Denholme Clough to Doe Park Reservoir

Sunday 16th August a.m.
A dull start this morning with a temperature of 9°C as we made our way to Denholme Clough to join other BOG members for a guided walk.We started off seeing a female Bullfinch with a juvenile tucking in to some Rowan berries by the side of the road. We headed through the valley seeing good numbers of Swallows & further along a Redstart was spotted.Looking over the reservoir a couple of Linnets flew over us & the Swallows were joined by House Martins, a Jay flew across the reservoir & Canadas were in a nearby field.We headed down towards the reservoir seeing a Sparrowhawk & in the distance a Cormorant flew past.We found a spot near the reservoir hoping to see some waders but it looked like our luck was out until a dark bird with a white rump flew in to the edge of the water, a Green Sandpiper.We were delighted to see one locally for the first time, the bird flew back along the shore & stopped some distance away opposite us. It stayed here for some time until it was disturbed,
we only got distant record snaps but pleased just to see the bird.
 Overhead a Peregrine Falcon was circling high up & in nearby bushes a couple of Willow Warblers & a Chiffchaff were seen.We headed back through the Clough catching up with a male Redstart which we got a good view of, too slow for a snap though.Also heading back we saw a distant Whitethroat,Goldfinch, a couple of Deer & other common bird species.

Distant record snap of Green Sandpiper

Deer

Doe Park Reservoir

Harold Park & Park Dam

Saturday 15th August a.m.
Harold Park
A bright sunny start to the day with a temperature of 14°C, a good selection of birds at Harold Park around the Lake area.These included Mallard,Canada,Coot,Moorhen,Mute Swan,BH Gull & Tufted Duck there was also a pair of GC Grebes with three chicks & a Juvenile GC Grebe.
Park Dam
A short distance down the road at Park Dam there was a similar selection of birds but the GC Grebes had five chicks & there was also a pair of Little Grebes with three chicks.Also we were pleased to see four Swifts over the water together with House Martins & Swallows.As we were heading off we put the camera away in its case but as we were about to leave the field we noticed a bird on the O/H wire, a Kestrel! Well you can imagine slight panic set in as we had to retrieve the camera from its case take the lens cover off & quickly try & get a snap. As it turned out the Kestrel was in no rush & so we got our snap, it then went down into the field quite close to us & we managed a couple more, a good end to the mornings birding.

Kestrel

GC Grebe Juv

GC Grebe

GC Grebe with chick

Little Grebe

Little Grebe & chick

male Tufted Duck

Harold Park

Park Dam

Harden Moor

Saturday 8th August a.m.
 A cloudy start to the day which soon brightened up to warm sunshine, our start temperature was 12°C.Our first birds of the day were three Lesser Black-backed Gulls in a nearby field which was soon followed by a Kestrel hovering some distance away.Things were fairly quiet for a while with Sand Martins in the quarry & a few Mipits about.As the sun came out though so did the Warblers with several Willow Warblers seen along with Blackcap & Whitethroat.There were also several Blackcap Juveniles amongst the bracken & what we decided was a Whitethroat Juv.A Reed Bunting also posed briefly in the Bracken & behind us a yaffle & another brief view of a Green Woodpecker before it flew off in the distance.Overhead the Sand Martins were now flying round the moor joined by Swallows & also good to see a couple of late Swifts.A charm of c20 Goldfinch were flying around feeding on the Thistle seeds, & there were also several Linnets.

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

male Blackcap

Blackcap juv

Whitethroat Juv

Blackcap & Whitethroat Juvs

female Green Woodpecker

Reed Bunting

Swift

Linnet

Robin

Harden Moor 8/8/15

Cullingworth to Hewenden

Sunday 2nd August a.m.
 A cloudy morning with a temperature of 10°C as we set off towards the Northern Trail which would take us to Hewenden Reservoir.It wasn't long after we had set off that rain started to fall we decided to push on although all the birds through the village seemed to be hiding in the trees out of the rain.Just one hardy Collared Dove was seen, as we were walking on the Northern Trail there was a right din as birds(still hidden) were going mad, then a flutter of wings & from the edge of the path off flew a Sparrowhawk with prey in its talons.We looked where it had been & saw a large number of feathers which had been plucked from its quarry,no chance of a picture as the camera was in its case keeping dry with the rain now quite heavy.We pushed on to the reservoir where we saw BH Gulls, Grey Wagtail,Grey Heron,Mallards,Canadas & a Mute Swan.Flying above were Swallows & passing the farm a mixture of Swallows & House Martins were on the overhead wires we counted over 100 with more House Martins over some trees.The rain eased slightly so we took a couple of snaps before putting it back in its case & heading home.
P.S. There are 12 Swifts still over the bottom side of the village.

House Martin

House Martin not too bothered about the rain

Some of the House Martins & Swallows on the wires

Redcar Tarn

Saturday 1st August a.m.
 We decided to take a trip up to Redcar Tarn high above Keighley where the sun was out giving a temperature of 13°C.Good numbers of the usual birds here with the addition of nine Greylags, the Lapwing flock has built up to c60 birds, some on the island gave us chance of a few snaps.

Lapwing

Lapwings on the island with some Greylags behind

Lapwings stretching their wings

Leeshaw Reservoir

Saturday 1st August a.m.
 A dull start to the day with fog on the high moorland but soon clearing at Leeshaw with some sunny spells & a temperature of 10.5°C.The water level remains low, there were no birds on the water but good numbers of House Martins & Swallows were flying over it.Some of the Swallows rested at the edge of the water with several Lapwings.A couple of Grey Herons were keeping a watchful eye on the water, Canadas & Greylags were in the surrounding fields. A mixed flock of birds contained Linnets & Goldfinch which were feeding on the Thistle seeds, also several Mipits were about.

Grey Heron

Goldfinch after Thistle seeds

Linnet

Meadow Pipit

Greylags

Plenty Thistles for the Goldfinch