Filey Dams

Wednesday 17th August a.m.
We paid a second visit to Filey Dams on another sunny morning with a temperature of 15°C where we were rewarded with twelve Ruff some coming close to the hide for a snap or two.The Green Sandpiper made another appearance along with Dunlin and Teal.There was also an unusual Duck probably a hybrid, we also saw a couple of Tree Sparrows among other common species.

Ruff

Teal

Tree Sparrow

Green Sandpiper

Four of the twelve Ruff seen

Filey Dams 17/8/2016

Filey

Tuesday 16th August a.m.
We have been on holiday to Filey on the Yorkshire East coast enjoying some great weather and some wonderful Trips to Whitby, Scarborough and Bridlington.I was also able to celebrate my 18th Birthday during our stay, but did do some birding too.
 We first went to Filey Dams a good little Nature Reserve where we saw Green Sandpiper, Dunlin Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Tree Sparrow and other common species.
We then went the short distance to Filey Brigg where we saw Fulmar, Kittiwake, Oystercatcher, Mipit, GBB & Herring Gull, Linnet, Cormorant, Swallow and Sand Martin.It was also good to see plenty Butterflies such as Peacock and some which we have not seen in the Bradford area like Painted Lady and Wall Brown.

Black-tailed Godwit

Green Sandpiper

distant Greenshank

distant Greenshank and Spotted Redshank

Painted Lady

Peacock

Wall Brown

Black-tailed Godwit

Filey

Harden Moor

Sunday 14th August a.m.
 A cloudy morning with the sun not breaking through until near the end of our visit, the temperature was 15°C.We struggled for birds at the start of our walk around Harden Moor there was no sign of the Sand Martins in the quarry but a Little Owl got things moving soon followed by four Whitethroat who refused to pose for a snap.Moving around we picked up several Willow Warblers,Jays,Kestrel and some other common species.The vegetation is high now so snaps of anything was difficult as was getting some species in the bins as they dived for cover.Swallows were now overhead and a party of 15 House Martins moved through as we back tracked to try for another go at a Whitethroat snap, which we failed to get.We then went to the spot where we found a couple of Redstarts a fortnight ago and to our delight two appeared possibly the same birds.We moved off seeing a bird in the distance which had a different look, we got a bit closer and the bird stayed in the same area so we were able to get some snaps.We felt it was a Spotted Flycatcher but as we rarely see them were not positive but a look through the snaps we got confirmed the ID, the first local bird we've seen for several years the last being at Ogden Water in May 2011.On the way back to the car we saw a couple of butterflies and got a snap of a red Admiral.
 As we set out in the car this morning there were 15 Swifts over the village the latest we've seen them in Cullingworth.

Spotted Flycatcher

Kestrel

Little Owl

Meadow Pipit

Red Admiral

Redstart

Redstart hiding behind a flower

Willow Warbler

Our first Spotted Flycatcher on Harden Moor

Harden Moor 14/8/2016

Leeshaw & Leeming Reservoirs

Saturday 13th August a.m.
A dull cloudy morning with spells of drizzle and a blustery wind and a temperature of 13°C as we arrived at Leeshaw Reservoir.We were rewarded immediately as we looked across the water seeing two Common Scoters,great to see these birds inland, our first of the year.There were Canadas and a couple of Greylags in the surrounding fields, just a single Oystercatcher flew across the reservoir and a Cormorant was on top of the valve tower.Otherwise it was fairly quiet but it was good to see a Hare.
 On to Leeming Reservoir with the same weather conditions, here there were two Grey Herons and a Cormorant.Flying above were House Martins and a good number of Swallows,Goldfinch were on the Thistle Seeds and several Willow Warblers were around.

Common Scoter

Common Scoters

Cormorant

Hare

Grey Heron

Willow Warbler

Goldfinch

Lister Park

Sunday 7th August a.m.
A dull start to the day with a blustery wind but we had a bit of shelter at Lister Park with a temperature of 17°C. There were good numbers of Canadas,Mallards,Tufted Ducks and BH Gulls on and near the lake,one of the Gulls having a yellow tag number 2FKS. It was great to see a female Tufted Duck with three young chicks , the speed these little ones could move across the water was surprising,they were already diving for food which they do instinctively as soon as they hatch. Higher up in the Park where there is a wooded area with a stream there were a couple of Grey Wagtails which flew into the trees if you got too close.Also here a Coal Tit,Nuthatch,Robin and Song Thrush amongst other common species.

female Tufted Duck with her chick

keeping a watchful eye on her three chicks

Tufted Duck chick

male tufted Duck in eclipse

Grey Wagtail

moving to tree when we got too close

Song Thrush

BH Gull with yellow tag 2FKS

Lister Park 7/8/2016