Morning Tour

Saturday 11th March a.m.
 A dull cloudy morning with a temperature of 7°C as I set off to Mixenden Reservoir from where I went to Cold Edge Dams finishing up at Leeshaw Reservoir.

Mixenden Reservoir.
A good start here with a female Goldeneye which was later seen with a second bird, others seen were Grey Heron,Mistle Thrush,Moorhen,BH,Common and LBB Gulls,Robin and other common species.

female Goldeneye

Cold Edge Dams
In the surrounding fields were ten Canadas and two Greylags, the walk on to the Lake produced Chaffinch,Mistle Thrush,Curlew,Grouse and Dunnock.At the Lake there were two Curlew, Goosander, Cormorant, Oystercatcher and Tufted Ducks. As I was checking these out and getting some record pictures up popped a Redshank calling as it flew off towards Fly Flatts.

Cormorant

Curlew

Goosander and Curlew

Grouse

Mistle Thrush

Oystercatcher

Leeshaw Reservoir
The drive from Cold Edge dams took me passed Fly Flatts which was shrouded in fog so no chance of any birds here.As I dropped down to Leeshaw the fog had cleared.It was good to see BV who had seen two Redshanks here before I arrived. I got my first Little Owl of the year and a Reed Bunting, others here were Lapwing,Oystercatcher,Curlew,Cormorant and the usual common species.
Nigel.

Cormorant

Lapwing

Little Owl

Reed Bunting

Redcar Tarn

Wednesday 8th March p.m.
A sunny day but a strong wind blowing up at Redcar Tarn with a temperature of 9°C as I had a quick look for the Iceland Gull reported a couple of days ago.Needless to say I didn't spot it among the BH,Common,Herring and LBB Gulls.Others I did see were Oystercatcher,Pied Wagtail, Lapwing, Dunnock, Rook,Greylag and Tufted Duck.

Pied Wagtail

Rook

Dunnock

Greylag

Herring Gull

Redcar Tarn 8/3/2017

Lister Park

Sunday 5th March a.m.
 A good sunny early morning start at Lister Park with a temperature of 5°C and a good variety of birds to see.On the Lake were the usual Tufteds,Canadas,Coots and Moorhens with the addition of two Goosander and eight Greylags some of which moved to the surrounding area to tip toe through the Crocuses.A walk on past the play area provided Goldcrest,LT Tits,Nuthatch,Redwing and a Jay.
 Back to the Lake where the Gull numbers had risen to c100 BH a couple of Commons and what I think were a couple of first Winter Herring Gulls one of which had a yellow tag with the number Y747.There was also an adult Mute Swan Yellow Tag 900 with three Juveniles Red Tags 373Y,374Y and 375Y, I have seen two of these at Harold Park before.
 A walk up to the stream area added another Nuthatch along with a Treecreeper,Chaffinch,Robin, Wren and a few other common species.The clouds had blotted out the sunshine by now and it was time for me to head home.
Nigel.

Redwing

Treecreeper

Tufted Duck

Wren

Goldcrest

male Goosander

female Goosander

Jay

Nuthatch

I think this is a first Winter Herring Gull Yellow Tag Y747

BH and Common Gull

Greylag

Greylags tip toe through the Crocuses

Mute Swan

Tag 900 or 006? metal tag W36706

Lister Park 5/3/2017

Dowley Gap and Hirst Wood

Saturday 4th March a.m.
An improving morning with some sunshine coming through later and a start temperature of 7°C.
There were good numbers of Dunnocks, Robins, Wrens and Blackbirds all singing with two Oystercatchers at the water works along with several Pied Wagtails.In to Hirst Wood there were three Goosanders resting by the River and also good to see Goldcrest,Goldfinch,LT Tit,Blue Tit,Gt Spotted Woodpecker,Bullfinch and four Nuthatch.After crossing the river soon after I got a brief glimpse of a Little Grebe and soon after a couple of Grey Wagtails.As I walked back by the canal Canadas and Greylags had arrived.
Nigel.

Nuthatch

GSW

LT Tit

Blue Tit

Bullfinch

Dunnock

Goosander

Greylag

Oystercatcher

Robin

Dowley Gap 4/3/2017