Harden Moor

Monday 7th May a.m.
A warm sunny start with a temperature of 14°C as I started by checking out the Little Owl sat on its favourite wall with a second bird on the wall at the other side of the field.As I was watching them the distinctive sound of the Curlew was overhead as three went past.
 The Sand Martins were making frequent visits to their nesting site and there were several Willow Warbles and Whitethroats seen as they sang from prominent positions.A Chiffchaff was in full voice and I got a good view although I was too slow with the camera.It was also good to hear the melodic sound of the Garden Warbler with at least two birds singing and I got glimpses of both birds.The Cuckoo also made a couple of appearances during my visit with brief views on both occasions and of cause the distinctive call.I also briefly saw a couple of Red-legged Partridge for the first time at this location and also for the first time the Skylarks were up singing as they soared in to the sky.
 Other birds seen were Kestrel,Goldfinch,Chaffinch,Swallow,Rook and Meadow Pipits.
Nigel.

Willow Warbler

Whitethroat

Chaffinch

Curlew

Goldfinch

Little Owl

Cullingworth & Hewenden Reservoir

Sunday 6th may a.m.
Another sunny start with a temperature of 12°C as I set off on my walk seeing House Martins overhead and a Mistle Thrush as I made my way to the viaduct.Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were heard and good to see the Swallow numbers building.There were two Mute Swans on the Reservoir and a pair of Canadas had some young Goslings.A quiet but enjoyable walk with other notable birds a GSW and a couple of Pied Wagtails.
Nigel.

Swallow

Mistle Thrush

Mute Swans

Pied Wagtail

Canadas looking after one of their goslings

GSW

Hewenden Reservoir 6/5/2018

Harold Park

Saturday 5th May a.m.
A warm sunny start with a temperature of 13°C, it was good to see five House Martins over Cullingworth this morning.The birds kept returning to their nests maybe feeding the adult that could be on eggs.
 On arrival at Harold Park I headed for the Lake where the numbers of birds was well down on the usual numbers.I saw one Mute Swan,two GC Grebes, plus the usual Mallards, Canadas, Coots, Moorhens, there was a Herring Gull and a Mistle Thrush was in the field.I had a walk round the Park and saw another Herring Gull on top of one of the lights for the next door Horsfall Stadium.
 On the way home I stopped off at the Raggles flood where there was a single Redshank, the water will soon go over the next few days of hot weather.
Nigel.

Herring Gull

GC Grebe

Mistle Thrush

Mute Swan

Redshank at Raggles Flood

Harold Park small pond

Harold Park 5/5/2018

Cullingworth

Thursday 3rd May a.m.
A sunny morning though a cool start at just 6°C as I set off on a walk away from the village to the North and heading back on the West side.I went to my first location where I picked up Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Swallow, Pheasant and a distant Raven.Heading up the track to the edge of the moorland the adjacent field held 15 Rooks and the same Jackdaws.On the track here I saw Linnet, Meadow Pipit ,Curlew, Lapwing, Sand Martin, Reed Bunting and a distant Wheatear. I then headed back towards the village to a pond where there were Mallards, Canadas, Moorhen and overhead were c50 LBB Gulls with at least one Herring Gull.With a long but enjoyable walk a good number of birds were seen and I was soon home for a well earned rest.
Nigel.

Pheasant

Blackcap

Chaffinch

distant Curlew

LBB Gulls

Raven

distant Wheatear

Willow Warbler

LBB Gulls & at least one Herring Gull over Cullingworth 3/5/18 

Harden Moor

Tuesday 1st May a.m.
 A chilly start on Harden Moor with a temperature of 5°C, the first bird spotted was a Little Owl in its usual area with a Pied Wagtail nearby.It was good to hear and see at least three Whitethroats singing with a count of ten Willow Warblers.There were a few Mipits around, the Sand Martins were in their usual area and I saw two Oystercatchers. The Lesser Redpolls were also seen along with Kestrel, Lapwing, Curlew and Song Thrush.
Nigel.

Whitethroat

Willow Warbler

Kestrel

Lesser Redpoll

Meadow Pipit

Oystercatcher

Harden Moor 1/5/2018