Cromwell Bottom NR

Friday February 7th p.m.
 I had an afternoon to spare so decided to go to Cromwell Bottom NR aka Elland
gravel pits whilst Danny was at school.It was a mild afternoon with a temperature
of 5.5°C but sunny spells were interrupted by showers which made photography more
difficult.Still I managed a couple of birds for our annual list in the form of Siskin & Lesser
Redpoll at the bird feeding area.This has been much transformed by local volunteers since
our last visit with benches & viewing screens.Well done to all concerned & a thank you
from me for giving me and I'm sure many others the chance to get pictures or just enjoy
watching the birds that visit.
 Others I saw included Great,Blue,Coal & LT Tits,Bullfinch,Chaffinch & Robin....N.P.

Siskin

Lesser Redpoll

Blue Tit

LT Tit

male Bullfinch

female Bullfinch

pair of Bullfinches

Lesser Redpoll

More from Rodley NR

From Sunday 2nd February
 As we were looking at the birds on the lagoon yesterday we saw one that stood out among
the Tufteds it was white above the bill leading us to think female Scaup.It was some distance
away so we were not certain looking through are snaps it looks right which would make it a
first for us.On another picture there is a bird that looks like a possible male but that's maybe
being a bit hopeful, any thoughts welcome.
 Here are the snaps with a few more from yesterday.

female Scaup

Pochard front,female Scaup back,possible male Scaup right?

Reed Bunting

Chaffinch & Bullfinch

female Bullfinch

male Bullfinch

Rodley NR

Sunday 2nd February a.m.
 After are earlier visit to Yeadon Tarn we went to Rodley Nature Reserve where the sun was
still out & the temperature had risen to 6.5°C.In the field behind the car park there were c30
each of Canadas & Greylags grazing, & further away were a flock of BH Gulls with some
Starlings.The lagoons were quiet but we did see small numbers of Teal,Gadwall,Tufted,Pochard
& Mallards with a couple of Mute Swans & Grey Herons.Several LT Tits were on some feeders
next to the path.
 We went up to the feeding station where we got chance to take a few snaps of Tree Sparrow,
Bullfinch,Chaffinch & Reed Bunting,others seen were Redwing & Greenfinch.We headed back to
the car seeing a Fox run across the field nearby sending the gulls in different directions.

male Bullfinch

female Bullfinch

Grey Heron

LT Tits

Tree Sparrow

female Reed Bunting

male Reed Bunting

male Chaffinch

Fox on the run

pair of Bullfinches

Yeadon Tarn

Sunday 2nd February a.m.
 A sunny morning on our arrival at Yeadon Tarn with a temperature of 5°C with a blustery
wind.Good numbers of the usual waterfowl with Pochard,Goosander,Mute Swan & Gt Crested
Grebe.A pair of Pied Wags were on the ground as we walked round,a Grey Heron was on the
island, else where just common species seen.
c100 - BH Gull
14 - Canadas
3 - Common Gull
10 - Coot
17 - Goosander
8 - GT C. Grebe
1 - Grey Heron
c50 - Mallard
7 - Moorhen
11 - Mute Swan
2 - Pied Wags
11 - Pochard
8 - Tufted Duck
plus other common species

Grey Heron

Pied Wag

Pochard

Tufted Duck

Goosanders

Yeadon Tarn

Goosanders & Gt C.Grebe

Dowley Gap

Saturday 1st February a.m.
 We started off well at Dowley Gap with Chaffinch,Goldfinch,Greenfinch,Robin all seen in the
hedges near the parking spot,also in the field we saw c30 Redwing. On the canal it was good
to see the return of 22 Greylag Geese, there were also a pair of Mute Swans,Mallards & a pair
of Goosanders as we described in our earlier report.
 There was also a foreign invader in the form of a male North American Wood Duck, this is likely
to be an escapee from one of the regions bird collections.We have seen reports of this bird in the
Saltaire area before but this is our first sighting.There are breeding pairs of these birds in Southern
England which again will have originated from bird collections,or been deliberately released.
  Walking back along the canal there were three Goosanders near the locks, with a Kestrel making
a brief appearance overhead, a Jay was foraging in the undergrowth. At the water works BH Gulls
were overhead & the usual good numbers of Pied Wagtails were around.Also seen here were Wren,
Dunnock & Robin, we crossed the Aqueduct & went into Hirst Wood.This area was quiet but on the
river we saw another pair of Goosanders,Mallards & a Moorhen.
 We retraced our steps across the Aqueduct with a Grey Wagtail flying low past us, we then walked
back to the car in the bright sunshine, after an enjoyable morning.

Wood Duck

Greylag

Mute Swans

male Goosander

Redwing

Redwing in a tree

Dunnock

North American Wood Duck

Goosanders & Greylags at Dowley Gap

Dowley Gap Goosanders

Saturday 1st February a.m.
 A cold frosty start with a temperature of 2.5°C on our arrival, but with the sun out it
was promising for getting a few decent snaps this morning.We'll give a full report of our
visit later but in the sunshine we had a great chance to snap a pair of Goosanders on the
canal so lets concentrate on these.The male black & white bird is now in full breeding
plumage & looking at its best at this time of year.The female also though not as colourful
looked great too,normally a very flighty bird but today they were not bothered by our
presence so we got the following results.

female Goosander

male Goosander

female Goosander

pair of Goosanders

male Goosander at his best