Lister Park

Saturday 25th January a.m.
 There were good numbers of BH Gulls & Canadas on the lake & the surrounding grass land
at Lister park this morning.It was also good to see Common Gulls on the water & the large
number of Tufted Ducks which makes this location one of the best to see them in the Bradford
area.There was also a female Goosander on the water, always a pleasure to see one of these birds
along with the usual water fowl.
 In the wooded area some LT Tits gave us the usual run around & it was good to see a Coal Tit a
site first for us.We also saw several Grey Squirrels & Redwings which were another first for us here
& rounds of our visit summary very nicely.
c200 - BH Gulls
c100 - Canadas
1 - Coal Tit
9 - Common Gull
8 - Coot
c75 - Feral Pigeon
3 - Goldfinch
1 - Goosander
10 - LT Tit
c75 - Mallard
8 - Moorhen
9 - Redwing
2 - Robin
35 - Tufted Duck
plus others

Redwing

LT Tit

Grey Squirrel

Common Gull

Goosander

male Tufted Duck

Canadas & BH Gulls

Redwing

Views of Lister Park

Saturday 25th January a.m.
 After a dull start to the day the morning brightened nicely & with the sun out at Lister
Park in Bradford the temperature was up to a balmy 8°C.With the sun out it was a good
chance to get some pictures of Lister Park so here are a few we took before we get on to
the wildlife.

Lister Park 25/1/2014

The wooded area gardens & stream

Garden Visitors

Saturday 18th January a.m.
A foggy start with intermittent rain & a temperature of 5°C put paid to our plans for
birding this morning.Instead we have a review of some of the recent visitors to the garden
which have included Bullfich,Goldfinch,Greenfinch,Chaffinch,Blue,Great & LT Tits along
with the common Blackbirds,Magpie,Collared Dove,Woodpigeon,Robin & Jackdaws.
I think we might just get away with the Pink-footed Geese fly over too seen from our back
door.

male Bullfinch

male & female Bufinches

Goldfinch

Greenfinch & Goldfinch

LT Tits

Flyover from Pink-footed Geese

Busy feeding station

St Ives

Monday 13th January p.m.
 A bright sunny day with a temperature of 6°C  during a quick visit to St Ives Coppice Pond
this afternoon.The main numbers of birds seen on the water were BH Gulls,Mallards & Canadas,
with a couple of Moorhens & surprisingly no Coots which have been a main stay here over the last
couple of years.We did spot a Little Grebe which is a first for us at this location, at the hide we saw
Blue,Coal & Gt Tits,Robin & plenty Grey Squirrels.
 Walking round we also saw a party of LT Tits, which were low in the trees so a good chance of a few
snaps or so we thought.These little birds always seem to give you the run around just as your going to
press the shutter there gone.A nice afternoon stroll & some good birds seen as well.

Little Grebe

BH Gull

LT Tit

Robin

Moorhen

St Ives Coppice Pond with some Winter sunshine

 

Dowley Gap

Sunday 12th January a.m.
 A cold frosty start with a temperature of just -3°C on our arrival at Dowley Gap where we walked
along the canal.It was good to see a Jay again & there was also a Nuthatch in the same area.Walking
along by the water works there were good numbers of BH Gulls & Pied Wags with others including
Robin,Dunnock & Wren.We looked through the Wagtails & soon found a couple of Greys, we also
saw a couple of Mipits.
  We walked a short way by the river Aire seeing Mallards & Goosanders before turning back.As we
went passed the locks we saw a couple of Mute Swans were now on the canal.As we were looking at
these my dad noticed a bird at the other side of the canal on the ground among the trees.He looked
through the bins & said Sparrowhawk it then flew out glided across the canal just a couple of meters
in front of us then rose up over the trees and away.What a thrill being so close to a great bird like the
Sparrowhawk, it happened so quick though we were too slow with the cameras.Another good finish
to our morning birding.

Robin

Dunnock

Magpie

Jay

Meadow Pipit

Goosander

Canal up to Dowley Gap Locks

Dowley Gap

Park Dam

Saturday 11th January a.m.
  It had brightened up somewhat by the time we got to Park Dam with some winter sunshine
& a temperature of 4.5°C.There were 28 Canadas grazing in a nearby field,the dam held BH
& Common Gulls,Mallards,Mute Swan,Moorhen,Coot,Tufted Duck & a Gt C. Grebe.The
Great C.Grebe was a lot more colourful with what looked like full breeding plumage than the
pair at Harold Park, we found this was the case early last year too.The Canadas began moving
on to the water from the nearby field & as we walked round a flock of small birds lifted from the
grass.These were very mobile but we did ID a couple of Meadow Pipits among the flock of c20
birds.As these took to the air we followed them & our attention was drawn to another bird on top
of an electricity pylon.A real birds eye view for the Cormorant & a good end to our morning.

Cormorant

Can you spot the cormorant on the first Pylon

1st winter common Gull

Early colour as last year for this GC Grebe

Mute Swans

Canadas coming in to land

Park Dam 11/1/2014