

Cormorant

Oystercatcher 

Redshank

 

Teal

Mute Swan

Hewenden Reservoir 21/3/2025

Swillington Ings

 Thursday 26th March a.m. 

A frosty start at Swillington but the temperature soon rose from 3°C as the bright sunshine got to work.  Astley Lake held Cormorant, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Pochard, Tufted, Lapwing, Shoveler, Oystercatcher, Gt Crested Grebe, Reed Bunting and loads of BH Gulls.  Walking between the Reedbeds Bitterns were booming (none seen), Cetti's Warblers  were everywhere with three seen and good to see a Black-necked Grebe on the Eastern Reedbed and another three on the Western side.  Also singing were Chiffchaff with three seen, I decided to have a treck to Lowther Lake and was rewarded seeing the long staying Red-crested Pochard.  Walking back past Main Lake I added Little Egret, Shelduck and Teal. 

Red-crested Pochard

Black-necked Grebe

Cetti's Warbler

Chiffchaff

Gadwall

Goldeneye

GC Grebe

Little Egret

Oystercatcher 

Pochard 

Reed Bunting

Shoveler 

Teal

Swillington Ings 20/3/2025