Sunday 22 December 2019

Yeadon Dam

Out and about visiting friends and family today we were able to stop off for a walk around the dam this morning. The weather was all over the place, dull, bit of sun then back to very dull but not too cold.





The usual Geese, Swans and Mallards were at the jetty, a few Tufted Ducks among them and a Greylag too. There were Black-headed Gulls all over the dam and I picked out one Common Gull at the far end. We picked up some duck food at the boat club, they sell bags for a £1 when the club is running and by the time we got back to the jetty a Cormorant had joined the throng and was happily fishing as we fed the birds.

Canada Geese (like pair of guards on sentry duty!)



Black-headed Gull


Tufted Duck


Feeding Frenzy


Pale Mallard, quite beautiful I thought


Black-headed Gull


Cormorant


Greylag Goose


Mute Swan


Headless Canada Gees


Cormorant


Robin picking up the leftover duck food


Half way round and a Shoveler was........shoveling! Also three Goosanders - two female and a male were mixing the Mallards.

Shoveler


Goosander



As we went back to the car a Red Kite flew over and a pair of Greenfinch were chasing around the trees. A nice little escape from the Christmas prep!

Black-headed Gull


Farmyard Ducks


Dunnock


Crow


Blackbird



9 comments:

  1. I am curious, Pam, what do you get when you buy gull food? i have never heard of such a practice. Gulls are pretty omnivorous, of course, but it intrigues me that food designated for gull is sold at the marina.

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  2. Oops, I misread. Now I see that it is duck food that you bought so ignore the comment above!

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    1. It was duck food :) though the Gulls do have a go at trying to get to it before the ducks!

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  3. Lovely photos, great to see a cormorant and goosander too, the pale mallard is an unusual sight:)

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  4. Great sightings, the Goosander is always great to see! I like the "feeding freenzy" shot. Have a great Holiday!

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  5. A lovely set of photos - it is always good to escape all the Christmas preparations for a while and you saw some great birds. The pale mallard is very unusual. Have a lovely Christmas.

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    1. Thanks Caroline, I hope you've had one too :)

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