Dowley Gap

Saturday 1st February a.m.
 We started off well at Dowley Gap with Chaffinch,Goldfinch,Greenfinch,Robin all seen in the
hedges near the parking spot,also in the field we saw c30 Redwing. On the canal it was good
to see the return of 22 Greylag Geese, there were also a pair of Mute Swans,Mallards & a pair
of Goosanders as we described in our earlier report.
 There was also a foreign invader in the form of a male North American Wood Duck, this is likely
to be an escapee from one of the regions bird collections.We have seen reports of this bird in the
Saltaire area before but this is our first sighting.There are breeding pairs of these birds in Southern
England which again will have originated from bird collections,or been deliberately released.
  Walking back along the canal there were three Goosanders near the locks, with a Kestrel making
a brief appearance overhead, a Jay was foraging in the undergrowth. At the water works BH Gulls
were overhead & the usual good numbers of Pied Wagtails were around.Also seen here were Wren,
Dunnock & Robin, we crossed the Aqueduct & went into Hirst Wood.This area was quiet but on the
river we saw another pair of Goosanders,Mallards & a Moorhen.
 We retraced our steps across the Aqueduct with a Grey Wagtail flying low past us, we then walked
back to the car in the bright sunshine, after an enjoyable morning.

Wood Duck

Greylag

Mute Swans

male Goosander

Redwing

Redwing in a tree

Dunnock

North American Wood Duck

Goosanders & Greylags at Dowley Gap