Local Walk

Friday 30th December a.m.
 A dull chilly start to the day the temperature was about 4°C, we decided to
take the dog for a long walk through some of the local countryside. The first
birds we spotted were 8 House Sparrows in the center of the village, as we
walked towards the pond at Ellar Carr we saw a Robin there was also a Great
Tit in a tree and a couple of Woodpigeons. On the pond were just 3 Mallards,
further on there were another 2 on the lake. There were also a couple of
Starlings,Blackbirds and good numbers of Crows in the fields and flying overhead.
As we got up to Cullingworth fields there were around 75 mainly BH Gulls feeding
and we saw 20 Lapwings fly into the field to join them. Back through the top of the
recreation ground near the school was a feeding party of 6 Great Tits and 8
Long-tailed Tits. The dog had a good walk and we saw quite a few birds.

Robin

House Sparrows

House Sparrow

Long-tailed Tit 1

Long-tailed Tit 2

 

Rodley Nature Reserve 2

From Wednesday 28th December
 We saw a lot of waterfowl during our visit, the usual species of Mallard,Coot
and Moorhen were showing in good numbers. There were also around c50
Gadwall Ducks,with also plenty Tufted Ducks,Wigeon and Teal.We saw just
one Canada,there were 6 Mute Swans and c50 BH Gulls. As we left the reserve
we saw two more Mute Swans on the canal and so took a couple of snaps.

Teal

Wigeon

male Gadwall

female Gadwall

Mute Swan 1

Mute Swan 2

male Gadwalls

Wigeon Collage

Gadwall Collage

Rodley Nature Reserve 1

Wednesday 28th December a.m.
 After our visit to Yeadon we went over to Rodley Nature Reserve where
the sun was shining but the wind was growing stronger the temperature up
to7°C. There was plenty wildfowl to be seen which we will look at in part 2
later, for now we'll concentrate on the bird feeding area. Here we saw Great
and Blue Tits,Greenfinch,Chaffinch,Tree Sparrow,Reed Buntings and a
Pheasant and also had some joy with the snaps below.

Reed Bunting 1

Greenfinch 1

Greenfinch 2

Greenfinch 3

Greenfinch and Reed Bunting

Pheasant

Reed Bunting 2

Yeadon Tarn

Wednesday 28th December a.m.
  A dull start to the day but the sun came through later in the morning a strong wind
blowing making it feel cold, the temperature at 5.5°C.We returned to Yeadon Tarn,
which still had good numbers of birds and the two Great Crested Grebe had returned
for us to take snaps of.
c200 - BH Gulls
c150 -  Mallards
30 - Canadas
15 - Coots
12 - Tufted Ducks
9 - Moorhen
9 - Pochard
2 - Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe 1

Great Crested Grebe 2

Great Crested Grebe 3

Great Crested Grebe 4

Pochard

Tufted Duck

Great Crested Grebe 5

Redcar Tarn

Tuesday 27th December p.m.
 The sun began to shine this afternoon so we went up to Redcar Tarn to feed the
Ducks the temperature now was 9°C.Still high numbers of Gulls and Lapwing
flock still present although moved around a bit.
c750 - BH Gulls
c400 - Lapwings
c150 - Mallards
20 - Coot
11 - Canadas
10 - Tufted Ducks
10 - Common Gulls
6 - Moorhen
3 - Muscovy Ducks
2 - LBB Gulls
Other common Geese and hybrid Ducks.

Common Gull 1st Winter

LBB Gull

Muscovy Ducks

Tufted Duck 

Lapwings

BH and Common Gulls 1

BH and Common Gulls 2

BH Gulls 

Leeshaw Reservoir

Tuesday 27th December a.m.
 A dull overcast morning with fog on the hill tops, still mild though at 7°C. We went
to Leeshaw Reservoir near Oxenhope, as we pulled up we noticed a bird fly on to
the top of a telegraph poll. We quickly grabbed the camera and bins to see what it
was and get a snap, it was a Kestrel which stopped long enough for a snap although
not very clear in the poor light. A good start, we then walked along the track and saw
a male and female Goosander on the water and some BH Gulls.We headed back to
the car then a Grey Wagtail landed on the wall in front of us,some more pics as it moved
into the field where the farmer looks to be storing muck.Not a bad morning.
c50 - BH Gulls
2 - Goosander
1 - Kestrel
1 - Grey Wagtail

Grey Wagtail 1

Grey Wagtail 2

Grey Wagtail 3

Kestrel 1

Kestrel 2

Goosander

Grey Wagtail Collage

  

Redcar Tarn

Monday 26th December p.m.
  An overcast day with mild temperature of 10.5°C, but feeling a lot colder with
a strong wind blowing. Higher than normal numbers of Gulls and Starlings joining
the large Lapwing flock.
c750 - BH Gulls
c450 - Lapwing
c150 - Starlings
c125 - Mallards
25 - Coot
16 - Tufted Ducks
11 - Canadas
8 - Common Gulls
6 - Moorhen
3 - Muscovy Ducks
1 - Pied Wagtail
Other Common Geese and hybrid Ducks.

Male Tufted Duck

Male & female Tufted Ducks

Common and BH Gulls

BH Gulls

Lapwings,BH Gulls and Starlings

Redcar Tarn

Lister Park

Saturday 24th December a.m.
 A chilly wet and dull start to the day temperature of 4°C, we could not resist a return
to Lister Park after enjoying our visit last week. The numbers of birds were similar to last
week, down to one male and female Goosander though.
c250 - BH Gulls
c150 - Mallards
60 - Canadas
34 - Tufted Ducks
12 - Coot
7 - Moorhen
2 - Goosander

Tufted Duck female

Tufted Duck male

Tufted Ducks

Goosanders

Canada

Lister Park 1

Lister Park 2

Lister Park 3