Harden Moor

Saturday 12th July a.m.
 A bit of early cloud soon lifted leaving a bright sunny morning with the temperature quickly
rising from our starting 14°C.There were good numbers of Meadow Pipits,Goldfinch,Sand
Martins,Blue & Great Tits.Others seen were Blackcap,Whitethroat,Willow Warbler,Kestrel,
Song & Mistle Thrush.There were good numbers of Butterflies too some we found difficult to
ID as they rested with their wings up but we think they were Ringlets.There was also a couple
of the Cinnabar Red & Black Moth which the camera struggled to focus on.The highlight of
the morning came as we tried to line up a snap of a Goldfinch, a Stoat came bounding along the
path towards us it then went on its hind legs to look around before quickly disappearing in to
the long grass.

Stoat

Kestrel

Goldfinch

Whitethroat

Song Thrush

Meadow Pipit

Ringlet

Goldfinch

Harden Moor looking towards Harden & Bingley

Great morning at Fly Flatts

Friday 11th July a.m.
When my dad asked where I would like to go birding this morning there was only one place on my
list after seeing what NK had found earlier in the week & the follow up reports, we were off to
Fly Flatts.On our arrival conditions were good with just a gentle breeze,good visibility,although cloudy overhead & a temperature of 12.5°C.As we walked down towards the water we were relieved to see
our bird in the distance, we could also see two Kestrels hunting just out of camera range.Then we were
delighted to see a pair of Stonechats our first of the year, these posed well for some snaps.Following
the path near the exposed shoreline there was a good amount of exposed mud, then we spotted a
Dunlin, another first for the year & also our first local sighting.
 Then we got to the path that runs along the back of the reservoir where we had a good view of the
Great Northern Diver we had come to see, a lifer for us.We walked along seeing good numbers of
Canadas near the boat house & a couple of Greylags. There were also several Common Sandpipers around,we headed back getting another look at the GND & the Dunlin plus a Redshank.
A great mornings birding in more than one way.

male Stonechat

female Stonechat

Great Northern Diver

Dunlin

Redshank

Common Sandpiper

Great Northern Diver at Fly Flatts 11/7/14

male Stonechat posing for a snap

Waders making use of the mud at Fly Flatts

Leeshaw

Saturday 5th July a.m.
 After over night rain the morning started dull & overcast gradually brightening up through the
morning, the temperature was 12°C on at our arrival at Leeshaw Reservoir near Oxenhope.
There were Canadas & Greylags on the edge of the shore & a Grey Heron was on the dam wall
being mobbed by Oystercatchers. There were six Oystercatchers seen during our visit along with
Common Sandpiper,Lapwings,Mipits,Goldfinch & Blackbird.Whilst we were looking over the
reservoir a couple of Snipe came from behind us & landed out of sight at the edge of the reservoir,
always good to see these birds.There were also BH & LBB Gulls moving through & Swallows were
feeding over the water.
 You can't help but notice all the preparations for Stage Two of the Tour De France which started in
Yorkshire today & comes to West Yorkshire tomorrow.It will pass near to Cullingworth as it goes
through Keighley then up to Crossroads, just a couple of miles away.It then goes in to Haworth then
passes Lower Laithe & Leeshaw Reservoirs as it heads for Oxenhope & then away to Hebden Bridge.
There is plenty artwork to see including one picture of David Hockney on his bike at Crossroads.
Good luck to all the riders as they pass through West Yorkshire.

Common Sandpiper

Oystercatcher

Grey Heron

Meadow Pipit

Lapwing

plenty Lapwings around

Goldfinch

Blackbird with breakfast

An artist getting into the spirit of Le Tour Grand Depart

Some artwork looking across towards Keighley

A Welcome message near Leeshaw

Redcar Tarn

Saturday 28th June a.m.
 A cool dull day with drizzle at times, a temperature of just 9.5°C at Redcar Tarn where there
were the usual good numbers of birds.Notably there were several Juvenile BH Gulls & a
Common Gull was good to see.Others present were Mallard,Canada,Coot,Pied Wagtail,Lapwing,
Tufted Duck,Sand Martin,Swift,Jackdaw & Rook.It was also good to hear a Curlew which then
flew past the Tarn.

Juvenile BH Gull

BH Gull

Common & BH Gull

Lapwing

Pied Wagtail

Redcar Tarn