Dowley Gap and Hirst Wood

Sunday 8th March a.m.
 A sunny morning at last and feeling mild with a temperature of 9°C at Dowley Gap. On the canal there were Greylags and Canadas and a couple of Oystercatchers flew over. Down at the water works there were c25 Pied Wagtails and crossing the Aqueduct a Goldcrest, Blue Tits and LT Tits were seen. Though Hirst Wood to the River Aire were there were a couple of Goosanders one looked like a juvenile male moulting and getting some adult feathers. Coming back through the wood a Nuthatch was seen and at the locks a couple of Grey Wagtails were added.

Nuthatch

Goldcrest

LT Tit

Blue Tit

Goosander

Grey Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

twenty of the Pied Wagtails here

Dowley Gap 8/3/2020

Leeming Reservoir

Saturday 7th March a.m.
 When I arrived at Leeming reservoir the temperature had gone up a notch to 8°C with some occasional sunny spells. It was good to see a couple of Grey Wagtails in the overflow area and on the water were 35 Canadas, Greylag and five Tufteds. A walk along the muddy banking flushed an Oystercatcher which flew over to the dam wall, BH Gulls and a Common Gull were on the Valve Tower. Walking back I added a couple of LT Tits and a Pied Wagtail was in the overflow area.

Grey Wagtail

Pied Wagtail

Tufteds

Greylag

Oystercatcher

Canadas

Leeming 7/3/2020

Leeshaw Reservoir

Saturday 7th March a.m.
A cloudy morning with a temperature of 7°C at Leeshaw where it was good to see my first Little Owls of the year in their usual spot. A couple of Curlews were in the fields as were Lapwings, Canadas, Greylags, Mallards and BH Gulls were on the water. A Cormorant was on the Valve Tower
and a picture revealed a couple of Oystercatchers at the waters edge, they were unusually very quiet during my visit. It was good to catch up with BS with his three dogs he mentioned there were also a couple of Teal and a couple of Pinkies with the Greylags.

Cormorant

Curlew

Little Owl

Lapwing

Picture revealing Oystercatchers keeping a low profile

Leeshaw 7/3/2020

 

Hewenden Reservoir

Sunday 1st March a.m.
 Another blustery day with cloud cover and some sunny spells, the temperature set off at 3°C as I set off for a walk around Hewenden Reservoir. When I got to the Great Northern Trail there were several Redwings in a nearby field and soon after I saw a Jay. When I reached the Viaduct it was good to see a couple of returning Oystercatchers at the side of the reservoir as were three Cormorants and c30 Canadas were at the top end.
 When I got to my viewing point near the top end of the Reservoir I could see two pair of Goldeneye, five Goosanders and ten Teal. Others seen on my way back were Herring Gull, Curlew, Goldfinch and Collared Dove.

Oystercatchers

Cormorants

Goldeneye

Goosander

Herring Gull

Teal

Goldfinch

Redwing

Teal at Hewenden Reservoir

Hewenden Reservoir 1/3/2020