Dannysbirds: February 2016

Sunday, 28 February 2016

Yeadon Tarn

Sunday 28th February a.m.
A cloudy start with a temperature of 2°C on our arrival at Yeadon Tarn but the cloud soon broke up allowing the sun to come out, two decent days at the weekend at last.We did a circuit of the Tarn seeing good numbers of birds including Canadas,Tufteds,Mallards,Mute Swans and good to see six Pochards.The GC Grebes were present with others including Greenfinch,Goldfinch and Chaffinch, there was also a Thrush in the distance that we think was a Mistle Thrush.A great morning where the sunshine gave the feeling of spring with more birds arriving soon to look forward to.

Pochard

Mistle Thrush

House Sparrow

Mute Swan

GC Grebe

male Pochard

Yeadon Tarn 28/2/2016

Saturday, 27 February 2016

Morning Tour

Saturday 27th February a.m.
A dull morning with a temperature of 1°C, but a dry weekend day at last & not feeling too cold with no wind to contend with.Our first port of call was to check out a local spot where we hoped to find a special resident and we were pleased to see a pair of Peregrine Falcons.

Peregrine Falcon

Redcar Tarn
We then moved on to Redcar Tarn where we found the usual assortment of Geese,Ducks and Gulls with some good additions in the form of c25 Lapwings and a pair of Pied Wagtails.

Pied Wagtail

Canada

Common Gulls first Winter

LBB Gull

Redcar Tarn 27/2/16

Damems Keighley
We next moved to Damems which is part of the Keighley area and walked along side the River Worth seeing a pair of Grey Wagtails and a Jay.

Grey Wagtail

Jay

Leeshaw Reservoir
Our final stop where we found the water unusually still like a mirror, just a couple of Mallards and a Cormorant were in the water.We were pleased to see our first pair of local Oystercatchers this year and the Lapwings were back in good numbers spread out over the surrounding fields.

Cormorant

Oystercatchers

Redcar Tarn Pond, partly frozen but still plenty of gulls here

Thursday, 25 February 2016

Dowley Gap

Thursday 25th February p.m.
A keen overnight frost but a wonderful morning with clear blue skies, I was at college but my dad had an hour to spare this afternoon so here is his report.
By the time I reached Dowley Gap this afternoon the clouds had started to appear and soon it became quite overcast with a temperature of 6°C. A quick walk alongside the canal produced Canadas, Greylags,Mallards,Mute Swan & a pair of Goosanders.By the water works the usual Pied Wagtails & Grey Wagtails could be seen in the filter tanks, as well as Wren,Dunnock & Robin nearby.Walking back a Grey Wagtail landed near the canal giving the chance to take some pictures.N.P.

Grey Wagtail

male Goosander

female Goosander

Canada

Greylag

Mute Swan

Canadas on the canal

Dowley Gap 25/2/2016

Saturday, 20 February 2016

Redcar Tarn

Saturday 20th February a.m.
A dull morning with a temperature of 6°C, as we parked up at Redcar Tarn it began to rain so we remained in the car.Plenty BH Gulls trying to stay on their feet in the strong blustery wind they faced the wind which seemed to be the best bet for them.Some of the Gulls were gaining their chocolate coloured head summer plumage a couple of them looked to be in summer plumage already.There were also some Common Gulls and a couple of LBB Gulls along with the usual Canadas,Mallards, Coots & Tufted Ducks.

LBB Gull

BH Gull

Common Gull first Winter

BH & Common Gull

Sunday, 14 February 2016

Harold Park & Park Dam

Sunday 14th February a.m.
A bright sunny start to the day for a change making a big difference to our mornings birding, still cold with a temperature of 1°C on arrival at Harold Park.We went straight to the lake where there were good numbers of birds including Canadas,Coots,Moorhen Tufted Ducks,Mute Swans & BH Gulls.Always good to see the resident Great Crested Grebes, today there was an additional one possibly a first year bird, it was well away from the other two.Also up in a tree was a Grey Heron & under the trees near the island a first for us here in the form of a male Pochard.We walked to the small pond first hearing then seeing a pair of Greenfinch on our way, at the pond there were still five Goosanders along with two Mute Swans, Coots & Moorhen.
We then moved the short distance to Park Dam where there was eight Goosanders,Canadas, Tufted Ducks, Cormorant,BH & Common Gulls,a single first year Mute Swan and seven Little Grebes.