Around the Patch

Getting into the habit of a quick walk around part of the Urban Woodlands before work is proving a joy at the moment. I walk to the sounds of Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Blackcap, Goldfinch amongst others.

On sunny days there's a spot on the edge of the woods which catches the early morning rays and is good for butterflies, last week I saw my first Peacock of the year there and there are always Speckled Woods. This particular morning the leaves were covered in all sorts of flys/bugs warming up, they were everywhere you looked.

I spotted a young Robin being well protected by it's parents last week but this morning it was hopping around the path on it's own, picking at bits and pieces and quite unconcerned that I was stood nearby.

I got a brand new patch (not just year) tick after hearing a different song to the usual ones by some brambles it stopped and I walked on, the song started again and up popped a Whitethroat into a nearby tree, it sang there for about 30 seconds and flew off into the woods. I got awful photos as i'd moved a fair ways off but no mistaking the song and the bird! A new bird for the woodlands too I think.

Closer to work I saw my first patch Swallows of the year last week, they nest on a farm nearby. These were followed not long after by the first Swift over my house late evening Friday with two more joining it by Sunday and the familiar screaming began.

The past few evenings we have been watching 2 or 3 Pipestrelle Bats flying low around the garden, watching them from an upstairs window they are eye level and with it barely being dusk there has been some amazing views of them. I tried to get some shots but they are just too quick!

The garden has been a haven for Starling and Sparrows recently, they spend a lot of time in the bird bath or at the feeders. From the constant noise in the nearby trees i'm hoping there will be some young fledgings shortly. The Hedgehog is a regular visitor I don't always see it but there is fresh poop around the feeder most mornings. The foxes, which were waking me up nightly have fallen silent the past few days, which I'm not too mad about!

Yesterday afternoon along with the Swifts, I was serenaded for some time by a Mistle Thrush singing from the top of a nearby tree, perfect accompaniment whilst I caught up with some reading!

Bolton Abbey

Our traditional Easter visit to Bolton Abbey took place on the wettest day of the Easter weekend - great planning there!

I spotted my first Swallow of the year though as we turned onto the estate.

I thought we'd be a little early for some of the stars of the woods there - the Flycatchers, Redstarts and Wood Warblers although a gentleman we spoke to had seen one Pied Flychatcher and a couple of Redstarts. We thought we saw a Redstart but didn't see it for long enough to be sure, no Flycatcher though, it's a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack I think!

Not that it matters it's always a great walk around, even in the rain. Off the bat we spotted a Treecreeper by the river and there were lots of Tits around too. Pied and Grey Wagtails flitted about the rocks up and down the river, we saw plenty up to the Strid. A Mandarin sat on a rock and a Goosander and Cormorant flew past.

Once past there we saw Nuthatch, Song Thrush, heard Chiffchaff and saw a couple of Common Sandpiper. Nearer Barden Bridge we finally saw our first Dippers of the day, followed by a pair of Goosander. On the fields we saw Oystercatchers and Redshank. A few Sand Martins were flying about the banking.

The sun came out a little and it warmed up. The walk up the side of the river to the little hut was positively summer like! Though everything is still very wet.

Spot the birds!

We stopped at the hut for lunch with the birds who were out in abundance, along with a couple of mice who were running around the bricks. A lovely moment when we were joined by a GS Woodpecker that hung around for a while. We ended up sitting there almost an hour just enjoying the view and the birds.

We took a little detour up towards the Valley of Desolation but my back was screaming a little by this point so we ended up turning back before we got there. We did see some black rabbits around the edges of the fields and heard a couple of Chiffchaffs.  Of course the lambs caught our eye, you can't miss them!

I spotted a large bird of prey high up over the hillside, actually two but I only got a decent look at one of them, first thought Buzzard because of the size, then I realised it was not Buzzard like, too much white underneath, the wings were mostly bent, It stayed pretty far away and went behind the hill a couple of times, I snapped few really bad photos, I had an idea what it was but wanted to double check first, managed to tidy up the photos just enough to get confirmation on the bird ID group on Facebook - Osprey!! My first one ever! To say i'm pleased is an understatement!

What a great end to our walk!!

That and my 11yr old constantly talking about how amazing it was that she got such close views of the Woodpecker made my day!

Rodley Nature Reserve

Managed a couple of hours on the reserve this morning and what a morning, so many birds about and decent weather to boot.

Canada and Greylag Geese were in the field by the car park along with a pair of Herons and a fair few Magpies and Crows.

A lone Common Tern was on the Lagoon, along with the usual Black Swans, Canada Geese, Coots, Moorhens, Great Crested Grebe and plenty of Sand Martins and Swifts flying overhead.

Along the Willow Path were Bullfinch, Robin, Jay, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.

Out of the Duck Marsh hide we saw a Reed Warbler, Herons, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan, Canada Geese and a Sparrowhawk overhead.

From the Willow Path Hide a Common Sandpiper, Gadwall, Lapwing, Coot and another Heron.

The lovely new Reedbed Hide is now open and looks great. The reedbeds themselves had several Reed Buntings flying about, a lone Gadwall and several unidentifiable LBJs flying backwards and forwards across the near reedbed, possibly more Warblers. A Cormorant was on it's the usual pylon perch.

My husband spotted a Pied Wagtail fly across the path from Tim's Field into the coppice. The field itself is looking quite stunning right now.

Watching the reeds from the screen near the gazebo we could hear Reed and Sedge Warblers, we only caught brief glimpses though.

The air by the visitor centre was filled with Swifts, Sand Martins and Swallows, I could watch these all day! But I was pressed on up to the Managers Garden only to find the Little Owl resting in the tree at the back of the feeders. Thank you to the gentleman who pointed it out when we got there! On the feeders we saw Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Jackdaws and Magpies.

A stop for a cuppa and we watched Dunnock and Goldfinch around the feeders and Jackdaws all over the field.

Walking down the access road brought us a Whitethroat.

We can't leave without looking onto the river from the bridge, good thing we did as we saw a Goosander with her brood, which were constantly trying to climb on her back.

Here are some of my other favourites

I'm looking forward now to the first Leeds Bird Fair here on the 25th June!