Saturday 30 September 2017

Redcar Tarn

Saturday September 30th a.m.
 A cloudy start to the morning with a biting wind making if feel much colder than the 9°C temperature. There were c50 Lapwings in the field next to the Tarn and as I walked round I caught sight of two returning Goosanders.Then a real bonus as I spotted a Shoveler, a site first for me here at the Tarn and on the island there was a Grey Heron.Others included 15 Tufted Ducks, c75 BH Gulls,5 LBB Gulls and a Common Gull and also eight Pied Wagtails were flitting about.Another bonus came as I was looking through the Mallards on the banking when I spotted a Wigeon with them.
Nigel.
Wigeon



Shoveler


Shoveler & Goosander

Goosander

Grey Heron

Lapwing



Pied Wagtail Juv

Pied Wagtail

Common Gull


Redcar Tarn 30/9/2017

Sunday 24 September 2017

Cullingworth to Hewenden Reservoir

Sunday 24th September a.m.
 A bright start with a temperature of 11°C as I walked through the village seeing several Goldfinch eating Thistle seeds in a field before going on to the Great Northern Trail footpath.This took me on to the viaduct where I could see c50 BH Gulls,Canadas,Mallards and a couple of Tufted Ducks.At the edge of the water it was good to see nine Wigeon and a Common Gull was on a buoy in the water.As I headed towards the wood around a dozen Mistle Thrush flew from a Hawthorn Tree full of berries, also four Linnets could be seen in the distance.In the wood a Chiffchaff was singing loudly in a tree above me but I couldn't see it a Jay also flew past.On the other side of the reservoir there was another singing which I saw and was able to get a record picture of. Two Cormorants were drying out there wings on a tree in the water and several Jackdaws were around.
  No Swallows or House Martins were seen so it looks like there gone locally until next spring.
Nigel.
Chiffchaff

Common Gull

Cormorants

Goldfinch

Jackdaw

Linnet

Mistle Thrush

Wigeon





Hewenden Reservoir 24/9/2017

Saturday 16 September 2017

Harold Park and Park Dam

Saturday 16th September a.m.
 A dry sunny morning with a temperature of 10°C and the chance to do some birding took me to Harold Park.Here at the lake a Grey Heron was posing well and good to catch up with the pair of Mute Swans with their seven Cygnets.Others included Tufted Duck,GC Grebe,BH Gull,Collared Dove and Robin.
 Then it was down the road a short distance to Park Dam where there were c100 Swallow and 15 House Martins over the water some moving to the overhead cables giving me chance of a pic.There was also a Great Crested Grebe with a growing chick and a Little Grebe with two chicks,this was on a nest on my last visit so good to see it with the chicks.A Kestrel came close enough for a picture and a pair of Grey Wagtails were flying around, others included Mute Swans and Tufted Ducks.
Nigel.
Kestrel

Grey Heron



Mute Swan with seven cygnets

Mute Swans at Park Dam

Robin

Swallow


c100 Swallows over the water

Tufted Duck

GC Grebe

GCG chick

Grey Wagtail

Distant Little Grebe with two chicks

Harold Park 16/9/2017

Park Dam 16/9/2017

Sunday 3 September 2017

Yeadon Tarn

Sunday 3rd September a.m.
 A bit of hazy sunshine this morning with a temperature of 11°C as I counted 18 Mute Swans on the Tarn.There were c30 House Martins,c20 Sand Martins and 10 Swallows flying over the Tarn and the surrounding trees.The water had just the usual species of c100 Mallards,Moorhen,Coot and Tufted Ducks and six House Sparrows were seen near the edge of the water.
Nigel.
Mute Swan



Swallows



Swallow & House Martin

House Martin

Drink time

Sand Martin

Just caught this Sand Martin 

Mallards

House Sparrows & Mallards

Moorhen

Coot

Yeadon Tarn 3/9/2017