Sunday 30 June 2013

Leeming Reservoir

Sunday June 30th a.m.
 A cloudy morning with a strong wind blowing again & a temperature of 14°C. We counted 15
Jackdaws in the field next to the reservoir, the water was quiet, Mallards were at the edges on the
increasing shoreline. A Common Sandpiper was making a racket on top of a nearby wall & we saw
another on the edge of the water.A Grey Heron was flushed by a dog  walker & at the top end of
the reservoir there were two distant Kestrels. We caught up with the Grey Heron as we took a
different route back,it was perched on a bridge.We began to line a snap up when two joggers
appeared & you guessed it off flew the Heron.As we walked through a wooded area we saw a number
of Swallows & a male Pheasant took flight.We passed above the wall where the Common Sandpiper
was still making a din, also seeing a couple of Willow Warblers.We got back to the corner of the reservoir
where the overflow is & had one last scan of the water.Still quiet but we saw our Grey Heron again in
the top corner although well blended in with the stones behind, it was very easy to miss it.
Common Sandpiper




Grey Heron


Leeming Reservoir


Saturday 29 June 2013

Lister Park

Saturday June 29th a.m.
 We arrived at Lister Park with cloudy skies & a temperature of 11°C.Here on the boating lake
were good numbers of Canadas,Mallards,Feral Pigeons & Tufted Ducks.There was also Moorhen
& Coots both having chicks & a few LBB Gulls were flying around one of which fed on the edge of
the lake with the Canadas & Feral Pigeons before going on to the water.There was a hybrid goose
which looked to have Canada & Greylag parents.In the trees at the side of the lake a party of Long-tailed Tits passed through.
  Higher up the park in the wooded area we saw two GSWs & a pair of Bullfinch with a solitary Swift
overhead.
Moorhen chick

male Tufted going for a swim


male & female Tufted Ducks

LBB Gull

Hybrid Goose

Coot chick

Canada

LBB Gull,Canadas & Feral Pigeons

Lister Park

Garden Visitors

Saturday June 29th a.m.
 A dull start to the day with a strong wind blowing & a temperature of 11°C.Looking out
at the garden feeders this morning there was a Greenfinch on one feeder but the other was empty
of the usual Sunflower hearts so I decided to fill it up.Then a Jay landed on top of the feeder but
only briefly so no time for a snap.I filled the water bowl & brought the feeder in to fill up.When
it was full I got as far as the door to return it & saw a GSW on the peanut feeder so I rushed &
told my dad who got some snaps of it through the window as it enjoyed the peanuts before flying
off.I returned the now full feeder seeing House Martins flying above the garden some coming
quite low.I returned into the house to watch more birds including Chaffinch,blackbird,Great Tit
& Collared Dove.
male Great Spotted Woodpecker




GSW enjoying the peanuts

Saturday 22 June 2013

Redcar Tarn

Saturday 22nd June a.m.
 The sun was shining on our arrival at Redcar Tarn with a brisk wind and a temperature of
12.5°C.There were a good number of Mallards but the other usual birds were less in number,
these being Canadas,Tufted Ducks,BH Gulls & Coots. The Coot chicks have grown fast and are
now agood size.As we walked round we spotted some LBB Gulls enjoying the sun in a nearby
field ,a Pied Wagtail flew towards us from behind the Gulls & landed in front of us & posed briefly
for a snap.Swallows & Swift flew over the water & we were pleased to see some House Martins
join them.Others seen were Lapwings & Skylark plus other common species,the clouds were now
building up, coming in from Ovenden Moor with the wind farm no longer visible,we left as some
drizzle began to fall.
11 - BH Gull
3 - Canadas
12 - Coot +chick
5 - House Martins
 6 - LBB Gulls
3 - Lapwing
c50 - Mallard
1 - Moorhen
2 - Pied Wagtail
5 - Rook
2 - Skylark
4 - Swallow
2 - Swift
5 -Tufted Duck
plus other common species
Tufted Duck

Pied Wagtail

BH Gull

LBB Gull

Coot with now large chicks

Pied Wagtail

Redcar Tarn

Monday 17 June 2013

More from Blacktoft Sands

From Sunday June 16th
 We had a good morning at Blacktoft Sands seeing some good birds and of course taking
plenty snaps,here are a few more.
Sedge Warbler

Grey Heron,a fierce um predator

Marsh Harrier

a distant perched Marsh Harrier

Cormorants

Tree Sparrows

Avocet

Avocet on nest with another watching over

Avocet with young chick

Sunday 16 June 2013

Blacktoft Sands

Sunday June 16th
 We had a run out to the RSPB reserve at Blacktoft Sands near Goole today where it was
sunny to start the day but clouded over towards lunch time,the temperature was 13°C.There
was a decent selection of birds still around with one of my favourites the Avocet being here in
good numbers.Many of them were nesting & there was a distant view of a couple of chicks.
There was still a few waterfowl birds including Gadwall,Shoveler,Tufted Duck,Shelduck,Pochard
& Little Grebe.There was also a good number of BH Gulls with varying ages of chicks,Grey Herons
& Cormorants were also present.It was also good to see the Marsh Harriers flying low over the Reed
beds giving some good views.There were good numbers of Swift flying all around the lagoons,a good
number of the birds we saw were also in good voice especially Sedge Warbler,White Throat,Dunnock
& Reed Bunting.There was a Hare having a snooze in a distant field, as we left we stopped to have a
at look at the Tree Sparrows on the feeders rounding the morning off well.
Avocet


Marsh Harrier

Sedge Warbler


Reed Bunting

Dunnock

Hare having a snooze

Marsh Harrier over Blacktoft Sands

Saturday 15 June 2013

Leeming Reservoir

Saturday June 15th a.m.
 A morning of sunshine & showers during our visit to Leeming Reservoir with a temperature of 10°C.
There was a mixture of Rooks,Jackdaws & Carrion Crow feeding in the field next to the road which
runs parallel to the dam wall.In the corner of the reservoir there were a couple each of Pied & Grey
Wagtails & a Common Sandpiper flew in front of us to the stones under the dam wall. As we walked
along the pathway alongside the reservoir there were a few singing Willow Warblers, one of which flew
into its nest which contained 5 or 6 large chicks.These unusually were clearly visible, so we took a quick snap before moving on, they were ready to fledge we thought. At the top end of the reservoir we caught sight of a Deer, which ran across the field, posing briefly for a snap.A couple of Curlews flew over, an
Oystercatcher did the same & a Pheasant landed on the far shore,all put up by a dog running around with
it's owner in tow.There was also a Grey Heron on the far shore fishing, we stopped under some trees
until a shower past.We then headed back to the car seeing Mallards,Swallows were feeding low over the
water & a flyover of a couple of Canadas, another Pied Wag was on the dam wall.
Willow Warbler


Pied Wagtail

Grey Heron

Deer

Willow Warbler chicks

Leeming Reservoir