Hallas Bridge & Goit Stock Wood

Thursday 16th January a.m.

A lovely sunny morning but chilly after an overnight frost, just 3°C as I set off on my walk heading down to Hallas Bridge.  On my way seeing G.S.W., Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Robin & LT Tit which were in the trees with the sun shining on them. After crossing the bridge I followed the path alongside Hallas Beck and Goit Stock Waterfall heading to Harden caravan park on the way seeing two Dippers.  On my return journey I managed to get a couple of pictures of the Dipper.

Dipper

Nuthatch

Blue Tit

LT Tit

Hallas Beck

Goit Stock Waterfall

Cromwell Bottom

 Wednesday 15th January a.m.

Some sunny spells this morning with a temperature of 10 °C as I walked alongside the canal heading for the Ski Lake.  Here viewing is difficult but I did spot my target birds which were a male & female Greater Scaup at the far side of the Lake, so taking pictures was tricky.  There were also a few Goldeneye, Cormorants, Tufteds, Canadas, Grey Heron, BH Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull & LBB Gulls. 

Greater Scaup

Scaup & Tufted

Scaup & Tufted

Common Gull & Greater Scaup

Cormorant

Goldeneye

Herring Gull 

LBB Gull

Canal & Ski Lake at Cromwell Bottom 15/1/2025

Redcar Tarn

 Monday 13th January p.m.

The snow has begun to thaw which meant I could finally go see some birds up at Redcar Tarn, here it felt colder than 4°C with the Tarn 75% covered in ice.  Still plenty birds out in the poor conditions with c50 Mallards, c100 Gulls mainly BH & Herring with a few Common & LBB Gulls.  A LBB Gull had a leg ring NU46, there was also a Coot with a leg ring RXL, there were good numbers of Jackdaw and a few Rooks.  The long staying male Pintail & Wigeon were still here after the cold weather, several Canadas were also present.

Coot with leg ring RXL

Jackdaws

Rook

Pintail

Wigeon

Canadas

Common & Herring Gull

Herring Gull

LBB Gull with leg ring NU46

Mallards resting on the ice

Redcar Tarn 13/1/2025

Hewenden Reservoir

 Tuesday 7th January p.m.

Some sunshine around this afternoon with occasional snow flurries at 1°C, roads & paths still covered in snow so was hard work walking.  On arrival at the Reservoir there were c40 Canadas, three Goldeneye, two Goosanders, five Cormorant, four Teal plus Tufteds.  The Buzzard was on its perch & later in a tree, others were Moorhen, Mallard, Thrush & Dunnock. 

Buzzard

Canada & Goldeneye

Canadas & Tufteds

Cormorant

Dunnock

Goldeneye

Goosander

Thrush

Hewenden Reservoir 7/1/2025