Park Dam

Sunday 18th November a.m.
I moved down the road from Harold Park to Park Dam where conditions were much the same cloudy and a temperature of 7°C.I started off really well here with a female Shoveler along with Little Grebe, Gt Crested Grebe,Goosander,Tufteds and two Mute Swans.A Grey Wagtail also flew away from where I was stood towards the other corner by the Pylon.
 I decided to have a walk round because I've seen Grey Wagtails in this corner before, as I walked I noticed a Cormorant high above on the Electric wires.When I got to the corner I went to the edge to see if I could see a Grey Wagtail alas there was no sign of one.However I disturbed another bird which flew out from the corner the back in to the dense vegetation at the side of the lake.The bird was a grey/blue colour with an orange bill and although I only saw it for a couple of seconds there was no doubt it was a Water Rail!Wow never thought I was going to see one here at Park Dam, I hung around for a while hoping it might re-appear but I waited in vain so no picture but delighted to get a brief sighting of this elusive bird.
 On my way back to the car a flock of fifteen Long-tailed Tits went passed, one posing for a couple of pictures, as I went home happy with my mornings birding.
Nigel.

Shoveler

Cormorant

GC Grebe

Little Grebe

Well camouflaged Little Grebe

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tits at Park Dam 18/11/2018

Harold Park

Sunday 18th November a.m.
Another misty morning but descent visibility at Harold Park with a temperature of 7°C where there was a good count of fourteen Goosanders. There were two Mute Swans(Red Tag 278Y) others included BH,Common and Herring Gull,Tufted Duck,Cormorant and Collared Dove.
Nigel.

Goosander

Herring Gull

Mute Swan

Collared Dove

Harold Park 18/11/2018

Stockbridge NR

Saturday 17th November a.m.
A misty morning but by the time I opened the hide window on the BOG reserve at Stockbridge it was clear enough to see the birds with a temperature of 8°C.Once again as on my last visit there were frequent visits to the feeders by a family of House Sparrows, they were joined by Blue Tit,Coal Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock,Robin and Reed Bunting.There was a Grey Heron and a noisy Canada was on the water others flew over and later some were grazing in a distant field.It was good to see five Goosanders fly over and both male and female Pheasants made appearances.There were a couple of ducks that kept appearing near the feeder near the water, which I think were Teal which I have not seen here before.
Nigel.

Coal Tit

Gt Tit

Blue Tit

Grey Heron

Pheasant

Reed Bunting

Teal, I think

Stockbridge NR 17/11/2018

Cullingworth & Hewenden Reservoir

Sunday 11th November 2018 a.m.
 A dull gloomy morning with a temperature of 4°C, not really a pictures morning but I persevered nevertheless. Despite the gloom there were plenty of birds about, starting off with House Sparrows, Starlings,Collared Dove,Goldfinch and Chaffinch. As I viewed Hewenden Reservoir from the viaduct a pair of Mute Swans circled me before landing on the water.Others were BH Gulls, Common Gull, Cormorants,Tufteds and Canadas. Further along a mixed flock of c100 Fieldfare and Redwings flew past some landing in a distant tree.
 I made my way to my viewing point at the top end of the Reservoir where I saw Teal,Wigeon,Grey Heron and a couple of Goosanders. By now it had started to rain lightly so I headed home not adding to my tally on the way.
Nigel.

Cormorant

Eight Cormorants

Fieldfare

Mute Swans

Fieldfare & Redwing

Teal

Tufteds

Wigeon

Thrush

Hewenden Reservoir 11/11/2018

Redcar Tarn

Saturday 10th November a.m.
Some sunshine up at Redcar Tarn with a temperature of 7°C where there were good numbers of birds.
The Lapwing flock was at c100 birds, there were c50 Canadas, c100 BH Gulls with others including,Grey Heron,Tufteds,Herring Gull,Common Gull and LBB Gull. The highlight for me was seeing five Goosanders which were spread around the Tarn.
Nigel.

Goosander

Grey Heron

Herring Gull

LBB Gull

Tufteds

Lapwing

Canadas

Redcar Tarn 10/11/2018