Leeshaw a.m / Ogden p.m.

 Leeshaw.   Pink Footed goose still present

                               Record count of 318 Greylags

                                   Greylags moving to a new field.

    Ogden                   Unusual visitors. 2 female Goldeneye
                              at the far side of the water

                                                  Up and away

                                             High and >NE

   This Great Tit was collecting food and taking it into the wood.
                       Yet another early breeder.
A pair of Blackbirds in Halifax are feeding 2 well grown young.

First light at Leeshaw  on a cool 3 degree morning with a SW>5 and 40% cloud but bright and clear.
                                                 A good record count of 318 Greylag geese along with 33 Canadas and the single Pink Footed goose were very noisy ready to move. I put the 70-200 mm lens on ready for a big blast off but they moved off in small groups in the opposite direction to me.
                                               Things otherwise were quiet with the usual small gulls, Cormorants and a single Goosander and only 2 Herring gull present.
                                                With little time late afternoon and my ' where do I go' head on I headed for Ogden, sometimes I get these silly ideas, but I thought it had to be quiet on a Monday afternoon, wrong. After I,d struggled to park I walked round amid a constant flow of  public which is alright till you come to take a photo!
                                        A surprise to see 2 female Goldeneye on the water but nearer to the far bank so only chance for a few record shots before they headed skyward. JL was on the opposite bank photographing them from much closer so he should have some better results.
I suspected the birds to be from Mixenden but they lifted high up and headed off >NE.
                                       A small group of around 10 Siskin and at least 2 Redpoll were high in the tree canopy whilst further on, the tit flock was mobile along the waters edge.
Two Treecreepers came amazingly close several times landing on the wall about 10 foot away and too close to get a focus. By the time I had switched to close focus a group of people came past noisily so that was that. The same happened a few times till I eventually gave up on the camera .
                                     A Great Tit was busy collecting food and taking it into the wood before darting back again for a refill, just another example of early breeding this year.
As I left , 17 post roost Herrings were on the water as well as around 100 small gulls.

Good news today that AC, followed by DJS and NCD got the Lceland gull at Redcar Tarn as well as at least 1 of the Caspians. Two very rare species well worth the effort to go and see.

Leeshaw Reservoir
318 Greylag
33 Canada
1 Pink Footed goose
1m Goosander
3 Cormorant
2 Herring gull
sev small gulls

Ogden
2f Goldeneye
17 Herring gull
c 100 small gull
3 Goldcrest
2 Treecreeper
Coal, Blue and Great tit
BS

Leeshaw a.m. and a mega mega at Redcar Tarn, Keighley p.m. Iceland gull.

         Leeshaw       Pink Footed in with Greylags

                                 Pinkie, centre bird.

            Rarest bird of the year so far  1st winter Iceland gull

                                    A mega rarity for this area.

           

             Hoping for a flight shot but it stayed put.

                The long staying 2nd winter Caspian gull

Leeshaw a.m. started well with a S >5 and full cloud at 5 degrees but heavy rain moved in by 0915 hrs which didnt bother me as by that time I,d got my birding and dog walking done and was sheltered at the back of the car.
                               Only 2 Herring gull this morning along with around 200 small gulls and just a dozen Mallard on the water. The highlight this morning was a count of 293 Greylags in the stubble field along with the long staying Pink Footed goose. Even at this high count not all the flock was present with several white and part white geese missing.
                               Late afternoon and after a local dog walk I set off dog less to Redcar Tarn in hopes of picking up the Iceland gull ,found yesterday by B.O.G. member IH, the dogs are not allowed on a twitch in case they bark at the wrong time.
                              On arrival the weather was clear and dry on a cool but light S>4. First scan of the water picked up the target bird along with the 1st winter Caspian which was later replaced with the 2nd winter Caspian. The Iceland stood out on the water among the Herrings and was obliging for photos drifting near to the shore along the car parking area.
                               Good to see another 6 birders present as well as the arrival of KM and then JL.
Well done to John for making the effort twice over, firstly to see the Caspian and then today to see the Iceland and it was pleasing that he got a result and photos each time, a very enthusiastic and active birder. Its worrying to see that at these twitches you rarely get a birder under 60 years of age, pardon me if any of you are under 60, you may just look that way with years of weathering . When we are gone, birding in this area will end if we dont get any young blood soon.
                               So, what a great find for the area , and thanks to Ian Hargreaves for getting the message round. Its got to be a Glaucous gull next.

Leeshaw
293 Greylag
1 Pink Footed goose
2 Herring gull
+ usual sp.

Redcar Tarn
1st winter Iceland gull
1st winter Caspian gull
2nd winter Caspian gull
+ usual sp
      Is this really Keighley ????
BS

Redcar Tarn a.m. Leeshaw p.m.

 Redcar Tarn                          Male Goosander

                                         Female Goosander

                                    1 of 13 Tufted

                                    Herring gull with deformed bill

                 

                                                  1st winter Caspian

         

                                                   1st winter Herring

                                             Herrings

                                          A mass of gulls

                                2nd winter Herring

Leeshaw              Ad Herring . The Common in the centre
                               had a white ring but numbers faded off.

                    132 Greylag but only part of the flock

                                    In the big stubble field.

Despite fog all over the tops this morning Redcar Tarn, Keighley had good conditions with 100% cloud cover on a SW>3 at 6 degrees.
                                                     As always, a good show of gulls with 23 Herring, mostly 1st winters, as well as 5 ad LBBs and hundreds of small gulls. The 1st winter Caspian was showing well though kept disappearing, but no sign of the 2nd winter Caspian although I,ve just received a text from IH saying the 2nd winter ringed Caspian was present this afternoon along with an imm Iceland gull, how annoying is that ? I had thought of going back up there this afternoon until Lynda wanted to go to Keighley shopping after dinner. Three trips to Keighley in one day is too much for any man.
                                                    Leeshaw reservoir late afternoon was cloudy but dry and calm but no continuation of yesterdays good numbers of big gulls. Just 2 Herring gull today along with hundreds of small gulls. A Common gull on the gantry had a white leg ring but the numbers had faded and were unreadable. A good count of Greylags and Canadas in the stubble field but no sign of the long staying Pinkie although only half of the goose flock was present.
                                                        All in all a good days birding, apart from the Iceland gull dip but hopefully it will hang around.

Redcar Tarn
1st winter Caspian gull
23 Herring gull
5 LBB gull
13 Tufted
1pr Goosander
c 150 Lapwing
+ usual sp.

Leeshaw reservoir
2 Herring gull
1 LBB gull
132 Greylag
27 Canada
3m 1f Goosander
+ usual sp.
BS