St Ives

Saturday 26th November a.m.
 On our way home from Redcar Tarn we briefly stopped at St Ives to have a look at the
Coppice Pond. The wind was not as strong here and it was brighter with the sun trying to
break through, we quickly saw eight Goosanders on the water with the usual Mallards,Coots,
Moorhen,Canadas and BH Gulls. We also spotted a Grey Heron near the feeding area.

Grey Heron 1

Grey Heron 2

male Goosander

female Goosander

Goosanders and BH Gulls

Redcar Tarn

Saturday 26th November a.m.
A dull start to the day with drizzle and a temperature of 9°C, when we arrived at Redcar
Tarn there was a very strong wind blowing.The only birds out on the water were Tufted
Ducks,three Goosanders joined them as we came close to the edge where they had been
sheltering. The usual mix of Mallards,Coots,Moorhen and BH Gulls were sheltering on the
grass by the car park. In a nearby field was the Lapwing flock mixed with BH Gulls and
Candas.
c350 - Lapwings
c200 - BH Gulls
c150 - Mallards
20 - Coot
10 - Tufted ducks
8 - Canadas
4 - Moorhen
3 - Goosander
3 - Muscovy ducks
1 - LBB Gull
plus usual farmyard geese and hybred ducks.

male Goosander

Goosander

Lapwings,BH Gulls and Canadas



Lapwings etc.



Garden Visitors

Monday 21st November p.m.
 Another misty day did brighten up for a while this afternoon which gave me the
chance to do a bit of bird watching in the garden. Nothing special to see but
always good to see birds,today Blackbirds,Chaffinch,Goldfinch,Blue Tits and a
Dunnock.

Female Blackbird

Male Blackbird

Goldfinch and Blue Tit

Chaffinch,Dunnock and Blackbirds

Yeadon Tarn

Sunday 20th November a.m.
 Thick fog this morning, so set off to Yeadon Tarn hoping it would clear by the time we got
there and luckily as we got about half a mile away we came into clear blue skies.The
temperature on arrival was a cold 2.5°C, as we walked down towards the Tarn there was
a party of 20 Goldfinches in the trees. There were Mallards,Coots,Moorhen,Tufted Ducks,
Mute Swans,Canadas,BH Gulls and Pochard on the water. We also spotted 2 Great
Crested Grebe, as we were taken our snaps I noticed the fog in the distance was moving
towards us and within 10 minutes we were fog bound. We carried on and walked round
the Tarn with visibility poor but we could see around the edges OK. We spotted a Robin
and a Dunnock and then at the waters edge a Grey Wagtail. At the other end of the Tarn
by the Reed Beds there was a Mandarin Duck, then my dad said look a Kingfisher and
pointed to where it had flown. We walked closer and then it flew across in front of us then
disappeared, but a great end to a good mornings birding in the fog.
c200 - Mallards
c100 - BH Gull
36 - Canadas
c35 - Coot
20 - Tufted Duck
20 - Goldfinch
10 -Moorhen
10 - Pochard
4 - Mute Swan
2 - Great Crested Grebe
1 - Robin
1 - Dunnock
1 - Mandarin Duck
1 - Grey Wagtail
1 - Kingfisher

Mandarin Duck 1

Mute Swan 

Mandarin Duck 2

Goldfinches

Pochard

Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck

Great Crested Grebe

Grey Wagtail

Great Crested Grebe Collage

Yeadon Tarn island shrouded in fog

Ogden Water

Saturday 19th November a.m.
 A cold foggy start to the day meant a later start as the fog began to clear, but as we set
off towards Ogden we soon rose above the low cloud and it was sunny and clear with a
temperature of 5°C. At Ogden the water was very still with no wind, we saw that the
Cormorant was back on the float in the water so took a couple of snaps. As we walked
round it was very quiet a few Robins giving us chance of some snaps,otherwise just the
odd Dunnock and Crows. On the water there were mainly BH Gulls and of course the
Mallards in the Duck feeding area, not many birds but a pleasant walk round.

Robin 1

Robin 2

Robin 3

Crow 

Ogden Water 1

Cormorant

Calm day at Ogden Water

Redcar Tarn

Friday 18th November p.m.
  A quick visit up to Redcar Tarn before darkness began to fall,clear views
and a temperature of 13°C. The usual birds present,Lapwings flying around
with a few on the island and one posing for a snap. When we got back home
to Cullingworth there were several hundred Starlings circling overhead they
went NE probably to roost for the night.
c500 - Starlings
c150 - Mallards
c100- Lapwing
c75 - BH Gulls
25 - Coot
20 - Canadas
12 - Tufted Duck
6 - Moorhen
3 - Muscovy
2 - Pied Wagtail

Muscovy Duck

BH Gull

Lapwing

Tufted Ducks

Starlings

Redcar Tarn

Sunday 13th November a.m.
  When we arrived at Redcar Tarn there was thick fog and drizzle with a temperature
of 9°C. Visibility was about 30 meters so only a partial count of birds that were close
enough to see around the edge of the Tarn and in nearby field. Plenty Mallards,Coots
and BH Gulls near the front edge. As we walked round we could just about make out
the lapwing flock in the next field, we got a better view of them as they briefly took
flight. There were a lot of other birds feeding with them but we could not ID them in the
fog.As we got to the far end of the Tarn I spotted a lone male Tufted Duck, and now
the leaves have fallen from the surrounding trees it is easier to spot birds in them. We
saw good views of Chaffinch which would not have been possible if the trees were in
full leaf. Coming back to the car a Lapwing was at the edge of the water long enough
for a snap.
c200 - Lapwing
c100- Mallard
c100 - BH Gull
10 - Coot
4 - Chaffinch
3 - Muscovy
2 - Moorhen
2 - Pied Wagtail
1 - Tufted Duck
1 - Canada

Lapwing

BH Gull

 

Ducks from around the world

From Sunday 30th October
 To finish our review of our visit to Martin Mere here are some snaps of ducks
from around the world. Our visit proved to be a great place to see wildfowl along
with the odd wader and raptor, we had a really enjoyable day.

Hooded Merganser from N.America

Bahama Pintail from the Caribbean & S.America

Blue-winged Teal from summer Central & N.America and in winter moves South.

Brown Pintail from South America

Carolina Duck from North America

Chiloe Wigeon from South America

Red Shoveler from South America

Ringed Teal from central & South America

Ruddy Shelduck from Asia

White-headed duck from North Africa to Kazakhstan

Geese from around the world

From Sunday 30th October
 Here  is a collection of some of the Geese from around the world that we saw and
took snaps of on our visit to Martin Mere. One of them is the Crested Screamer
which is from South America,namely Brazil.Bolivia and Argentina. It is believed that
this bird may be the missing link between Geese,Swans and Gamebirds.

Red Breasted Goose from N. Russia,winter around Black Sea coast

Andean Goose from S.America, Chile & Argentina

Bar-headed Goose from Asia

Cape Barren Goose from Australia

Emperor Goose from Alaska & NE Russia

Magellan Goose from S.America & Falkland Islands

Magpie Goose from Australia

Swan Goose from Mongolia,China & Russia

Crested Screamer from S.America Brazil & Bolivia