Category Archives: Birds

Big Garden Birdwatch 2021

The days of grey skies, ice packed ponds and blankets of snow, together with storm Christoph during this January have been enough to make us all shiver and seek refuge.   However, this coming weekend 29th to 31st January there is … Continue reading

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Spotted Redshanks, the Wyke, 1973

  These spotted redshanks appear on the cover of The Aire Valley Wetlands, compiled and published by Richard L. Brook and the Wakefield Naturalists’ Society in 1976. I’d originally drawn them for a much-delayed 1973 Bird Report, to show autumn migrants at Horbury Wyke but Richard retained the … Continue reading

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Dawn Chorus and Bluebells

Sunday 6 May was International Dawn Chorus Day, a worldwide celebration of nature’s symphony. It is celebrated annually on the first Sunday of May, and is a great opportunity to get out early and listen to the sounds of birds as … Continue reading

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Potteric Carr

Highlights of our July field meeting at the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Potteric Carr reserve included a female marsh harrier hunting over Huxter Well Marsh; such a regular sight that it did little to disturb the herons, little egrets, lapwings, little grebes … Continue reading

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Chiffchaff in the Ryhill garden

A sure sign of autumn for me is the flocks of titmice passing through the garden along with the occasional Phylloscopus warbler and today’s offering was a lovely chiffchaff/ The bird was fliting in the autumn red and yellow leaves … Continue reading

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Red-necked grebe on the Calder

A few recent sightings include a red-necked grebe today on the Rover Calder by Chantry Chapel and a red admiral in my garden in Outwood on 20th October. From a few weeks ago, 51 curlew at Altofts on September 25th

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Spring migrants at Pugneys CP

A few interesting birds at Pugneys this morning, with two common scoter on main lake , two white wagtails and willow warbler, blackcap and wheatear all arriving. .

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Wildlife sightings from Nostell Priory

Pauline’s report on 16 February of the area’s first flowering colt’s-foot of the year encouraged a visit to a good spot for this plant on my regular walks around the Nostell Priory estate.  I saw the first flowers here much … Continue reading

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News: Great Northern Diver on Cawoods Pool

There is a great northern diver on the water behind the Swan & Cygnet pub for those who’d like to see this irregular visitor to Wakefield.

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Peregrine approve of the new nest box

The male peregrine has been using the new nest box regularly and seems to have given it his seal of approval, This all bodes well for the 2016 season after this year’s amazing breeding success story.

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