Potteric Carr

We spent some time at Potteric Carr on Monday, it's only the second time i've been and it's changed a little since last time with a lovely new visitors centre/cafe.

It was cold and there was plenty of frost and ice around, the sun was a bit hit and miss but did melt the ice in places during the day. The sun hitting the reeds did look beautiful though.

Walking in the woods around the Beeston Plantation brought us plenty of Long-tailed Tits (which were actually all over the reserve), Redwings, Blue and Great Tits. Plus we spooked a couple of Roe Deer, I always love seeing them, even if the view is of the white tail bobbing as they're running off!

We spotted a snipe on the Willow Marsh and even more LTTs were around the hide.

If you get out a magnifying glass you can just see the snipe on the edge of the island!!

The sun didn't make for good viewing out of the Willow Pool hide, far too bright, but there were Rats, Pheasants, Chaffinch, Tits and Mallards there. I managed a couple of bad photos but the sun glare wasn't great.

Down on the marsh walk and it was a little quiet at first, picking up Shovelers, Little Egret, Gadwall and Goldcrest at Piper Marsh. We spent a while in the Roger Mitchell hide and saw a couple of possible Bearded Tits but frustratingly not enough of a view to say for sure! There was plenty of Gulls, a Water Rail running backwards and forwards between the reeds and a Marsh Harrier flying over the reedbeds in the distance.

In the meadow by the hide a pair of Stonechats were showing beautifully alongside the path.

We watched a group of Shovelers all swimming together in a circle, i've never seen this before, the photo is a little dull as light was fading but you can see them all huddled together.

One of the many Long-tailed Tits we saw, this one shaking a tail feather!

And a Goldfinch in the sun.

There was a lot of fungus on the reserve, these are a few of them

This one was my favourite though i'm not sure what it is?

As we headed back to the visitor centre we realised we'd seen almost 50 species and I commented it would be great to see an owl now to finish off the day. A lady by the centre said we'd just missed a Short Eared Owl (a bird i've never seen)! Typical!

We ended up staying and watching the Starling murmuration after using the facilities, lucky we did as the Owl made another appearance - day made!

You can just see the owl here above the flock

First Patch Post

New Years Day opened with rain and freezing wind. The birds were in hiding, it took a while before I spotted my first of the year - a pair of Collared Doves.

The family were not stirring due to the late night/hangover so I headed out for a short walk around the town. It was mostly a futile attempt to see if any Waxwings were taking advantage of all the berries in the park like they did a few years back. Of course, they weren't, never mind maybe they'll turn up another day.........

Still it wasn't a bad walk, a Pied Wagtail was in a nearby car park and a couple of Crows were by Morrisons. In the park itself were Redwings, Mistle Thrush, around 25 Goldfinch plus a Goldcrest with them.

The daylight was practically non existent in the trees but I managed a few photos.

Back home the Robin and Blue Tits were in the garden but it stayed pretty quiet all day. Full list to start the year off -

Black-Headed Gull

Blackbird

Blue Tit

Collared Dove

Crow

Great Tit

Goldcrest

Goldfinch

Magpie

Mistle Thrush

Pied Wagtail

Redwing

Robin

Starling

Woodpigeon

Certainly won't be breaking any records with my little patch but it's a start!

Fairburn Ings

On Tuesday a much needed walk was had at Fairburn, It was a frosty morning but sunny and quite lovely.

We spent a quite a bit of time watching the birds on the feeders around the reserve. The water itself from the Pickup hide was quiet, we could see Herons and Cormorants in the distance in the trees though.

Reed Bunting

 Chaffinch

 Blue Tit

 Great Spotted Woodpecker

 Robin

 Greenfinch

 Long-tailed Tit

 Dunnock

Willow Tit

The highlight of the morning was watching a Water Rail fishing right in front of the Kingfisher screen (I believe it's still there now), all the fish have piled up in the water in front of the screen for some reason and it's perfect for the Rail.

There was a moment when a Kingfisher landed further down in the trees but it was straight off again, too quick for anything other than a very blurry photo with a blue dot in the middle!

A stop for tea and flapjack and onto Lin Dyke. A Heron was hiding in the reeds across the road from the car park.The cattle were very noisy this morning, I don't think i've ever heard so much noise from them.

We saw a several birds including Teal, Moorhens, Little Egret, Shelduck, Canada Geese and quite a few Blackbirds in the hedgerows.

We only went as far as the hide, which looked like it had been used for a party, cans of beer and vodka bottles had been thrown into the water :( who does that?! It was quiet out on the water here too.

Rodley Nature Reserve

I took a walk around Rodley just before Christmas, nice and flat and just far enough for me to walk without too much trouble. Plus I can now carry my camera and binoculars the same time.......progress!

It was cold and windy and raining by the time we left but as usual the rain isn't an issue.

Robins were everywhere and never seem to be too bothered by people.

On the water we saw Wigeon, Tufted Ducks, Black Headed Gulls, Herons, Mute Swans and Moorhen.Overhead were Cormorant and Canada Geese.

A Magpie tried to hide in the field..........nice try but not quite.......

In the managers garden the  Bullfinch were out in force, 4 males and a female, along with Chaffinch. Reed Bunting, Wren, Great and Blue Tits.

A nice cup of tea to warm up and I was done with walking for the day! It was so good to get out properly though.