Yeadon Tarn

Saturday 17th June a.m.
A cloudy but warm start to the day with a temperature of 18°C as I headed to Yeadon Tarn, as I headed over Otley Chevin I spotted a Red Kite in the distance.I managed to pull in to the side of the road set the camera up and get a few pictures as it went close by then off in to the distance.
 When I arrived at Yeadon Tarn the first thing I noticed was c30 Canadas and a single Greylag on the water with two Gt C. Grebes nearby.There were Swifts,Swallows and House Martins above the water and near the airport Reed Bunting,Goldfinch and Dunnock were seen.I walked round the Tarn counting 20 Mute Swans(Tags seen were Yellow 437,Red 512Y,513Y,515Y,517Y and 520Y), there was just a couple of Tufted Ducks.There was a Mistle Thrush looking for food on the grass and a Chiffchaff was singing as I approached the Car Park a Grey Wagtail rounded off a good morning.
Nigel.

Grey Wagtail

Red Kite

Coot Juv

Coot with chick

Goldfinch Juv

Gt C. Grebe

Mistle Thrush

Mute Swan

Yeadon Tarn 17/6/2017

Redcar Tarn

Sunday 11th June a.m.
 A dull morning with just fleeting glimpses of the sun up at Redcar Tarn with a temperature of 10°C.It was also quiet for birds as well with a couple of Oystercatchers,Lapwings and a Pied Wagtail being the best on offer.It was good to see some chicks though with Mallards,Coots and Moorhen all having some left with plenty of LBB Gulls around.As I was leaving I was pleased to bump in to B.S. who had a couple of his birding team with him.
Nigel.

Mallard with chicks

Coot with young chick

Coot with some older chicks

Coot chick

Moorhen chick

Pied Wagtail

LBB Gulls at Redcar Tarn 11/6/2017

Lister Park

Sunday 4th June a.m.
 A fairly bright morning with a temperature of 11°C as I headed for the Lake at Lister Park.There were 40 large Gulls here which usually only turn up in two and threes, they were mainly LBB with some Herring Gulls all of different ages.There were c85 Canadas and 20 Greylags with the usual Tufted Ducks,Mallards,Moorhen and Coots.Overhead were six House Martins and a Swift swooped several times over the water for a drink.
 I went up to the stream which runs through the botanical gardens finding a Collared Dove on top of a conifer which was the ousted by a Jay.Others seen were Mistle Thrush,Pied Wagtail,Robin and Wren.
Nigel.

LBB Gull

LBB Gull sub adult

Herring Gull second summer

Herring Gull first & second summer

Large Gulls

Greylag

Tufted Duck

Collared Dove

Jay

Mistle Thrush

Pied Wagtail

Stream through the gardens

Lister Park Lake 4/6/2017

Harden Moor

Saturday 3rd June a.m.
A bright start to the morning with a temperature of 11°C, my first bird of the morning was a Little Owl which would not look at the camera for a picture.In the distance there were two Oystercatchers foraging for food, back on the main path  a Whitethroat was carrying food to its nest to feed chicks.I soon heard the sound of a Cuckoo calling but only got one glimpse of it during the morning as it flew past me.Another bird which I heard singing several times in different areas was the Garden Warbler but usually from the centre of trees.This can be a bit frustrating when you know its in the tree in front of you but no chance of a picture, I did get a couple of sightings through the bins though during the morning.It was also good to hear its close relative a Blackcap singing and see it some distance away, my first of the year.Willow Warblers were singing but in fewer numbers no doubt busy rearing chicks.It was also good to see a distant Oystercatcher with a young chick, others overhead were Sand Martin,House Martin,Swallow and Swift and good to see three Bullfinch and several Dunnock.
Nigel.

Whitethroat

Willow Warbler

Blackcap

Bullfinch

Dunnock

Turn round Little Owl

Whitethroat carrying food

Harden Moor