Yeadon Tarn & Knotford Nook

Sunday 20th December a.m.
 We started off at Yeadon Tarn where a dull start quickly brightened up as the sun came out giving a temperature of 9°C. From the car park we saw a charm of Goldfinch flitting about in the trees above us, then walking down to the Tarn we saw a solitary Redpoll at the seed heads as we did on our last visit to Redcar Tarn.On the water we saw GC Grebe,Goosander,Tufted Duck,Mute Swan & other common species.After a walk round the Tarn we decided to make the most of the sunny morning & go a few miles down the road to Knotford Nook.
 This is an area near Otley which has two lakes laying adjacent to the River Wharfe, the Lakes our now private & fenced off for the local fishing clubs.This used to be a favourite spot for local birder attracting a good variety of birds but in recent years has seen a decline.However it is still a place to see some birds, a couple of years ago a Slavonian Grebe was here which we managed to get over and see.This morning we walked along the road between the two Lakes which gives distant views of the birds through the hedges.We saw three drake Goldeneyes,Wigeon,Cormorant,GC Grebe,Tufted Duck,Goosander & c50 Lapwings fly over.We then walked back towards the car stopping at an opening in the trees for another scan of the Lake.We spotted a small bird on the water which was black & white with some feathers sticking up.What was this we asked ourselves? we ruled out male Tufted Duck,Goldeneye & Goosander so whats left?The bird seemed to be sleeping & did not lift its head making ID even more difficult but the only thing we could think of was a male Smew, have a look at the distant record snaps below & please let us know what you think?

Great Crested grebe

Goosander

Common Gull

Mute Swan

Redpoll

Goldeneye-Knotford Nook

possible sleeping Smew?

head resting on its back

If only it would lift its head to have a look round

Mute Swans at Yeadon Tarn

sun catching this Goosander

Yeadon Tarn 20/12/2015

Harold Park & Park Dam

Saturday 19th December a.m.
A cloudy dull start to the day with occasional drizzle but very mild at 14°C on our arrival at Harold Park where we headed for the Lake.Here the highlights were four Goosanders along with the resident Gt Crested Grebes, others included c80 Canadas.Many of the the Canadas left while we were here heading for the field near Park Dam where we caught up with them grazing later on.Other notables at Harold Park were Tufted Ducks,Collared Doves,House Sparrows,c30 Coots & Moorhens.
 Down the road at nearby Park Dam it was good to catch up with the four Little Grebes, others here were BH & Common Gulls,Coot,Moorhen,Tufted Ducks & Jackdaws.The field around the Lake had been spread with muck which attracted six Pied Wagtails.

Moorhen

Goosander

Goosanders & Canada

Little Grebe - Park Dam

Pied Wagtail - Park Dam

Harold Park 19/12/2015

Redcar Tarn

Monday 14th December a.m.
With some spare time & a day off work I decided to go up to Redcar Tarn to see what was around, on arrival the temperature was 7°C & gloomy overhead.There were good numbers of the usual birds, I had a walk round the Tarn & stopped at the top end seeing some birds feeding on the seed heads at the edge of the water.After a while I finally saw to my delight they were Redpolls, a first for us at this site, I managed a few pictures before they were disturbed by a noisy Coot.Also in this area Robin, Dunnock & Chaffinch were seen as I made my way back to the car & off home.N.P.

Lesser Redpoll

Common Gull

LBB Gull

BH & LBB Gulls

Muscovy Ducks

Tufted Duck

Redcar Tarn 14/12/2015

Cullingworth & Hewenden Reservoir

Sunday 13th December a.m.
 Another weekend struggling to get out & do some birding with most of Saturday raining,the afternoon giving a torrential down poor leaving many roads flooded.Overnight saw some clearing skies leading to a frost & a temperature of just 1°C as we set out for a local walk in some dry weather.We headed through the village seeing a GSW on the outskirts quickly followed by a Sparrowhawk briefly perched in a tree.We went along the Great Northern Trail towards Hewenden Viaduct seeing a Song Thrush on the way from the viaduct we could see BH Gulls,Mallards & Cormorant on the reservoir below.At the other side of the viaduct we saw a Mistle Thrush,several Redwing,Greenfinch,Robin & Goldfinch.Also in a distant field a good number of Common Gulls together with more BH Gulls & Jackdaws.Walking round the top end of the reservoir we got a better view of the Cormorants & in addition there were four Tufted Ducks & three Moorhen. Coming back a Grey Heron flew across in front of us & a Pied Wagtail was seen near the farm, during our walk a number of other common species were seen.At least it stayed dry but was very muddy in places & we were please we had worn our Wellington Boots.

GSW

Cormorant & Moorhen

Goldfinch

Mistle Thrush

Redwing

View of Hewenden Reservoir from Northern Trail

View from Viaduct

Looking back at the viaduct

Hewenden Reservoir & Viaduct 13/12/2015

Dowley Gap

Sunday 6th December a.m.
 We arrived at Dowley Gap with clouds gathering & a temperature of 14°C, we walked alongside the canal to the waterworks where we saw c35 Pied Wagtails & three Grey Wagtails.We headed over the Aqueduct & down through the wood to the River Aire which was at very high level, at this point the heavens opened & the rain returned.We headed back seeing a Jay close by quickly followed by a Treecreeper but the camera stayed in its case to try & keep it dry.As we got back to the road bridge the rain stopped & it was looking brighter so we decided to carry on towards Bingley.Here we saw a male Goosander with a few more Mallards, it was quiet though with not many other birds seen. Further along we did see a Song Thrush & a Robin with a couple of Mute Swans on the canal, ( Yellow Tags 153 & 154). We walked further than normal & finally turned round when we reached the Five Rise Locks on the other side of Bingley.Not much was added on the way back apart from Blackbirds,Blue Tits & LT Tits.

Song Thrush

Robin

male Goosander

Mallard & Goosander

Mute Swans

Five Rise Locks, Bingley

St Ives

Sunday 6th December a.m.
A slightly better morning than recent times although still a strong wind blowing, cloudy & a temperature of 12°C, so we decide to venture out to St Ives just the other side of Harden.We headed for the Coppice Pond which held the usual Mallards,Coot,Moorhen & a Mute Swan with a bonus of a male Tufted Duck.The once productive hide yielded a big fat zero, so we walked round the Pond seeing 23 Canadas & a Greylag in the field beyond.After seeing some birds we decided to try our look at Dowley Gap so off we went....

male Tufted Duck

Mallards & Mute Swan

St Ives Coppice Pond 6/12/2015