Redcar Tarn

 Monday January 17th p.m.

 A chilly cloudy Redcar Tarn when I arrived with a temperature of 6°C but plenty of birds to be seen with c300 BH Gulls C50 Herring Gulls, c75 Canadas and c75 Greylags.  Plenty other birds including LBB Gull, Common Gull, Lapwing, Robin, Chaffinch, Jackdaw, Rook, Starling and Tufteds.  There was also a solitary Pink-footed Goose with the Greylags completing a good session.

Pinkie

Pinkie & Greylag

Tufted

BH Gull in summer plumage

Herring Gull

LBB Gull

Herrin and LBB Gulls

Greylags

Jackdaws

Lapwing

Robin

Starlings

some Canadas arrivng

Plenty birds on show

Redcar Tarn 17/1/2022

Hallas Bridge/Goit Stock Wood

Saturday 15th January a.m.

A frosty start to the day but sunny with a temperature of 1°C as I headed down to Hallas Bridge where I followed the path through Goit Stock Wood to the caravan park.  An early sighting of a Grey Wagtail was good but the main birds were three Dippers in Hallas Beck with a sprinkling of other common species.

Dipper

Leg ring A52 which was also seen last year

Two Dippers

Goit Stock Waterfall 15/1/2022

 

Lister Park

 Sunday 9th January a.m.

 A cloudy morning with some sunny intervals and a shower of rain to contend with but not too cold at 4°C.  Plenty of birds on and around the Lake at Lister Park with c100 BH Gulls, c75 Canadas, 10 Greylags, Herring Gulls, Common Gulls as well.  There was a good count of thirty Tufteds, six Goosanders and two Mute Swans, a walk round the Park added Collared Dove, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Nuthatch, a charm of Goldfinch and c25 Siskin.

Goosander

Mute Swans

Tufteds & Canadas

Greylags

Mistle Thrush

Redwing

Collared Dove

Nuthatch

Siskin

more Siskin

Lister Park 9/1/2022

Redcar Tarn

Sunday 2nd January a.m.

  A sunny, blustery morning but feeling mild in the Winter sunshine with a temperature of 8°C up at Redcar Tarn. Good numbers of Gulls with c100 Canadas and 65 Greylags, others included Rook, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail, Tufteds, Coots and a Robin.

Greylag

Common Gull

Coot

BH Gull

Canadas

Herring Gull

LBB Gull

Pied Wagtail

Rook

Tufted

Redcar Tarn 2/1/2022

A birding review of 2021

Wednesday 29th December

 A quieter birding year for me not being able to get out as much due to Corvid restrictions and often poor weather conditions over the weekends.  Still I did see some good birds and an undoubted highlight being seeing my first Osprey which was close by on Hewenden Reservoir.  So here is my top ten and looking forward to a better 2022, Happy New Year to all.

10. Kestrel - Doe Park Reservoir.  Always good to see a Kestrel when your out walking, they are usually in silhouette but the light was good on this occasion to get a decent picture.  

Kestrel - 7/9/21

9. Wheatear - Doe Park Reservoir.  I often see Wheatears at distance so was delighted to see this one close by.

Wheatear - 7/9/21

8. Common Sandpiper - Doe Park Reservoir. This Common Sandpiper was in front of a Mallard which was keeping an eye on it making for a good picture.

Common Sandpiper & Mallard - 11/5/21

7. Shoveler - Redcar Tarn. Not a common bird to see locally but this one gave some good views.

Shoveler - 3/4/21

6. Gadwall - Redcar Tarn. Another bird that does not show up much in the Bradford area, so was pleased to see this pair.

Gadwall - 21/3/21

5. Black-necked Grebe - Swillington Ings.  You have to travel out of the local area to have a good chance of seeing these colourful birds.

Black-necked Grebe - 7/5/21

4. Garden Warbler - Harden Moor.  Great to hear these birds singing in the spring and to get a picture of one is a bonus.

Garden Warbler - 5/5/21

3. Spotted Flycatcher - Doe Park Reservoir.  I try and catch up with these bird as they pass through the area in Autumn on this occasion I also got a picture.

Spotted Flycatcher - 7/9/21

2. Barn Owl - Harden Moor.  It was a long time before I saw one of these birds locally but their numbers seem to be growing, lets hope that continues as they are a fantastic bird.

Barn Owl - 5/5/21

1. Osprey - Hewenden Reservoir.  I had seen reports of an Osprey in the local area for a couple of weeks and finally got to see it at my local reservoir. A majestic bird flying round catching fish before it went back to the trees where I manged to get a picture of it perched. This was a red letter day for me, a lifer and the highlight of my birding year.

Osprey - 6/9/21