Dowley Gap

Saturday September 15th a.m.
  By late morning it was a bright sunny day with a temperature of 18°C as we walked
along the canal at Dowley Gap.A couple of barges were trying to negotiate the locks
and looking over to the Sewage Works we could see BH Gulls and a Grey Wagtail 
flew over. As we headed along the lane towards the Aqueduct we saw a couple of
Wrens,Pied Wagtails,Swallows and a Robin. As we crossed the Aqueduct which takes
the canal over the River Aire we heard a rustling in the trees below us from where a Jay
appeared. We saw another Grey Wagtail here as well, before going into Hirst Wood and
along the bank of the river. We stopped in a clearing to count the Mallards in the river and
sunning themselves on a stony section at  the side of the river.Whilst here we also saw
Nuthatch above us and a Treecreeper gave us chance of a couple of snaps,a Squirrel also
posed briefly on a tree stump. We headed back to the canal where there were some more
Mallards, a few Greylags and other usual species.

Greylag

Treecreeper

Robin

Grey Squirrel

Road bridge over canal at Dowley Gap

Aqueduct taking the canal across the River Aire

Canal Locks at Dowley Gap

     

Harold Park & Park Dam

Sunday September 9th a.m.
  A bright sunny start to the day with a temperature of 14°C on our arrival at Harold Park,
the other side of Bradford from us.On the lake were BH Gulls,Mallards,Coots,Moorhen &
Tufted Ducks, a pair of Collared Doves landed at the edge of the lake long enough for us to
snap one of them.Also on the lake we spotted a Great Crested Grebe, there were also two
Juveniles one of which came close enough for a decent snap. We also spotted a Little Grebe
in the middle of the lake and a Mute Swan was hiding on the island under the trees.We then
walked up to the small pond seeing a couple of Robins on the way, on the water and round
the edge were Canadas,Mallards,Coots & Moorhen.
58 - BH Gull
2 - Collared Dove
10 - Canadas
1 - Gt C. Grebe + 2 Juvs
1 - Little Grebe
c50 - Mallard
8 - Moorhen
1 - Mute Swan
2 - Robin
4 - Tufted Ducks
plus others
Park Dam
  We then moved a short distance down the road to Park Dam where the temperature had
risen to 16°C.It was good to catch up with the pair of Mute Swans with their six cygnets
which have grown well since our last visit and are now nearly as big as the adults.We also
saw the Gt C. Grebe with one Juv & two chicks. There were also two Little Grebes with
at least two chicks maybe more but some birds were along way away and difficult to ID.
Other birds included BH Gull,Coot,Mallard & Moorhen.

Moorhen

Great Crested Grebe Juvenile

Collared Dove

Little Grebe

Little Grebe,Park Dam

Little Grebe & chick,Park Dam

Mute Swan with one Cygnet at Park Dam

Mute Swans with six Cygnets

Harold Park pond

 

Redcar Tarn

Saturday September 8th a.m.
  After going to Leeshaw Reservoir we made our way up to Redcar Tarn where the
sun was shining and it was there was a warm breeze blowing.Here there were plenty
birds to see, even though they are common species I always like to see them and you
can usually see them close up here.Mallards,BH Gulls,Coots were in their usual large
numbers, others were Lapwings,Pied Wagtails,Canadas,Tufted Ducks,Jackdaws and
Swallows. It was also good to see a Robin in the trees and there was a Goose that I
thought might be a Pink Footed, but some of its markings around the face left some
doubt,so the jury's out on that one. Still I took a couple of snap so any comments as to
whether its a genuine Pink Footed Goose will be welcome.

BH Gull

BH Gull in winter plumage

Pied Wagtail

Lapwings

Goose, Pink Footed ?

Goose

Redcar Tarn

  

Leeshaw Reservoir

Saturday September 8th
  A warm start to the day with a temperature at 16°C and the sun breaking
through burning early mist at Leeshaw Reservoir.There was only a single
Cormorant which flew down on to the water,no other birds on the water.
We did see 30 Canadas in a nearby field, other birds in surrounding fields
included a Grey Heron,Pheasants and  Meadow Pipits.

Cormorant

Canadas

Swallows & Butterflies

Friday September 7th
 The week ended with another warm day with some sunshine but a strong wind blowing,
there were plenty Swallows about and I managed a couple of snaps of some on overhead
wires in Harden.
  Back home in the garden the bird feeders had Greenfinch,Chaffinch and a GSW juv on the
peanuts.Our Holyhock in the garden is flowering well and the Budlia is also flowering and in
the sun was living up to its name of the Butterfly bush. I got snaps of Small Tortoiseshell,Small
White,Red Admiral and Peacock, all common species but good to see so many in the garden.

Swallow

Holyhock

Small Tortoiseshell

Small White

Red Admiral

Peacock

Bolton Abbey

Monday September 3rd a.m.
 We paid a visit to Bolton Abbey today with all the family including the dog going for a
pleasant walk from the Cavendish Pavilion up to the Strid.It was mild a 17°C with the sun
breaking through as the morning wore on. The River was fast flowing and there was little
happening bird wise apart from several Mallards,Feral Pigeons,a low flying male Pheasant,
and a Dipper giving us something to point the camera at.Still a nice sunny day makes a change
from rain and we enjoyed our walk.

Dipper

Looking up stream from the bridge near the Cavendish Pavilion

  

Hornsea Mere

Saturday September 1st p.m.
  A trip to visit my Grandad on the East coast today meant we were able to call in at
Hornsea Mere which is close to where he lives.When we arrived at the mere the sun
was shining and the temperature was 18.5°C,a strong wind was blowing but it was
still very pleasant.When we got out of our cars we were surrounded by Mute Swans,
Black Swans.Canadas,Greylags,Mallards,Coots and BH Gulls, it was a good job we
had brought plenty bread for them. There were also LBB Gulls flying around and we also
saw several Cormorants as we walked round the lake there were several Pied Wagtails
flitting about.Near the coffee shop where the boats were we also spotted several Little
Gulls on the jetty, we have not seen these before so a good first there.My grandad was
more interested in a little steam boat that was moored, mind you he did also like the
Black Swans.
2 - Black Swans
c 60 - Mute Swans
c40 BH Gulls
5 - LBB Gulls
8 - Little Gulls
c50 - Canadas
c25 - Greylags
9 - Cormorant
c 75 - Coot
c100 - Mallards
6 - Pied Wagtails
c25 - Swallows
plus others

Black Swan

Coot

Cormorants

Little Gull

Little Gull Juv

BH Gull left with juv & adult Little Gulls

one for grandad to look at

Hornsea Mere 1

Hornsea Mere 2