Monthly Archives: January 2017

Not managing to get out on Friday due to car problems all was healed ready for a quick couple of hours around Calder Wetlands on the Saturday Morning. Parking up at near the Swan and Cygnet pub area and paying my fees (glad I did as on return warden was parked up next to me) I was greeted by 6 Whooper Swans flying overhead, plenty of Wigeon were on the embankment as I made my way round, on the water were Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Tufted Duck and a few Mute Swan. I decided on making my round by going between the two lakes and this is were I found my quarry for the morning, one Long tailed Duck  and it was also within a reasonable distance, good views were had before moving on towards the river where I saw a few Goosander, Blackbirds and Robins.

Id gone about half way round now on my walk and was seeing more Wigeon, Black headed Gulls, Common Gulls and Little Grebe tucked away up against the reed edges with the larger Great Crested Grebe swimming happily out in the middle of the lake. A Kingfisher brightened the morning up with its blazing blues as it flew by , Goldeneye ♂ and ♀ were spotted out on the lake and Redshank and Lapwing just about seen tucked away amongst the grasses on one of the small islands, I was at the end of my walk now and was greeted by two Whooper Swans flying overhead making there way towards Wakefield, I’d gone full circle in more ways than one

Long tailed Duck VIDEO

Morning Bird List :

Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Long tailed Duck, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Pochard, Redshank, Robin, Shoveler, Stock Dove, Teal, Tufted Duck, Whooper Swan. Wigeon, Woodpigeon

Another day out, I could get use to this, so my destination was to Fairburn Ings an RSPB reserve near Castleford, I had a quick look back at my records and it was January 2013 since my last visit…tut tut

Arriving on site I parked up at the cut lane end, due to me coming off the A1, and was immediately taken aback due to all the new house builds at the top of the lane, what else was in store today.

I headed off making contact with Dunnocks, Robins and House Sparrows as I did so, stopping off at a field with goats in and spotting Fieldfares  and Redwings a plenty in the bush and hopping around on the floor.

Down the cut whilst watching Mallards and Coots I caught the usual sighting of a Kingfisher as it whizzed on by, better views were had later up the lane.

Out on village bay I spotted Tufted Duck, Pochard, Goosanders and Great Crested Grebes on the water with Cormorants and Grey Herons sat in the bushes

From the Charlies hide and near the hide more Goosanders, Black headed Gulls, Tufted Duck and a female Goldeneye. Along the trail I made my way down to the Village Bay view-point and managed to be in the right place at the right time as a small tit flock mad its way thru containing Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Coal Tit,Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Bullfinch, Chaffinch and a Lesser Redpoll

Along at the visitor centre area, snack time, i watched the feeders whilst having cake and hot chocolate, Collard Dove, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Dunnocks, Robins, Blue Tit, Blackbirds, Great Tit were all active

I finally ended up down at the Lin Dike end of the reserve where I saw Wren, Little Egret and a field containing lots of Lapwing

To finish the weekend off 60+ Waxwing found in Huddersfield Town Centre with White fronted and Pink footed Geese and 60+ Brambling to finish the weekend off

List of the days Birds in Alphabetical order:

Blackbird, Black headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collard Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, House Sparrow, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Lesser Redpoll, Little egret, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Pochard, Redwing, Robin, Shoveler, Song Thrush, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Treecreeper, Willow Tit, Woodpigeon, Wren

Little Egret

Tufted Duck

The start of a New Year and news of Waxwing nearby had me out and about sooner than I thought, but Brighouse is just over the hill and with a couple of hours to spare who wouldn’t be tempted

On site people were about and of course the old saying of “you should have been here 10mins ago, there was about an 100”, the weather wasn’t good, light drizzle, and grey skies, but not the less off I set in pursuit.

Redwing were everywhere, every bird seemed to be a Redwing, Blackbirds and Mistle Thrush were picked out amongst the Redwing, I found 2 tress loaded with berries both guarded by Mistle Thrushs, still no Waxwing

I ventured in to the park adding a flock of 5 Brambling to the day still no waxwing, so I decided on going down to where they were first seen,Lane Head Hotel….Black headed Gulls were overhead, Grey Wagtail flew over, bonus, and Goldfinch were seen in one of the trees but no waxwing

I was about to give up I’d been here 2 hours now, but you get a feeling sometimes that your being watched…I turned around and looked up and there a top of a nearby by tree 7 Waxwing, at last, enjoy. I took my eyes away for a moment for the camera and looked back and of course they were gone.

Ok…I hung around for a little longer heading back to the park area where I had seen the Brambling earlier. I took a quick scan with the binoculars from a safe distance and behold I could see a flock of waxwing feeding where the Brambling had been earlier, I headed towards them crossing the road and heading into the park, it wasn’t to be my day they were scared off by someone walking close by….I didn’t see them again after another 30 mins of looking.

Mistle Thrush ….on Guard Duty