Cullingworth

Sunday 30thAugust a.m.
An overcast start to the morning but the sun was soon out as we headed out of the village in a different direction today.We went to the NW side which took us below Harden Moor, but we started along the bottom road in the direction of Harden seeing House Sparrow,House Martin,Goldfinch & Swallow.We took the footpath which takes us to a good spot for Warblers, great habitat with Thistles,Nettles,Brambles,Goorse & isolated trees.The only problem is spotting the birds with all this great cover for them.We didn't too too badly though starting with Robin,more Goldfinch,Wren,Blue & Great Tits,Blackcap & a couple of Flyover flocks of Canadas.Then just as we were leaving a couple of Willow Warblers low in the Brambles, we retraced our steps then onto the road & turning left up a steep path.As we went up we saw Canadas grazing in the field to our left,we later counted 101.At the top of the path there were Gulls in a recently manured field, we got the full fragrance at the top.The Gulls though heard us coming & moved to fields further away,when we got closer we estimated c200 BH Gulls & c250 LBB Gulls.
 Not much was seen along the path but heading back down Keighley Road a Pheasant was seen, we then took a path which took us toward the Lake at Ellar Carr Mills.A Grey Squirrel was on the path watching something & was slow to see us,then as it fled we looked to the bottom of the field seeing a Hare which was probably what the Squirrel was watching.At the Lake we added Coal Tit,Song Thrush,Moorhen & Grey Heron which rounded off the birding off nicely.

Grey Squirrel

Hare

Grey Heron

Pheasant

Distant Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Goldfinch Juv

Willow Warbler

BH & LBB Gulls

LBB Gulls

Gulls disturbed

BH & LBB Gulls

Cullingworth to Hewenden Reservoir

Saturday 29th August a.m.
 An early start with plenty cloud around & a temperature of 12°C as we headed for the reservoir. There were a good number of House Martins above the village which followed us to the reservoir we counted 25.As we walked along the track Canadas flew from the reservoir in three flocks of c12 birds each time with some remaining on the reservoir.There were Swallow flying around plus Grey Wagtail & Mallards in the overflow & a Mute Swan on the water.We went passed the farm seeing Chaffinch & Goldfinch with a Sparrowhawk chasing a small bird.We headed back seeing many birds on the overhead wires in the distance, our first thought was Swallows but as we got closer with a better view through the bins,we were surprised to see they were a large flock of Linnets.One of the problems in dull light at distance is getting the right ID but they stayed put as we got closer & some timely sunlight made it easier.Going back passed the farm we saw a pair of Pied Wagtails with a couple of Juveniles & near the viaduct a Willow Warbler.At the other end of the viaduct a Kestrel was sat on the wall which moved to rest on a distant dead tree branch.Also here we saw a distant Grey Heron before heading back home.

Chaffinch

Kestrel

Pied Wagtail

Pied Wagtail Juv

Swallow Juv

Difficult to ID at this distance

a bit nearer

think I've got them now

Linnets

much easier now

a bit of early morning sunshine on this Linnet

Hewenden Reservoir

Harden Moor

Sunday 23rd August a.m.
A morning of hazy sunshine with a strongish wind blowing & a start temperature of 15.5°C which rose quickly during our visit.A fairly quiet morning, but some of the usual birds were seen including Bullfinch,Goldfinch,Sand Martin,Swallow,Kestrel,Willow Warbler & Whitethroat. In addition there was a flyover from a Cormorant & a very low Grey Heron & good to catch up with the Redpolls.

Redpoll

Grey Heron

Bullfinch

Redcar Tarn

Saturday 22nd August a.m.
A dull cloudy morning with a temperature of 15.5°C up at Redcar Tarn where there were good numbers of the usual Gulls,Mallards & Lapwings.The main interest of our visit came from the top end of the Tarn when we were walking round.There was a mixed flock of birds in the hedges which became visible as they moved to some isolated Hawthorn trees.These included Mipits,Blue Tits, Chaffinch,Goldfinch & for the first time here we had Willow Warblers plus what we thought was a brief glimpse of a Goldcrest also a first here.Others also in this area were Blackbird,Wren,Robin & Pied Wagtail a good selection for this site.

Robin

Blue Tit

male Chaffinch

Chaffinch Juv

Goldcrest

Meadow Pipit

Pied Wagtail

Wren

Willow Warbler

Harden Moor

Monday 17th August a.m.
Another dull start to the day with a lot of cloud around & a temperature of 12°C, only a couple of Sand Martins were seen in the quarry & walking along the path a Green Woodpecker flew from behind a tree.We had a good walk round our usual area but it was quiet with just a couple of Robins & Blackbirds for company.As the sun came out though we began to see some more birds including Whitethroat,Willow Warbler,Kestrel & House Martins were over head.We decided to head off & as we went a call that we heard yesterday was coming from somewhere near. We began searching hoping to see the bird we saw yesterday then in a tree we spotted a male Redstart. It moved to a high branch out in the open & we were able to get some decent snaps.Then it moved back into the tree lower down, we moved round the other side where we were able to get closer & had a great view of the bird, yes & a few snaps too. We went off with a spring in our steps as a male Green Woodpecker flew past & landed on a distant rock for a quick snap.

male Redstart

male Green Woodpecker

Great to see & snap the male Redstart