Potteric Carr

Yet another visit to Potteric Carr today we arrived at about 12:30pm just in time for dinner after a morning’s shopping. As we made our way towards the cafe we had great views of Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tits and especially great views of two Treecreepers as we strolled down for dinner. After dinner we tried getting in the Willow Pool hide but couldn’t do so so we made our way down to the Hawthorn Bank Hide from here we saw lots of wildfowl including, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Wigeon, Moorhen and Coot and finally the bird I was hoping for the female Ring-necked Duck my first female Ring-necked giving excellent views, similar to Tufted Duck, no tuft at the back of the head, white spectacles around the eyes, faint white flash down the flank and the white around base of bill. We made our way back to Decoy hide in the vain hope of seeing a Bittern as we were making our way to Decoy we had great views of a male Kingfisher along the Mother Drain part of the reserve and a skien of Pink-footed Geese flying thru. The Decoy hide wasn’t fruitful on the Bittern side but there was a lone Common Snipe giving good views in front of the hide. Well worth coming to Potteric today had a little boost with its species list with 3 new birds taking it upto 98 now [Potteric List] these were Pink-footed Goose, Treecreeper and Ring-necked Duck

The Day List (in no particular order) :-

Treecreeper, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Willow Tit, Reed Bunting, Common Snipe, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon. Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Ring-necked Duck (female), Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Pochard, Magpie, Crow, Kingfisher, Wren, Coal Tit, Lapwing

Great Grey Shrike

Off to a New Start with the first port of call being Fairburn Ings RSPB near Castleford taking in firstly the Lin Dike area. Down here I found Redwings and Teal on the nearby field pools, scanning the nearby fields Canada and Greylag Geese then a Fieldfare flew over nearby where I was standing, on further towards the hide and Spoonbill flash Goldeneye, Mute Swan, Little Egret (2), Grey Heron, Cormorants, Black-headed Gulls, Wigeon and more Teal. I moved on then to the visitor centre area but not before finding two Lesser Redpolls on my return journey along Lin Dike. At the centre the feeding area is always a good place to catch up with some common birds at close quarters namely Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbirds, House Sparrows and Tree Sparrows but the surprise today was a Red-legged Partridge feeding quiet happily around the feeders.

Red-legged Partridge

My visit to Fairburn was over so I came back via Pugneys Country Park to pick up the two Great Northern Divers still on the main lake and hearing news of a Drake Smew over at Calder Wetlands I couldn’t resist going over to have a look. The Smew (white nun) was easily found on the left hand pond near the footpath which bisects both ponds and was in full view giving great views to see him in all his splendor. Other birds about with him were Teal, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Wigeon and Mallard, the same guy who put me on to this Smew also told me about another bird, one of the butcher birds, on my local patch area so I wasn’t spending as much time with the Smew as I would have liked I was soon off heading towards the Bretton Park area. The bird was in an area of farmland along Jebb Lane near to High Hoyland than Haigh by the directions I had been given and it took some finding as there wasn’t any other birders about at the time I arrived but I found it eventually, Great Grey Shrike (last seen in 2004) was the bird and a bird hard to see in the Huddersfield Area and now was safely on my Patch List taking it now to 157. I enjoyed the bird for quiet a while and by now a few more were too, the first day out birding in 2012 had got the year off to a great start (Last Great Grey was seen 31st December 2004 at Carsington Water)

The Day List :-

Great Northern Diver, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Smew, Goosander, Kestrel, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Great Grey Shrike, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting

Happy New Year

So that was 2011 looking forward to 2012 and the new wildlife and photos it will bring, I would like to wish everybody a Happy New Year and I hope 2012 is full of fantastic wildlife days out for you all.

If you would like to view my summary for 2011 and all lists please view HERE and don’t forget the 2011 highlights Page HERE

Thanks

Huddsbirder

Potteric Carr

Out again on Bittern watch or watching spaces where Bittern should be, another place where Bittern had been seen daily up to today, I think they get wind of me going and then move on to reserves had been to a few days before. Anyway no Bittern today but a good walk around we had seeing various birds like Blue Tit, Great Tit and Long Tailed Tits. The main area for birdlife today was from around the Willow Pool Hide here we saw Coal Tit, Reed Bunting, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Robin, Pheasant, Dunnock, Bullfinch and Mallard. Outside the hide we had views of Redwing, Siskin, Redpolls and Blackbirds. A great day out ending off the 2011 wildlife year on a good note

Reed Bunting

Sunset Potteric Carr

The Day List (in no order) :-

Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Crow, Robin, Mute Swan, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Mallard, Teal, Goldfinch, Wren, Bullfinch, Shelduck, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Shoveler, Lapwing, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Coal Tit, Coot,Pheasant, Greylag Goose, Dunnock, Redwing, Siskin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Kestrel

 

Old Moor RSPB

Potteric Carr was shut today so on the chance of a Bittern we ended up at Old Moor which had been getting up to 2 coming in to roost most days, but today was not one of those days. We had a look at the new hide next to the visitor which is more photo friendly, bigger, and further into the garden itself. other birds we saw today included Grey Partridge, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and a Sparrowhawk hunting around the feeding areas looking for its meal.

Long-tailed Tits

 The Day List :-

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Starling, Blackbird, Redwing, Robin, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch

Christmas 2011

I would like to thank all my readers and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, see you all in 2012….with some new stuff

Christmas

Great Northern Diver

Pugneys had been holding a Great Northern Diver for about a week and Friday 2nd December was the only time I had of a quick visit in the hope of seeing it. We arrived parked up and within 5 minutes had located the Diver and to make things better it swam along in front of us giving us great views whilst it was actively feeding. Along with the diver on the main lake were Mute Swan, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gulls, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Goldeneye, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, no photos today due to time constraints

American Wigeon and Jack Snipe

Friday the 11th we had a quick trip out to Anglers Country Park to find the American Wigeon, a species of duck I hadn’t seen since 1986 at Blacktoft Sands, it was a pleasure to see this species again. The bird, a fine Drake, was found on the reservoir next to Anglers CP called Wintersett [Location] and was giving splendid views along with many other species of wildfowl, Eurasian Wigeon, Pochard, Goldeneye, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Coot, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, and at one point a fly past Kingfisher. With good views had we moved onto Anglers itself to see Pied Wagtail, Tree Sparrow, Willow Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Redwing, Fieldfare, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Robin, Chaffinch, well worth the morning trip out.

Saturday we had a trip to Potteric Carr a quieter day out in birds seen but my second Jack Snipe of the year at the first hide we went into, Decoy Hide, was a welcome sight, Common Darters were on the wing on this mild November day in front of the hide along with Cormorants, Gadwall, Teal, Shovelers, Black Headed Gulls, Mute Swans and Grey Heron alas no Bittern. Willow Pool hide is where we stopped next and coming into the feeders were Blue, Great, Coal and Willow Tit, Reed Buntings, Robin, Chaffinch and around the feeders Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Jay, Moorhens, and Pheasants. We ended the day at Huxter Wells Hide to find a cracking Male Pintail along with many a Lapwing and Golden Plover

Also at Potteric Carr there were many a Fungi species about including (the ones I could ID), Fly Agaric, Jews Ears, Common Inkcap, Blushing Bracket and Shaggy Inkcap

Weekend List :- Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Pheasant, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Jack Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Crow, Goldcrest,Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Willow Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Tree Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting

Shaggy Ink Cap

Blushing Bracket

Old Moor RSPB

Once again out at Old Moor looking for that elusive Jack Snipe but our first call was at Wombwell Ings next door to Old Moor and fresh in from Scandinavia were plenty of Redwing, Fieldfare and Blackbirds with the odd Mistle Thrush thrown in, supporting cast were Greenfinch and Goldfinch with Long Tailed, Blue and Great Tits along the hedgerows, Pied Wagtails and Red leggeed Partridge and Lapwings in the fields, Black-headed Gulls overhead.

After all that excitement we finally arrived at Old Moor at 9am okay 30mins early but the car park feeders held Greenfinch and Tree Sparrows so we watched those until the reserve opened up. When we were on the reserve we headed straight up to the Bittern hide, last reported place for Jack Snipe and Water Pipit, seeing Lesser Redpolls, and Kestrel by the wayside, we also had great views of a Kingfisher on one of the ponds.

After  about an hour in the hide the Jack Snipe once again beat me, we did see Whooper Swans (10) go thru and along with Redshank and Common Sandpiper we did have something to watch. On then to Reedbed hide in the vain hope of it having moved next door. Water Rail was seen but still no Jack Snipe or Water Pipit. We heard reports of a Red Kite flying thru so it was all out the hide for a moment to catch it making its way thru Old Moor.

After no success we decided on a toilet break and then down to Wath Ings hide for some waders. After the toilet we moved into the feeder hide next to the centre to see a Stoat take out a Rat and drag it in to one of the nearby bushes, with a Grey Wagtail looking on from the visitor centre roof.  At Wath Ings the Golden Plover flock was now a few hundred strong  and careful scoping thru the flock revealed a few Dunlin and Ringed Plovers amongst them, but we couldn’t keep away from the Jack Snipe and we were soon back at the Reedbed hide, after about a 30mins wait and of watching very little the Jack Snipe finally put in a 20 min appearance to the assembled group, another one for the Old Moor list now at 108

The Day List:-

Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Jack Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Starling, Blackbird, Feildfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, Tree Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch

Old Moor and Ingbirchworth Res

Another visit out to Old Moor to try to see the reported Jack Snipe that had been seen over the last couple of week, I planted myself in the Bittern Hide the area which it had been seen over the last couple of days for an hour and a half, I saw Water Rail (a me first for Old Moor) , Coots, Little Grebes, Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Lapwing, Crows. Cormorant, Mute Swans, Golden Plover, Starling, a covey of eight Grey Partridge (another me first for Old Moor List now standing at 107) but alas no Jack Snipe I moved on. Moving back to the ponds to see if I could find any Dragonflies, there was still plenty of Common Darters about but I didn’t catch sight of anything else. I moved to the Gannets cafe for dinner and over dinner I decided to go back home via a couple of sites in the HBW (The Patch) a place I hadn’t been for a while due mainly to the dog population on the local reservoirs and of course the disrespect for the bird life by the owners despite the number of signs outlining my dogs should be on leads etc etc. Anyway I arrived at Ingbirchworth Res. to find a dog not on a lead, point taken, nothing changed here then,  I looked over the birds anyway since I was here, there was plenty of Mallards, Black-headed Gulls with Lesser Black-backed Gulls (4), Common Gulls (6), lots of Canada Geese, Pink Footed Geese (2), a large flock of Chaffinch got my attention for about 20 minutes looking out for a Brambling wasn’t to be my day.

The sign outlining why dog owners should have dogs on leads and why people shouldn’t  go down to the water’s edge to throw stones, seems  plain enough to me…….so why do so many people ignore it ??????……is it because so many people can’t read or are we living in a very selfish society these days?????

One of the signs at Ingbirchworth Res

and of course a couple of views from Old Moor RSPB vast becoming my favourite place to be!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Old Moor RSPB

Old Moor RSPB