Lister Park

Saturday 31st January a.m.
 A quick visit to Lister Park this morning where the temperature was 3.5°C & cloudy with still a small amount of snow on the ground.There were good numbers of Canadas,Mallards,BH Gulls,Feral Pigeon & Tufted Duck.Good to see the three Mute Swans still here, others seen were Robin & LT Tit & the usual Grey Squirrels.

BH Gull

Coot

Robin

Grey Squirrel

Tufted Duck

Mute Swan

Moorhen

Lister Park 31/1/15

Bolton Abbey Roundup

From Monday 26th January
 Walking alongside the River Wharfe at Bolton Abbey led me to the Strid,a which is an area known for the rapid flow of the river.In this area there are a few tree stumps at the side of the paths, someone put some seeds on these for the birds.It was only a few minutes before we had Coal,Blue & Great Tits visiting along with a couple of Nuthatch giving me chance of a few more pictures.Also here I saw a Treecreeper & my second Dipper of the afternoon.N.P.

Coal Tit

Blue Tit & Coal Tit

Treecreeper

Dipper at the Strid

Coal tit feeding on a Tree Stump

River Wharfe at the Strid

Bolton Abbey Dipper

From Monday 26th January
 I spent a fascinating fifteen minutes watching a Dipper work its way up a small stream looking for food at Bolton Abbey yesterday afternoon.Many times it was just a couple of meters away it new I was there but saw me as no threat & food was its priority as it repeatedly put its head under the water & in the deeper bit was totally submerged.Here are some of the pictures I took of this amazing little bird N.P.

Dipper in the stream 

Bolton Abbey 26/1/15

Bolton Abbey

Monday 26th January p.m.
My dad had an afternoon free so he paid a visit to Bolton Abbey where it was overcast with a temperature of 6°C,here is his report.
I went down the track to the old Priory for a change getting a couple of pictures,as I was coming back
there is a bridge across a small stream where I spotted a Dipper.It had gone by the time I got the camera ready but I soon relocated it then watched it slowly working its way upstream at times just a couple of meters away from me.A wonderful way to pass fifteen minutes & hopefully get some good pictures too.
 I then moved to the Cavendish Pavillion & walked up to the Strid seeing nine Mandarin Ducks, there were probably more upstream past the Strid.Other birds of note were Coal Tit,Nuthatch & Treecreeper with a second Dipper at the Stid.Hopefully some decent pictures to follow when I have chance to sort through them.

Mandarin

Priory

Bolton Abbey

St Ives

Sunday 25th January a.m.
 A milder start to the day with a temperature of 5°C but a blustery wind making it feel colder as we headed to St Ives near Bingley. Here we were sheltered from the wind in the woodland, we went to the Coppice Pond where there were Mallards,Canadas & BH Gulls. Also good to see a Mute Swan & the Greylag which seems to have taken up residence.The bird hide had  Coal Tits visiting the feeders with Dunnock & Robin on the ground.This area is not as good for birds as it used to be a couple of years ago when we would be guaranteed a visiting Nuthatch.We did see one later as we took the path through the woods also seeing Treecreeper & LT Tits.Higher still where the area opens out to heather we saw a few Bullfinch before we headed back down the hill to the Coppice Pond & home.

Greylag

Greylag & Canada

Mallards

BH Gull 1st Winter

Mute Swan & Canadas

male Bullfinch

A watchful eye in the woods

St Ives 25/1/15

 

Park Dam

Saturday 24th January a.m.
A short drive down the road & we were at Park Dam where there were Canadas grazing in the snow covered fields.On the water were the usual Gulls,Tufteds,Coots & Moorhen.We saw two female Goosanders,a GT C Grebe,three Little Grebes, the female Goldeneye was still present but kept to the other side of the lake.It was also good to see the male Gadwall still present briefly coming closer from under the far wall so we could so we could get a few snaps.
Of course it would be remiss of me not to mention a certain football match today in the FA Cup.

                                   CHELSEA  2 - BRADFORD CITY  4 

Well done to the Bradford lads.

male Gadwall

Gadwall

GC Grebe

Little Grebe

Gadwall at Park Dam 24/1/15

Harold Park

Saturday 24th January a.m.
A cold start to the day but gradually brightening with some good spells of sunshine with a temperature of 2°C on our arrival at Harold Park.Still some lying snow here with many of the paths being full of ice, a small part of the lake in the corner was frozen over.Plenty BH Gulls here & we also saw some Commons & a Herring Gull.The Mute Swans had moved up from Park Dam making the number here now six.There were four male Goosanders the resident pair of Great Crested Grebes & a Grey Heron was on the island.

Grey Heron

Herring Gull

Common Gull

GC Grebe

Mute Swans

male Goosander

Three Goosanders

Harold Park 24/1/15