Swillington Ings

Monday 29th June a.m.
 A good start to the morning with fine weather & a temperature of 16°C on our arrival at Swillington Ings.We headed off towards Astley Lake hearing Chiffchaff as we went as we crossed the River Aire there was a Gt Crested Grebe fishing.The lake was full of BH Gulls many with chicks on the islands, also a good number of Common Terns again some had chicks, overhead were more BH Gulls & Swifts with the Common Terns also going to the Reedbeds fishing.The Lake also had Cormorant, Oystercatcher,Tufted Duck & Pochards with chicks.Warblers were seen as we took the path through the Reedbeds, Reed Warbler was the one we got a snap of but they were all moving quickly.A Reed Bunting was perched singing letting us get close for a snap.It was good to see the Black-necked Grebes with three chick & Mute Swans with Cygnets.A flock of 15 Curlew flew over & Swallow, House Martins & Sand Martins were seen as a Linnet briefly posed for a snap.Other common species were also seen giving us a good number of species during the morning.
 As well as the birds there were a good number of Butterflies around we managed a few snaps of the Common Blue; Moths,Dragonflies & Damselflies were also around although more camera shy.

Reed Bunting

Reed Warbler

Common Tern

Common Tern with chick

Linnet

Black-necked Grebe with chick

Mute Swans coming in to land

Mute Swan with Cygnets

Pochard with chick

female Common Blue

male Common Blue

male Common Blue

Black-necked Grebe with chicks

Swillington Ings 29/6/2015

 

Leeshaw & Leeming Reservoirs

Saturday 27th June a.m
Leeshaw
 A sunny start to the day for a change with a temperature of 13°C at Leeshaw where there is a lot of shore line.This was being made use of by at least 3 Little Ringed Plover, as well as Lapwings,Hare & Oystercatchers.Not too much else going on but there were Greylags & Canadas around with Swallows,House Martins & Swifts over the water.
Leeming
With the temperature now rising to 16°C the water was very quiet with just one Greylag & Mallards on the far banking,good to see one pair of Mallards snoozing with their chicks.Again Swallows,House Martins & Swifts were around & it was good to see some Juvenile Goldfinch & Blue Tits.A Common Sandpiper was a nice surprise as it flew across the water next to the path in the distance where we had just come from.A Kestrel was hunting we completed our circular walk & headed home.

Little Ringed Plover

Hare

Leeshaw 27/6/15

Goldfinch Juv

Blue Tit Juv

Mallards with chicks

Kestrel

Leeming 27/6/15

Local Countryside

Friday 26th June a.m.
A mild but dull start to the day with a temperature of 14°C as we drove around the local countryside.
We stopped from time to time seeing Snipe,Curlew,Mipits,Lapwings some with chicks & Swallows.
The highlight of our tour was undoubtedly when we caught site of a Short Eared Owl, we were able to pull off the road & park up. The SEO hunted in the distance & at one point perched on a post, great to see this bird & watch it for ten minuets or so & even get a couple of distant record snaps.

Short Eared Owl

Snipe

Lapwing & Snipe

Swallow

Swallow posing for a snap

Yeadon Tarn

Sunday 21st June a.m.
 A cloudy morning with some light showers & a temperature of 12°C at Yeadon Tarn.There were good numbers of Swifts & House Matins over the water with a couple of Swallows for good measure.
The Mallards were all on the decking near the boat club, Canadas were also line up at the waters edge in this area too.Good to see Coots with chicks on the island & others with juveniles,Moorhen also had a couple of juvs but just one Mallard chick was seen.A good number of twelve Mute Swans,a couple of Greylags & a few Tufted Ducks rounded things off, sadly no GC Grebes so doesn't look like the've bred this year.

House Martin

Coot Juvenile

Greylags

Mallard chick

Moorhen with Juvs

Canadas

Yeadon Tarn 21/6/15

Redcar Tarn

Monday 15th June p.m.
 A fine day with the temperature 14°C up at Redcar Tarn & with little wind for a change feeling quite warm.A look on the pond came up with Coots with chicks & a couple of LRPs which was good to see as were the Skylarks soaring into the sky as they sang.The Gull numbers are building with the BH Gulls & a flock of LBB Gulls.Swift & Swallow were over the Tarn, only one Mallard chick but there were more Coots with chicks.Others included Tufted Duck,Pied Wagtail,Lapwing,Jackdaw & Rook.

Jackdaw

Rook

LRP

Mallard chick

Pied Wagtail

Redcar Tarn 15/6/2015