Redcar Tarn

Sunday 9th October a.m.
 A bright start up at Redcar Tarn with a temperature of 6°C, there were still seven Goosanders present but the high numbers of Gulls disappearing.There was a large flock of Lapwings in the field opposite the Tarn, we counted 202 birds,there were also Starlings mixed with them.There were 15 Muscovy Ducks at the edge of the water with Tufted,Mallards,Coots,Moorhen & Canadas also seen.On the island there was a Grey Heron in the top of a tree and one at the waters edge.A couple of Pied Wagtails made their usual appearance along with the Corvids.

Lapwing

Muscovy Ducks

Pied Wagtail

Goosander

Grey Heron

Goosander

Lapwings on the move

Redcar Tarn 9/10/2016

Park Dam

Saturday 8th October a.m.
 following on from our visit to Harold Park we went the short distance down the road to Park Dam where we found another two Mute Swans.Still five Little Grebes and Two adult GC Grebes with a Juvenile.Other here included Tufteds,Coots Moorhens and there were four Cormorants on top of the electric Pylon.These came down and went into the water after doing a circuit giving us chance to try and get some flight shots.

Little Grebe

GC Grebe

GC Grebe Juv

Cormorants on Pylon

Park Dam 8/10/2016

Harold Park

Saturday 8th October a.m.
 We set off this morning with cloudy conditions this turned misty in Denholme and in Queensbury it was thick fog but it began to clear through Shelf and by the time we arrived at Harold Park the cloud was breaking up as the sun broke through with a temperature of 9°C.We went to the Lake where the two adult Swans were present(Red 222Y) with their four Juveniles one already with a visible ring (Red 375Y).As we walked passed the island a bird was squawking and a blue flash of colour as it sped passed gave us our first Kingfisher at Harold Park.A Juvenile GC Grebe was seen along with Tufted Duck,BH Gull,Coot and other common species.We got another first here when we spotted a Grey Wagtail at the side of the lake, it soon went though. overhead three Goosanders flew past then circled back and landed on the water long enough for a snap.We also saw another Mute Swan on the small pond higher up in the Park,there were also five Collared Doves making use of the new lighting installed at the Horsfall Stadium.

Tufted Duck

GC Grebe Juv

Collared Doves

Goosanders

Mute Swan

Mute Swan Juvs

Small Pond

Harold Park Lake 8/10/2016

Cullingworth and Hewenden Reservoir

Sunday 2nd October a.m.
 It was a cloudy start as we set off with a temperature of 8°C but it wasn't long before the sun was out giving a bright morning.We walked on to Hewenden Reservoir with just a few common species seen on the way but here we got a Kestrel.We saw BH Gulls on the dam wall and three Cormorants with one on a float in the water.It was quiet down Station Road with no sign of Swallows so we made do with Pied Wagtail,Blackbirds,Robins and Goldfinch.We headed to the wood with not much thought of getting much but we looked longing up at the conifers as we always do and finally to our delight got a couple of Goldcrests feeding with some Blue Tits.Then a bird came from the undergrowth landing in the shade of a tree where we got the bins on our first Redwing of the Autumn.If this wasn't enough another bird landed on a tree trunk, yes a Treecreeper which we even managed a snap of.Then nearby a gap in the trees made us look up as several House Martins were feeding high above.A great ten minutes birding and the best we've had in this wood by far, coming out the other side three birds flew away from us,Redwings again landing in a distant tree for a snap.
  On the water as we came back at the other side of the Reservoir we could only see Mallards with the strong glare of the sun on the water.A Grey Heron flew past as did a Jay and a couple more Pied Wagtails near the farm rounded our morning off as we headed home.

Treecreeper

Cormorant

Pied Wagtail

Redwing

Robin

Hewenden Viaduct

Hewenden Reservoir 2/10/2016

Redcar Tarn Goosanders return

Saturday1st October a.m.
A bright sunny morning up at Redcar Tarn with a temperature of 9°C and an increase in the number of birds here.We had a quick scan as we got out of the car to see if there was anything new and we started to spot Goosanders at the top end.We started in their direction and as we got closer more came in to view, we were surprised at how many there were, we counted 34 Goosanders, a record for us.The BH Gull numbers were up and in the field over the road we counted 95 Lapwings, others seen were Tufted & Muscovy Ducks,Moorhen,Coot,Canadas,Pied Wagtail,Grey Heron,Common & LBB Gull plus other common species.

Goosander

Grey Heron

LBB Gull Adult,Juv and BH Gull

Pied Wagtail

Lapwing

Lapwing chasing corvid

Goosanders

Redcar Tarn 1/10/2016