Birding Review of 2020

 Tuesday 29th December.

  An unusual year with restrictions in place during lockdowns meaning I did more local birding and less distant Nature Reserve visits.  I did a bit more walking which was a good thing I particularly enjoyed walking to Doe Park and Denholme Clough in the early summer and a few more walks through Goit Stock Woods near Hallas Beck.  So here is my top ten for 2020:-

10. Garden Warbler -  Harden Moor 6th May.

I always enjoy the return of these tuneful birds during the summer and Harden Moor has been a good location for me to spot them, not an easy bird to get a picture of though.

Garden Warbler

9. Lapwing - Redcar Tarn 14th September.

Always a pleasure to see Lapwings and were lucky to have a good number of them locally this one posed well for a good picture.

Lapwing

8. Dipper - Goit Stock Wood 3rd May

One of my favourite birds the Dipper always brightens up the day when you see one.

Dipper

7. Common Tern - Swillington Ings 20th May

Not a common bird locally but good numbers can be seen at Swillington Ings during the summer making it well worth a visit along with many other birds to be seen at this great Nature Reserve.

Common Terns

6. Stonechat - Harden Moor 4th April.

I don't often see these birds so I was exited to see a couple of them on Harden Moor.

Stonechat

5. Caspian Gull - Redcar Tarn 2nd February.

Gulls don't often feature in my top tens but this Caspian Gull was a lifer for me so had to be included.

Caspian Gull

4. Dunlin - Local Reservoir 8th May.

I always get a buzz when I see a Dunlin locally and this local reservoir has turned a few up for me and enabled me to get close enough for a good picture.

Dunlin

3. Redstart - Denholme Clough 8th August.

During regular visits to Denholme Clough and Doe Park Reservoir tis summer I saw two or three Redstarts on several occasions, a real treat as these are not a common bird locally.

Redstart

2. Reed Warbler - Swillington Ings 20th may.

I hear these regularly at this site during the summer but spotting them is difficult and getting a good picture is a real bonus.

Reed Warbler

1. Spoonbill - Swillington Ings 10th September.

These rare birds are starting to spread out a bit through the country but still a red letter day to see one reasonably close to home and makes it my number one for 2020.

Spoonbill