Redcar Tarn

Sunday 26th September a.m.

 A nice sunny morning with a temperature of 17°C, loads of birds as usual here the majority being c200 Lapwings, c100 BH Gulls, c50 LBB Gulls and c50 Mallards. Also Canadas, Starlings, Jackdaws, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Tuffteds and Greylags.  On the island were seven Teals enjoying the sun as was a Grey Heron and a Terrapin. 

Grey Heron

Grey Heron & Teal

Teal

Teal and Terrapin

Tufted

BH Gull

Greylag

Lapwing

LBB Gull

Pied Wagtail

Starling in the proverbial

Redcar Tarn 26/9/2021

 

Hewenden Reservoir

 Sunday 19th September p.m.

  The weather brightened up this afternoon so I decided to have a walk on to Hewenden Reservoir on the off chance the Osprey may make an appearance, the temperature was 17°C.  When I got to the viaduct I could see a couple of Mute Swans on the water, along with Mallards, Teal and Canadas grazing in the field..  It was good to see MD there who was hoping too see the Osprey in his local area, he quickly put me on to a couple of Buzzards in a distant field.  It began to look like a dip but then a dog walker spooked a bird from the trees and MD quickly spotted it was the Osprey which I picked up before it went in to the trees at the other side of the res.  The sharp eyed MD then located it in the trees where I was able to also see it, here it was perched watching for fish before coming out to pounce on one.  Well worth the visit to see the Osprey again, others were Kestrel and Jay.

Osprey

Perched watching for fish

Doe Park Reservoir

Tuesday September 7th a.m.

A sunny morning with a start temperature of 14°C as I Set off walking heading for Doe Park Reservoir.  As I passed Hewenden Res there was no sign of yesterdays Osprey, as I walked along the road of Doe Park Reservoir Dam a look over the wall produced four Grey Wagtails.  A Wheatear then landed on the wall then moving closer to the water there was also a Cormorant and Grey Heron.  I walked to the other end of the Reservoir and headed towards Denholme Clough seeing a Spotted Flycatcher.

  The walk back was hard work as the temperature rose quickly, a couple of birders were on the lookout for the Osprey I used all my luck up yesterday for this bird which I saw no sign of today.  As I headed back passed Hewenden Reservoir the morning was rounded off with a Kestrel hunting with the sun on it for once making for some decent pictures.

Spotted Flycatcher

Wheatear

Kestrel

Grey Heron

Grey Wagtail

Doe Park Res 7/9/2021

  

Hewenden Reservoir Osprey

 Monday September 6th a.m.

 After a misty start the sun began to come through so I decided to have a walk to Hewenden Reservior, the temperature was 15°C.  When I got to the viaduct I could see c50 House Martins flying around feeding, on the water there were three Wigeons, four Teal, Canadas, Mallards, Mute Swan with a Grey Wagtail in the overflow.  Then the Teal suddenly took off so I tried to get a flight shot which was hopeful with my bridge camera and needless to say didn't happen.  Then my attention was drawn by another very large bird which had appeared, Osprey! which was fishing and then flew over near the dam wall before going in to the trees.

  I had seen reports of an Osprey being here and at Doe Park Reservoir so I was delighted to finally see it and so close to home to get a lifer for myself.  I walked round the Reservoir and got another view of the Osprey as it flew to another tree where it was visible and so I was able to get some more pictures.  In the tree it was hounded by several Magpies which led it to fly off towards Doe Park Res at about 10:30 a.m.

I picked it up high in the sky probably above Doe Park Res which it will have glided to in a minute, takes me about 30 minutes walk between Reservoirs.  Great morning seeing this majestic bird.

Osprey

Osprey hounded by Magpies

Flying near the Dam wall

Hewenden Reservoir 6/9/2021