Garden Visitors

Monday 28th March
 A typical Bank Holiday weather with rain this morning and then showers through the day and a strong blustery wind.We confined ourselves to watching the birds visiting the garden feeders but were not disappointed with the good selection of birds.The main group of visitors was made up of a selection of different Finches which included Bullfinch,Chaffinch,Goldfinch,Greenfinch and my favourite Siskin.The male Siskin now in breeding plumage of bright yellow and black, we have had regular visits from these in our garden throughout the Winter after they were absent last year.

male Siskin

female Siskin

male Chaffinch

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

Siskin & Goldfinch

Greenfinch & Siskin

Siskin & Bullfinch

Lister Park

Sunday 27th March a.m.
A sunny start to the day but clouding over from time to time with the threat of a heavy shower but we managed to stay dry at Lister park with a temperature of 7°C.The first birds we saw were a couple of Jays which seemed to be having an argument, we headed for the lake.Good numbers of the expected Canadas,Tufteds,Mallards,Coots,Moorhen & Feral Pigeons.There were a couple of bonus birds with a female Goosander and ten Greylags.We watched one of the male Tufteds dive into the water which made for a good sequence of snaps.Moving around the rest of the Park Mistle Thrush,Goldfinch, Robin, Greenfinch and LT Tits were seen.The LT Tits were playing there usual hide & seek but we managed to get one snap of them.

male Tufted Duck

female Tufted Duck

female Goosander

Greylag

LT Tit

Tufted Duck - On your marks, Get set

Go

splash down

female Goosander

Lister Park 27/3/2016

Redcar Tarn

Saturday 26th March a.m.
 A cloudy morning with a strong blustery wind in stark contrast to yesterday, the 7°C temperature feeling much colder.Mainly Gulls,Mallards,Canadas & Tufted Ducks made up the large number of birds on show this morning.Good to get a couple of Curlews flying past others included Lapwing, Rook and Pied Wagtail.

Rook with its claws on some bread

makes a good snack

Tufted Ducks

Pied Wagtail

Common Gull

Herring Gull 2nd Winter

Redcar Tarn Gulls 26/3/2016

Leeshaw Reservoir

Friday 25th March a.m.
A bright sunny start to the day as we made our way to Leeshaw Reservoir with a temperature of 6°C.
On our way we stopped at Upper Marsh where there was just a solitary Golden Plover in the sheep field, nearby was a singing Reed Bunting which we managed to get some snaps of.Leeshaw was lively with six Oystercatchers making plenty of noise,the Little Owl was in its usual spot,a Cormorant was on top of the tower & the surrounding fields were full of Lapwings.Good to see the return of several Mipits & even better to see a pair of Redshanks.Gulls were moving through with several LBB Gulls stopping off to bath in the water also Canadas & Greylags on the water.
 On our way home we stopped off at Leeming where it was quiet apart from a pair of Grey Wagtails & a Pied Wagtail.

Reed Bunting

Cormorant

Curlew

Golden Plover

Lapwing

LBB Gull

Little Owl

Meadow Pipit

Oystercatcher

Pair of Redshank

Pied Wagtail at Leeming

Grey Wagtail

Grey Wagtails at Leeming Reservoir 25/3/2016

Leeshaw Reservoir 25/3/2016