Leeshaw Reservoir

Sunday 26th August a.m.
A dull start with a temperature of 10°C at Leeshaw where there were c100 Canadas in the field below the dam wall.Over the water Swallows and a couple of House Martins were feeding, also in a nearby field a charm of Goldfinch were on the Thistle seeds.There was a grey heron at the edge of the water and near to it I had the bonus of three Snipe making it a worthwhile trip.A Moorhen also made an appearance on the water, just one Lapwing was seen.
Nigel.

Grey Heron

Snipe

Moorhen

Canadas coming in to land

c100 Canadas in the field

Leeshaw Reservoir 26/8/2018

Harden Moor

Saturday 25th August a.m.
 A bright sunny start with a temperature of 8°C on Harden Moor where I started off by finding the Little Owl in its usual spot.Then I followed my usual route soon finding Whitethroat and Willow Warbler with a Robin close by.Then I came to a mixed flock of birds which included Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch.Overhead were several Swallows flying around I also found another juvenile Bullfinch eating berries but it was soon chased off by a Song Thrush.A decent morning but no good migrants were seen as I hoped for so I decided to try another spot.
 I went to the local reservoir which has restricted access to BOG members only and my efforts were rewarded with a Wheatear which posed on the reservoir wall for a picture.
Nigel.

Juvenile Bullfinch

Song Thrush

Dunnock

Goldfinch

Little Owl

Whitethroat

Willow Warbler

Wheatear at local Reservoir

Redcar Tarn

Saturday 18th August a.m.
A blustery morning up at the Tarn with heavy cloud cover and a temperature of 15°C, Lapwings were the bird of the morning with c50 on the island.Still a large number of LBB Gulls which I counted at 49 along with some BH Gulls and there was a couple of Pied Wagtails flitting around.
Nigel.

Lapwing

Pied Wagtail

BH Gull Juv

LBB Gull

LBB Gull with Juvenile

Redcar Tarn 18/8/2018

Which Tern is It?

Friday 17th August p.m.
 A dull afternoon with a little rain, plenty wind and a temperature of 15°C as I ventured to a local reservoir which has restricted access to BOG members.As I looked over the dam wall I could see Lapwings,BH Gulls,LBB Gulls and a few Herring Gulls spread out at the edge of the water.I walked down towards the hide scanning the distant shore hoping to see a wader but any small birds would be out of range of the bins.Something lifted all the birds and I saw five small waders among them, possibly Dunlin but I was unable to get a positive ID.I watched where they landed but was unable to re-locate them.I started walking back when I spotted a bird flying just in front of me,that isn't a BH Gull its a Tern.Then the big question which one as I watched it fly up and down the reservoir wall and then in to the water for a drink or fish.The thing that threw me was the black bill, being used to seeing the Red and black of the adult Common Tern, but after looking at the books I decided it was a 1st summer Common Tern which has not developed the red part of the bill yet and not got the black hood as we go towards Winter.
 Please correct me if I'm wrong, I got plenty pictures below although the light was poor.
Nigel.

I think 1st Summer Common Tern

Glovershaw/Sconce Lane Area.

Saturday 11th August a.m.
A sunny morning with a start temperature of 12°C as I met up with BOG members at 8 a.m. in the Pennythorn Hill car Park on the edge of Baidon Moor.My camera was still in its case as I was chatting with other members when a Barn Owl flew past, I hurriedly set the camera up to get a couple of record shots.
 We set off on the walk seeing Willow Warbler and Whitethroat after a slow start but there were plenty of Butterflies such as Small Copper,Wall Brown and Small Heath among others around to keep the interest going.After some walking we came to an area which had a couple of Redstarts which kept their distance,Grey Heron and Little Owl were also seen.
 Further along a Buzzard was seen which perched in a distant tree and soon after a Red Kite flew over as well as a GSW seen in flight.Another area produced a distant Spotted Flycatcher, Swallows were seen throughout the walk, also Linnets on an overhead wire and Goldfinch feeding on the Thistle seeds. I saw at least four Kestrels during the morning and as we headed back to the cars past the Golf course a Skylark was seen.
Nigel.

Kestrel

Barn Owl

Distant Buzzard

Red Kite

Distant Spotted Flycatcher

Swallow Juv

Small Copper

Wall Brown

Small Heath Glovershaw/Sconce Lane area 11/8/2018