Damems, Keighley

Saturday March 31st a.m.
  After our visit to Ogden we set off to Keighley to do some shopping, on the way we remembered
that there was a small Nature Reserve near Damems station. We decided to go have a look and
although were not sure exactly which bit or side of the River Worth the reserve is on we were
quickly rewarded with great views of a Dipper on the river. There were also a couple of Mallards
and several Chiffchaff singing and flying near us giving good views. There were also a few Chaffinch
around making this a good location for future visits.

Dipper 1

Dipper 2

Dipper 3

Dipper 4

Chiffchaff 1

Chiffchaff 2

Mixenden Res,Cold Edge Dams, and Ogden Res

Saturday March 31st a.m.
 Quick visits this morning starting at Mixenden Reservoir,it was overcast & cold just 6.5°C.
Looking on the water we could just see a lone Canada and a male Goosander then on the
bank a Redshank making it well worth the visit.
 Next we went to Cold Edge Dams seeing Canadas,Curlew,Chaffinch,Mallards and Meadow
Pipit. When we were walking back along the path a hen Pheasant came out of the undergrowth
in front of us & flew off making us jump.
 From here we went to Ogden which was quiet on the water with a few Mallards and the pair of
Goldeneye out in the middle. There were plenty Mallards with five Canadas in the feeding area, a
Grey Heron flew over in the distance and we heard a Chiffchaff singing and saw a few Chaffinch.
On the road leading up to the car park we saw two Jackdaws gathering nesting material.

Redshank 1

Redshank 2



Mixenden Res




Canadas at Cold Edge Dams




Chaffinch at Ogden



Harden Moor & Trough Lane

Thursday 29th March a.m.
 Only quick visits today, another sunny day with early temperature up at 9°C and later
14°C and rising. Not been up to Harden Moor for a while but saw some good birds
including Chaffinch,Linnet,Mistle Thrush,Robin and Wren.
 A walk on Trough Lane to see if any Wheatear yet but to no avail but did see Kestrel,
Curlew,Lapwing,Meadow Pipit and Pheasant.One bird I saw I thought might be a
Skylark as it went up into the air hovered and then dropped back down, I've not recognized
Skylark before, may have been another Meadow Pipit. Will put a snap on when I've sorted
it out.

Kestrel

Linnets

Wren

Meadow Pipit

I think this is a Meadow Pipit not Skylark

Curlew

Pheasant 1

Pheasant 2

Linnet Collage

Local Walk

Wednesday March 28th a.m
  My dad was making the most of the good weather again taking the dog for a long walk
through Cullingworth then along the Northern Trail across Hewenden Viaduct and past the
Reservoir  to Hewenden Bridge.From here he went through the woods and then up to Bents
Lane back down to Hallas Bridge then through Goitstock Wood and headed for Bingley
Road then home.He says both he and the dog were ready for a drink when they got home,
along the way he listed the species he saw and took some snaps. He was pleased to see
Chiffchaff singing locally and was able to get a snap of one of them, he gave me a list of 30
species some of which I've listed below.
15 - Canadas
3 - Chiffchaff
1 - Cormorant
2 - Great Spotted Woodpecker
5 - Grey Heron
1 - Little Owl
1 - Moorhen
1 - Mute Swan
1 - Nuthatch
2 - male Pheasant
1 - Song Thrush
2 - Treecreeper
5 - Wren

Pheasant 1

Pheasant 2

Little Owl

Great Tit

Cormorant

Moorhen

Chiffchaff collage as it sings in the tree top 

Knotford Nook near Otley

Tuesday March 27th a.m.
 By the time my dad got to Knotford Nook the sun was shining brightley and the temperature
was up to 14°C and rising. There were two lakes here but access was restricted by local fishing
clubs so only distant views from surrounding roads and footpaths.Some good birds seen on the
lakes Goldeneye,Great Crested Grebe,Tufted Ducks,Mute Swans and Coots. He managed to get
a couple of decent snaps of the Grebes when they came nearer the path, now in their breeding
plumage and performing the head turning,which is part of the display they do.
  He took a path leading on to the bank of the River Wharfe hearing and seeing a Blackcap, he saw
many birds on his walk including Goosander,Kingfisher,Grey Wagtail,Chiffchaff,Red Kite,Song
Thrush and Oystercatcher. He saw several Chiffchaff all singing loudly mostly in the tops of trees
making it difficult to get a snap of one.

Blackcap 1

Blackcap 2

Great Crested Grebe 1

Great Crested Grebe 2

Goosander

Oystercatcher

  

Yeadon Tarn

Tuesday 27th March a.m
  My dad must be catching the birding bug, he went out to enjoy the great weather whilst on
holiday from work and went for a walk round Yeadon Tarn then onto Knotford Nook for a
walk along the River Wharfe. He made a list of the birds he saw and took a few snaps along
the way for my blog, after a frosty start to the day it was 7°C when he arrived at Yeadon Tarn.
The main birds seen here were Great Crested Grebe,Canadas,Mallards,Coots,Moorhen,Robin,
a Greylag,House Sparrow,Mute Swan and Tufted Duck.

Mute Swan

Greylag

Gt Crested Grebe and Mallards

 

Redcar Tarn

Monday 26th March p.m.
  Decided to make the most of this glorious sunny weather and so this afternoon went
up to Redcar Tarn where the temperature was 18°C. There were plenty Gulls here and
not often seen here a juvenile Mute Swan. In the nearby fields we spotted a Curlew,Lapwings
and some Woodpigeons.
  On the way home we spotted a Mistle Thrush on an overhead cable so stopped to take a snap.
c100 - BH Gull
5 - Canadas
20 - Common Gull
9 - Coot
1 - Curlew
4 - Lapwing
2 - LBB Gull
c45 - Mallards
1 - Mute Swan, Juvenile
2 - Pied wagtail
20 - Tufted Duck
31 - Woodpigeon
Plus others

Juvenile Mute Swan

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Coot nest building

Canadas trying to find some shade

Tufted Ducks

Common and BH Gulls

Curlew

Mistle Thrush

Redcar Tarn, Keighley

 

Dowley Gap, Bingley

Saturday 24th March
  Our plans to go birding early this morning were scuppered by thick fog so we didn't set
off till late morning when the fog began to clear with a temperature of 10°C.We went to
Dowley gap in Bingley with the fog slowley lifting and some hazy sunshine breaking through
there were Greylags and Canadas in the field behind the canal. On the canal were several
Mallards and a Grey Wagtail at the side, in the trees were Great/Blue Tits,Chaffinch and
Greenfinch. We took the path in to Hirst Wood seeing a Mute Swan,Mallards, and two female
Goosanders on the water, a Kingfisher flew away from us and later we saw it fly back down the
river. A Dipper was feeding among the stones on the opposite side of the river, in the woods
we saw Nuthatch,Treecreeper,Wrens,Blackbirds and Woodpigeons. Walking back towards
the canal a Wren was singing loudly and we spotted a couple of Pied Wagtails and on the roof
of a building at the sewage works was a pair of Oystercatchers.

female Goosander

Goosanders

Dipper

Dipper

Grey Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

Wren singing amonst the flies

Nuthatch

Oystercatcher