Redcar Tarn

Monday 29th August p.m.
  We went up to Redcar Tarn this evening to see if we could see a couple of unusual
geese that my Grandad said he saw here on Saturday. When we arrived at the Tarn it
was raining and only 11°C, so we sat in the car for a while. We could see the usual
numbers of Mallards and a high number of BH Gulls. The rain stopped and so we
walked round the Tarn seeing Lapwing,Coot, Moorhen,Pied Wagtail and Meadow
Pipit. It wasn't until we were completing the circle of the Tarn as it started to rain that
we spotted a different Goose stood on a Coots nest. We didn't recognise it,we took
a few snaps and rushed back to the car as the rain got heavy. We sat here for a while
and saw the unfamiliar Goose by the car with another one the same. We took a couple
more snaps and then went home to look in our bird books where we could see they
were a pair of Egyptian Geese. An unusual bird for this region and thanks to my
Grandad for the tip.
c200 - BH Gull
c100 - Mallards
c50 - Lapwing
25 - Coot
5 - Moorhen
4 - Pied Wagtail
2 - Egyptian Goose
1 - Meadow Pipit
1 - Tufted Duck

Egyptian Goose

Egyptian Geese

Egyptian Goose

Egyptian Goose and BH Gull

Redcar Tarn Keighley

Hallas Bridge and Goitstock Woods

Monday 29th August a.m.
  A bright sunny morning with a temperature of 10°C, we headed for Hallas Bridge,
all seemed quiet just seeing two Pied Wagtail and five Swallows flying low over the
fields. At Hallas Bridge we saw a Mistle Thrush, we had a good look round at the
bridge,you never know we might just spot a kingfisher,but no not today,but our
luck was still in when we saw a Dipper. This bird stayed for a long time so we got
some good snaps and a good view of it. We carried on out of the woods on to
Bents Lane where we saw more Swallows and a flock of c12 Mistle Thrushes
and a distant Kestrel. Back through the wood and out into the fields, we crossed
Cow House Beck where we saw four Grey Wagtails. Near here we saw a
Sparrow Hawk which went into a tree full of birds namely Long-tailed and Blue
Tits. They stayed put and waited for the Sparrow Hawk to fly off then the all came
towards us giving us a good view of the Long-tailed Tits. Further on we saw a Grey
Heron fly over, a Willow Warbler and as we came home along Halifax Road more
Swallows on an overhead line,Goldfinches and  a flock of House Martins feeding
above the trees.
c40 - Swallows
c40 - House Martins
13 - Mistle Thrush
10 - Long-tailed Tits
6 - Goldfinch
4 - Grey Wagtail
2 - Pied Wagtail
1 - Dipper
1 - Kestrel
1 - Grey Heron
1 - Sparrow Hawk
plus other common species

Dipper

Mistle Thrush

Grey Wagtail

Grey Heron

Sparrowhawk

Kestrel,Long-tailed Tit,Goldfinch and Dipper

Spot the birds in this tree

 

Hewenden Reservoir and Countyside

Sunday 28th August a.m.
  This morning started off sunny with a blustery wind blowing, clouds began to appear
and there was the odd light shower, the temperature was about 10°C. We walked on
towards Hewenden Reservoir there were 6 House Martins feeding above their nesting
sites in Cullingworth and there were Gulls flying over in twos and threes. There was little
else about other than Crows and Collard Doves until we reached Hewenden Viaduct,
from here we could see a field full of around 100 Gulls,mainly BH with 10 or so LBB.
Also from here we could see 10 Swallow feeding above the trees, on the Reservoir
there was a couple of Mallards, the lone Swan, a couple of Gulls and Canadas.Walking
through the surrounding woodland there was very little to see although we could hear various
birds.Coming back round the Reservoir we saw a Rainbow in the distance and got a closer
view of the Gulls. Close by we saw c80 House Martins feeding around and above a large tree.
  This is my 100th post since I began in February after seeing Brian's blog and deciding to
have a go myself. With my dads help I've seen many birds locally and on Reserves which
has been great and the internet allows me to share my pictures and sightings with everybody.
You get some bad days when your lucky if you see a Crow and others when I've seen
Dippers,Curlew,Cuckoo and only yesterday a Kingfisher. I'm looking forward to my first
Autumns birding when migrants are passing through and Winter visitors return.

Gulls

More Gulls

House Martins,had to clean my screen to see some of these!

Keighley Nature Reserve

Saturday 27th August a.m.
  This morning started off bright and sunny with a temperature of 10°C. We went to
the BOG members Nature Reserve in Keighley as we know there has been regular
visits by a Kingfisher recently. There were 12 Mallards, 1 Canada, 2 Coot, 2 Moorhen,
1 BH Gull and many other common species. After we had been there about 15 minutes
the Kingfisher appeared on a wire in front of the hide where it stayed for a while.This was
the first time I have seen a Kingfisher and so I was delighted, I took some snaps, the
Kingfisher came back a few time and so we had some great views as it caught a fish.

Kingfisher 1

Kingfisher and Mallard 

Kingfisher 2

Kingfisher Collage

 

Redcar Tarn

Wednesday 24th August p.m.
  An evening visit to the Tarn with sunshine and light showers and a temperature of 14.5°C.
Plenty Black-headed Gulls most now showing as white with a dark smudge near the eye,still
good numbers of Lapwings on the island and several Pied Wagtails. There were a couple of
Rooks in a nearby field,sadly I could only spot one Tufted Duck and no chicks. This makes
the resident Pike the winner, I score it Tufted Duck chicks 0 Pike 18. I'm not surprised that
most of the adult Tufted have moved off hopefully to somewhere with no Pike.
   In the garden we have Echinacea and Nigella flowering.
C100 - Mallard
C70 - BH Gull
C30 - Lapwing
C25 - Coot
9 - Canadas
5 - Pied Wagtail
3 -  LBB Gull
3 - Moorhen
2 - Rook
1 - Tufted Duck

Pied Wagtail

Mallard and Pied Wagtail

Echinacea

Nigella

  

Teatime Garden Visitor

Saturday 20th August p.m.
Although it was raining it didn't stop a Great Spotted Woodpecker from having
a snack on our Peanut feeder in the garden. This has been a regular visitor to the
garden but I don't get tired of watching and taking snaps of one of my favourite birds.
  Elsewhere in the garden the Cyclamen is flowering and our Victoria Plum Tree is
producing some good fruit which we have started to harvest.

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

GSW 2

GSW 3

Cyclamen

Victoria Plum Tree

Harvested Plums

Glovershaw and Sconce

Saturday 20th August a.m.
   This morning we joined other members of BOG for a walk starting off at Bracken
Hall and heading towards Weecher Reservoir through Glovershaw on the edge of
Baildon Moor. It was a fine sunny start to the day with a temperature of 15°C as we
set off, the first birds I noted was 4 Swifts flying above Shipley Glen. We saw many
other birds on the long walk which was a little too far for me, other birds of note
were Little Owl,Kestrel,Stock Dove,Linnet,Cannadas,Wheatear,Grey Partridge,Grey
Heron,Willow Warbler,Reed Bunting and Swallows. There were less migrants than
hoped for but still a good selection of birds noted above as well as other common species.
   A fellow member spoke to us about the dissappearing Tufted Duck chicks at Redcar
Tarn, telling us that there are Pike in the Tarn, this being a preditor fish is likely to be the
cause of their loss.

Little Owl well camouflaged

Canadas

Linnets

Garden Views and Keighley Treat

Wednesday 17th August p.m.
  A good sunny day today with the temperature up to 17°C, in the garden a
Woodpigeon was on the bird feeder with a Great Spotted Woodpecker watching
from a nearby tall Conifer. The Budlia bush is flowering well along with our English
Marigolds which were given to us as seeds earlier in the year.
  We went to Keighley town center in the evening, where we stopped has the River
Worth running nearby. We decided to have a look on the off chance that there might
be any birds about and yes there were 4 Mallards, but better still a pair of Dippers.
They soon flew off so no chance of a snap but what luck to see them so close up
in the center of Keighley. Just as a reminder I've put a picture of a Dipper below
which we took in April at Bolton Abbey.

Woodpigeon

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dipper taken at Bolton Abbey in April

Budlia

English Marigold

Good view from up here for this Great Spotted Woodpecker

Redcar Tarn

Sunday 14th August a.m.
  Back to Redcar Tarn this morning, sunny intervals with a temperature of 14°C.
Plenty birds to see with good numbers of BH Gull and Lapwings some of which
came off the island near to the car park for their photo taking, which was good of them.
Only saw three Tufted Ducks which were all down to a solitary chick each not sure
whats happening to all the other chicks.
c100 - Mallards
c100 - BH Gull
c50 - Lapwing
c30 - Coot
10 - Canadas
3 - Tufted Duck plus chicks
3 - Moorhen
1 - LBB Gull
plus a mixture of common geese and hybed Ducks.

Lapwing 1

Lapwing 2

LBB and BH Gulls

Coot with chicks

Tufted Duck with chick

Trip to Lightwater Valley

Saturday 13th August
  Today we went on a day out at Lightwater Valley which is to the North of Ripon.
I had a good day going with my sister on the many rides, my favorite was the Eagles
Claw ride, of course I kept an eye out for the birds and noted c30 House Martins.
These had a row of about 20 nests under the overhang of one of the buildings.
  Also here they have a birds of prey center which was a good chance for me to see
the birds up close. They had many Owls including Barn,Tawny,Snowy,Little and the
really big Eagle Owl. Other birds included Golden Eagle, Harris Hawk and Goshawk.

Eagles Claw Ride

Barn Owl

Tawny Owl

Little Owl

Snowy Owl

Eagle Owl

Eagle Owl

Goshawk

Golden Eagle