Harold Park & Park Dam

Saturday 20th July a.m.
Harold Park
 A cooler start to the day after the recent high temperatures, 16°C at Harold Park on our
arrival with cloud overhead but still some occasional sunshine.The BH Gulls numbered 65
with a good number of juveniles among them. The other usual species of Canadas,Mallards,
Coots,Moorhen & Tufted Duck were all present. An unusual Pigeon landed at the edge of the
lake,maybe from a local Loft, it did have ID tags on its legs.The stars of the show for me though
were the GT C. Grebe pair who had four healthy chicks.

Great C. Grebe

Gt. C. Grebe with chicks

Gt. C. Grebe family

BH Gull Juv

Pigeon

Moorhen

Harold Park

 Park Dam
 The temperature was up to 18°C on our arrival at Park Dam just a short distance down the road,
not as many birds here but still a good selection.Again there were 38 BH Gulls with the Canadas,
Tufted Ducks,Coots,Gt C. Grebe,Swifts & Swallows.The pair of Mute Swans only had three
Cygnets down from the six they had on our last visit in early June.There were also plenty Butterflies
around & even a Common Toad made an appearance.

Mute Swan Cygnet

Small Tortoiseshell

Common Toad

Mute Swan with Cygnet

Park Dam

 

Local Walk

Tuesday 16th July a.m.
 Another warm sunny start to the day with an early temperature of 16.5 °C which gradually
rose through the day up to 27°C.My dad was off work so he took the dog for an early morning walk
here is his report of the wildlife he saw.
 A quick look in the garden started things off well with six Siskins soon followed by the return of the
Juv GSW. There were plenty Swifts & House Martins flying over the village with other common species
around including Collared Dove,House Sparrow,Starling & Jackdaw.I headed for Hewenden Viaduct
seeing Swallows on the overhead wires near the track leading down to the reservoir, with more Swifts
flying around the viaduct.I headed down the path which goes under the viaduct seeing four BH Gulls on
the dam wall & a Grey Heron took off, Wrens,Blue Tits & Great Tits were also in this area. From the bottom of the viaduct I was watching Swifts which were very high & only visible with the bins their
numbers suddenly grew.They were also joined by Swallows all very high, then a bigger bird flew among them, a Perergine which was being mobbed by the Swallows. It flew over the reservoir and away,great to
see my first so close to home. The path lead alongside Hewenden beck where there were several Mallards,
then on to Hallas Bridge, where it was good to get a good view of a Dipper, I was too slow with the
camera though.
 At the other side of Goit Stock Wood there was a Deer drinking from the small stream, & as I headed towards the road there were a couple of Willow Warblers in the trees & a male Pheasant in the field
below.Also in this area I heard the reeling sound of the Grasshopper Warbler a first for me, didn't get a
sighting of it though amongst the deep grass.A good point to finish as the temperature was beginning to
rise & we were soon home.

Swallow

Juv Swallow

Mallards

Deer

male Pheasant

Hewenden Reservoir

Hewenden Viaduct

 

Redcar Tarn

Monday 15th July p.m.
A quick visit up to Redcar Tarn this afternoon where the Gull numbers keep on increasing &
with a returning Common Gull. An Oystercatcher was pipping loudly as it flew round the Tarn then
off heading South.There were a Pied Wagtails a couple of them Juvs, one of which posed very
nicely at the edge of the Tarn.Coots & Moorhen were still nesting on the island where there was also
a couple of Lapwings.We spotted a couple of Dunnocks on the edge of the path round the Tarn &
above flew House Martins & Swifts.
c150 - BH Gulls
58 - LBB Gulls
1 - Common Gull
2 - Dunnock
5 - House Martins
2 - Lapwing
c70 - Mallard
4 - Pied Wags
1 - Oystercatcher
6 - Swift
plus other common species

Lapwing

Common Gull

LBB Gull

Pied Wag Juv

LBB & BH Gulls

Redcar Tarn

LBB & BH Gulls in the field at the side of Redcar Tarn

Garden Visitors

Monday 15th July
 Another glorious day with the sun out & the temperature in the mid 20s, not much birding
over the weekend with my dad & sister away on a Taekwondo trip.This morning a look out
of the window saw the return of a Juv GSW on the feeders so here are a few snaps from
my dad.

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker

Yeadon Tarn

Sunday July 7th a.m.
 Another bright sunny start to the day with a temperature of 19°C at Yeadon Tarn.The Mallards
were well spread out on the lake with one group getting plenty early morning sun on the boards
under the wall.We just saw one Canada & two Tufted Ducks but there were seven Mute Swans,
with  Swift,Swallow & House Martins overhead.There were a couple of BH Gulls around and on
the island there were a couple of juveniles,making us think they may have bred here.There were the
usual Coots some now with large chicks/juvs & there were also Moorhen one on the island had
three large chicks.As we were at the top end near the airport we were treated to a Common Tern
arriving & staying on the wooded barriers it was soon joined by a second bird giving us a good
chance of some snaps to round off a good morning.

Common Tern

Common Terns

Coot chick/juv

Mallard under the wall

Mute Swan with Juv BH Gulls in the background

Common Terns

Redcar Tarn

Saturday July 6th a.m.
A warm sunny start to the day with a temperature of 18.5°C on our arrival at Redcar Tarn high
above Keighley. Hirundines were present in the form of Swallows,House Martins & Sand Martins
with the addition of Swifts too.The BH Gull numbers are beginning to climb & today there was a
record number of 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.There were several Collared Doves in an adjacent
field, on the water were Mallards,Tufted Ducks & Coots. A Moorhen was on top of a nest on the
island and Jackdaws & Rooks were also present.
  Back at home we continue to get plenty visitors on the feeders with the usual Chaffinch,Bullfinch &
numerous Great Tits it was good to see a pair of Siskin late morning.

LBB Gull

LBB & BH Gulls

Jackdaw

BH Gull

LBB & BH Gulls

LBB Gull

male Siskin & female Chaffinch on the garden feeders

LBB Gulls

LBB,BH Gulls & Rooks

Redcar Tarn