Leeshaw Reservoir

Saturday 22nd March a.m.
 It was a bit warmer at 2.5°C when we got to Leeshaw with a bit more shelter & some
pleasant sunshine.We spotted  a Little Owl in its usual area, a bit closer than normal so we
were able to get a better snap.The Redshanks made a brief appearance when they flew over
with some Lapwings.Still good numbers of Canadas & Greylags,the Curlews & Oystercatchers
were in the surrounding fields.There were also good numbers of Mipits & a few Pied Wags
were also seen.
80 - Canadas
10 - Curlew
20 - Greylag
c50 Lapwing
1 - Little Owl
30 - Mipits
6 - Oystercatcher
4 - Pied Wags
2 - Redshank
plus others

Little Owl

Pied Wagtail

Greylag & Canada

Lapwing

Lapwing at Leeshaw 22/3/2014

 

Paul Clough

Saturday 22nd March a.m.
 A cold frosty morning with some frost on the hills but good early morning sunshine with
a temperature of 1.5°C.We decided to pay our first visit of the year to Paul Clough a tree
lined valley above Oxenhope. We were actually on the road above the Clough, but a well
known spot for migrants passing through the valley below & out over the moors.We parked
up but it looked quite with just Curlew,Lapwings & Meadow Pipits about, we walked up the
road, then we saw two male Wheatear our prize found.We started taking some snaps as they
moved around briefly posing on mounds of grass.We were briefly distracted by movement to
our left where a Hare appeared before running off, great to see it.we also had a couple of Canadas
fly over & we also saw a Snipe & a couple of Skylarks.By now the wind was blowing straight
though us & it was feeling bitterly cold so we retreated down to Leeshaw.

male Wheatear

Hare

Both male Wheatears together

Paul Clough 22/3/2014

Harden Moor

Friday 21st March p.m.
 A sunny morning but showers this afternoon some of them hail & feeling cold in the
wind ,the temperature being 8°C.A visit to Harden Moor where a female Kestrel was
hunting but a male had found a cosy spot out of the wind & rain showers. Not much about
on the moor Mistle Thrush,Goldfinch & Pied Wag being the highlights. Around the surrounding
farmland we spotted a couple of Little Owls one of them not happy with the presence of Magpies.Also here another Pied Wag & Meadow Pipits.

female Kestrel

male Kestrel out of the wind & rain

Little Owl

Little Owls

Little Owl & Magpie

Old Moor Round Up

From Sunday 16th March
 To round up our visit to Old Moor we're looking at the numerous wild fowl that was
present on Sunday.These included Mallard,Shoveler,Pochard,Gadwall,Canadas,Greylags,
Tufted Duck,Wigeon,Mute Swan,Great Crested Grebe,Little Grebe & Cormorant.There
were also hundreds of BH Gulls,just a couple of LBB Gulls,waders came in the form of
Lapwings,Oystercatcher & just the one Redshank.

Gt C.Grebe

Little Grebe

male Gadwall

Gadwalls

male Shoveler

Redshank

Wigeon

BH Gull & Redshank

Cormorants

Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage

Old Moor

Old Moor NR

From Sunday 16th March
 We enjoyed our visit to the RSPB Old Moor Nature Reserve,as well as the wonderful
Yellowhammers we saw a good selection of other birds.Here are some snaps from the
bird feeding garden & Tree Sparrow Farm.

male Reed Bunting

female Reed Bunting

Redwing

GSW

Don't argue with a male Bullfinch on the feeder

Tree Sparrow

male Reed Bunting

Yellowhammers at Old Moor NR

Sunday 16th March
 Another cloudy start to the day but as we headed to South Yorkshire the sun came out
with blue skies & a temperature of 9°C rising to 13°C by lunch time. We were in the Dearne
Valley at the RSPB Old Moor Nature Reserve which is near Barnsley.
 We were hopeful of seeing a bird which has become very rare locally & we have not seen
before the Yellowhammer. This bird is a member of the Bunting family & should be seen in
farmland country & hedgerows.
 From the car park we first checked out the feeders seeing Goldfinch,Greenfinch,Tree Sparrow
& Reed Bunting. Then we headed for the area called Tree Sparrow Farm which is known for being
the best spot for the Yellowhammers. My dad checked out the hedgerow seeing hen Pheasant & a
couple of Redwings, we stayed for a while but were not seeing our birds. Then from a hedge two or three birds came out, Yellowhammers at last feeding on the ground, I called my dad over & we
managed to get some decent snaps.
 We moved around the reserve seeing many more birds, reports to follow, then having our lunch
at the visitor cafe before heading home. As we approached Bradford the cloud returned with drizzle
& the temperature fell to 10°C & by the time we got home it was down to 8°C, what a difference a
few miles can make.

Yellowhammer

Well worth our wait to finally see some Yellowhammers