Adel Dam

Back in July we spent a Sunday morning at Adel Dam, as usual it was fairly quiet despite the number of people in the adjoining Golden Acre Park. The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust had a little information desk set up at the entrance and we had a nice chat with the guy there.

With it being quiet we spent quite a bit of time in each hide, which turned out to be a good thing. From the Marsh Hide, a lot of Blue and Great Tits on the feeders with a couple of Chaffinch on the table. In the undergrowth we saw a squirrel and rabbit. Then in flew in a Great Spotted Woodpecker and put on quite a show, it was lovely to watch.

We spent about 40 minutes in the lake hide, on our own the whole time. Overhead we saw a Red Kite in the distance and over to the right over the trees a Buzzard.

A Heron flew into the trees followed by another which flew right across in front of the hide. Mallard and Tufted ducks with young were dotted about. Then we spotted not one but three Kingsfishers, these birds are a joy to watch and we tracked them flying around the lake for quite a while. They never made it close enought for a great photo but we were happy enough to just enjoy plus anything that can capture my 8 yr olds attention for that long is always a bonus!

Part of me was pleased it was so quiet but then of course just look at what people are missing out on!

Batley

On a recommendation from a friend we took a walk around an area of Batley I had no clue was there. We were on the look out for a Peregrine that he'd spotted there unfortunately we lucked out with that but it was worth the walk.

We saw quite a few Yellowhammers usually flying away from us as fast as they could! There were Willow Warblers, rabbits, a whole load of butterflies and moths too. It made for a nice little early evening walk and we'll be back.

North Cave Wetlands

It's been 4 years since we visited the wetlands and we'd been planning to go for the past few weeks but life kept getting in the way as it tends to do. It's daft really as it's less than an hour away and an easy trip from Leeds!

We got there about 9am so it was fairly quiet and straight away we saw young Blue Tits, Dunnock, Blackbirds, Woodpigeons, caterpillars and rabbits on the path (running alongside Cliffe Rd). We had to be careful not to step on the tiny little toadlets (I think) that were hopping about all over the path, they were everywhere!

Next to my size 6 foot to see how tiny they are.

From the East hide we saw a Little Grebe with chicks and plenty of Black Headed Gull chicks too. A single Common Tern was sat on the platform in the middle of the water with the Gulls.  An Oystercatcher was walking up and down the bank across the way.

Some distant photos!

We picked up a 100 common birds leaflet here and handed it to the 8yr old to be in charge of. She likes to get involved and just around the corner on the path to the Turrett hide she was thrilled to spot a Warbler in the reeds - a Sedge Warbler. It flitted about in front of us for a while, best view i've ever seen of one. Whilst I was taking photos she was on to the next spot - a Common Blue butterfly, female I think, then a Meadow Brown, Ringlet and various dragonflies. We spent quite a bit of time on this path!

We had the turrett hide to ourselves for a while so we had good views all around the lakes spotting Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings, Shoveler & Shelduck families. Now the most exciting moment here was spotting a sudden commotion in the field - a stoat chasing a rabbit - now I haven't seen a stoat in years and never seen one chasing anything. I just managed to get a photo and tiny bit of (wobbly) video before they disappeared into the undergrowth, exciting stuff!

In this picture I caught the rabbit at the top, the stoat mid leap in the middle & if you look really really close a Reed Warbler on the fence!

From there we spent a while walking the rest of the reserve, seeing a Corn Bunting, Avocet, Lapwing amongst others. From the Crossland Hide we saw a Red Legged Partridge and a couple of Cormorants.

A few other photos from the day.

List of the birds seen

Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Cormorant
Mute Swan
Geylag Goose
Shelduck
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Pochard
Red-Legged Partridge
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Avocet
Lapwing
Black Headed Gull
Pigeon
Wood Pigeon
Sand Martin
Dunnock
Blackbird
Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Crow
House Sparrow
Corn Bunting

In the garden

I can often hear foxes on a night, they're the ones that kind of sound like someone's being murdered! I've seen them around the gardens and on the street now and again. The garden backs onto a park and a couple of small factories so I guess it's a good environment for them. I like having them around, it's nice we get the glimpse of them during the day, like we did with this one this morning just before breakfast.

It wondered around the garden and didn't even bother when it saw us watching from the window. Of course I dived for the camera and completely had it on the wrong setting but did manage to grab a photo. It didn't look very big to me, maybe one of last years youngsters?

Fledglings

The garden has been inundated with young birds since Tuesday, it's like they all seemed to fledge at once. It's great to see as last year was fairly quiet around the garden. 

Feed me now!

Ok, ok!

The Goldfinch were a bit flighty & only came onto the feeder briefly before a neighbour scared them off.

A few more photos

Woodpigeon

Spotted this chap in the garden earlier going through the bird seed like it was going out of fashion. It's back/wings were are lot lighter than normal so I'm thinking it was a youngster?

Bridlington

After Bempton we had a quick run down to Bridlington purely for rock and ice cream - it's the seaside some things just have to be done!

The harbour was awash with Turnstones and a couple of Mallard. A lone Barnacle Goose was mostly sleeping there too. Of course there were Herring Gulls  everywhere, stunning birds really and quite obliging for the camera.

 

Good end to a good day.