Redcar Tarn

Sunday 28th July a.m.
 After a night of heavy rain we set off a little later than usual to Redcar Tarn where the
temperature was 15.5°C with a blustery wind blowing.We came with the hope of seeing
the Med Gull which has been reported here over the last week but despite our efforts we
did not manage to find it.Still all the usual birds were present in good numbers, there was
an Oystercatcher among the Mallards on the island. A Curlew appeared from somewhere
& did a lap of the Tarn before flying off towards the SW.

BH Gull Juv

Common Gull

Coot,Common Gull & BH Gull Juv

Oystercatcher & Mallards

Canada

Redcar Tarn

  

Leeshaw & Leeming

Saturday 27th July a.m.
Leeshaw Reservoir
 A warm sunny start to the day as we arrived at Leeshaw with a temperature of 15°C. The first
bird of note was the Little Owl which was much more active than usual moving from the road
side wall to a nearby post as we went past.This gave us a great opportunity for a closer snap,
which off course we took full advantage of.There was nothing on the water until two groups of
Greylags flew from the direction of Penistone Hill landing on the water. There were Canadas in
the surrounding fields some of which moved to the water during our visit.The usual Meadow Pipits
& Swallows were flitting around but only the one Mallard was seen which flew off over the dam.
Lapwings were in the surrounding fields with some at the waters edge as was the case with
Oystercatchers. Also there were two Grey Herons basking in the sun on the shoreline,we also
spotted three Common Sandpipers on the mud at the edge of the water.Whilst we were watching
these we were pleased when two Snipe appeared from the grass giving us a good view of them as
they flew away into the distance,a first for us at this site.

Little Owl

Grey Heron

Grey Heron & Common Sandpiper

Oystercatcher

Not so Little Owl

Leeshaw

Leeming Reservoir
 The temperature had risen to 18.5°C when we arrived at Leeming, but there was now a lot more
cloud around.We walked along the narrow road which runs alongside the dam wall stopping to look
down at the stream which starts at the bottom of the reservoir overflow.We were rewarding by seeing
a Dipper, we walked to the corner of the dam where we saw a couple of flighty Grey Wagtails.The
level of the water is well down now with plenty of shoreline, the only wader though was a distant
Oystercatcher on the opposite bank which was being watched by a cat.On the water there were
Mallards & BH Gulls, it was quiet along the path as we walked round the reservoir with just a couple
of Willow Warblers seen.
  We took the path which leads to some woodland & to one of the streams which feeds the reservoir
 all was still quiet. This path leads above the reservoir & then back down to the corner of the dam.
As we walked along here we saw another Willow Warbler then a short distance further on we stopped
and listened to a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. We listened for a few minutes but could not get a
sighting of the bird which would be nice, we're starting to get an ear for the reeling now which begs the question, how many have we missed before?
 We caught site of a distant Kestrel and there were a good number of Swallows overhead, back at the corner of the dam there were Pied & Grey Wagtails.

Willow Warbler

Kestrel

Pied Wagtail

Leeming Reservoir

Plenty Shoreline at Leeming

Redcar Tarn

Sunday 21st July a.m.
 A wet start to the day with persistent drizzle,which meant we set off a bit later up to Redcar
Tarn where there were some breaks from the drizzle with a temperature of 14°C.The usual birds
were present with the addition of a flock of 22 Greylags. The LBB Gulls are hanging around with
a count of 15 birds.There were 4 Lapwings on the island with a flyover of another 21, a couple
of Pied Wags were feeding around the edge of the Tarn.

LBB Gull

Lapwing

Pied Wagtail

Greylags & BH Gulls

Greylags

Harold Park & Park Dam

Saturday 20th July a.m.
Harold Park
 A cooler start to the day after the recent high temperatures, 16°C at Harold Park on our
arrival with cloud overhead but still some occasional sunshine.The BH Gulls numbered 65
with a good number of juveniles among them. The other usual species of Canadas,Mallards,
Coots,Moorhen & Tufted Duck were all present. An unusual Pigeon landed at the edge of the
lake,maybe from a local Loft, it did have ID tags on its legs.The stars of the show for me though
were the GT C. Grebe pair who had four healthy chicks.

Great C. Grebe

Gt. C. Grebe with chicks

Gt. C. Grebe family

BH Gull Juv

Pigeon

Moorhen

Harold Park

 Park Dam
 The temperature was up to 18°C on our arrival at Park Dam just a short distance down the road,
not as many birds here but still a good selection.Again there were 38 BH Gulls with the Canadas,
Tufted Ducks,Coots,Gt C. Grebe,Swifts & Swallows.The pair of Mute Swans only had three
Cygnets down from the six they had on our last visit in early June.There were also plenty Butterflies
around & even a Common Toad made an appearance.

Mute Swan Cygnet

Small Tortoiseshell

Common Toad

Mute Swan with Cygnet

Park Dam

 

Local Walk

Tuesday 16th July a.m.
 Another warm sunny start to the day with an early temperature of 16.5 °C which gradually
rose through the day up to 27°C.My dad was off work so he took the dog for an early morning walk
here is his report of the wildlife he saw.
 A quick look in the garden started things off well with six Siskins soon followed by the return of the
Juv GSW. There were plenty Swifts & House Martins flying over the village with other common species
around including Collared Dove,House Sparrow,Starling & Jackdaw.I headed for Hewenden Viaduct
seeing Swallows on the overhead wires near the track leading down to the reservoir, with more Swifts
flying around the viaduct.I headed down the path which goes under the viaduct seeing four BH Gulls on
the dam wall & a Grey Heron took off, Wrens,Blue Tits & Great Tits were also in this area. From the bottom of the viaduct I was watching Swifts which were very high & only visible with the bins their
numbers suddenly grew.They were also joined by Swallows all very high, then a bigger bird flew among them, a Perergine which was being mobbed by the Swallows. It flew over the reservoir and away,great to
see my first so close to home. The path lead alongside Hewenden beck where there were several Mallards,
then on to Hallas Bridge, where it was good to get a good view of a Dipper, I was too slow with the
camera though.
 At the other side of Goit Stock Wood there was a Deer drinking from the small stream, & as I headed towards the road there were a couple of Willow Warblers in the trees & a male Pheasant in the field
below.Also in this area I heard the reeling sound of the Grasshopper Warbler a first for me, didn't get a
sighting of it though amongst the deep grass.A good point to finish as the temperature was beginning to
rise & we were soon home.

Swallow

Juv Swallow

Mallards

Deer

male Pheasant

Hewenden Reservoir

Hewenden Viaduct

 

Redcar Tarn

Monday 15th July p.m.
A quick visit up to Redcar Tarn this afternoon where the Gull numbers keep on increasing &
with a returning Common Gull. An Oystercatcher was pipping loudly as it flew round the Tarn then
off heading South.There were a Pied Wagtails a couple of them Juvs, one of which posed very
nicely at the edge of the Tarn.Coots & Moorhen were still nesting on the island where there was also
a couple of Lapwings.We spotted a couple of Dunnocks on the edge of the path round the Tarn &
above flew House Martins & Swifts.
c150 - BH Gulls
58 - LBB Gulls
1 - Common Gull
2 - Dunnock
5 - House Martins
2 - Lapwing
c70 - Mallard
4 - Pied Wags
1 - Oystercatcher
6 - Swift
plus other common species

Lapwing

Common Gull

LBB Gull

Pied Wag Juv

LBB & BH Gulls

Redcar Tarn

LBB & BH Gulls in the field at the side of Redcar Tarn