A South Yorkshire Day's Birding

No special ticks or targets in mind but I knew there were some good birds at Wintersett/Anglers' CP that might be photographable.

I found a nice goldeneye and the drake smew in Botany Bay [NE corner] on Wintersett pretty well straightaway.

Goldeneye Smew A bit distant but you also get a coot, and a heron. Spot the heron?

A chaffinch was high in the alder trees in the sunshine.

Chaffinch The light was excellent. A cormorant in breeding plumage came over.

Cormorant From the hide I espied a lapwing with the new punky-plover hair style.

Lapwing A grey heron flew in to stir things up a bit...

Grey Heron Grey Heron Grey Heron ...but the goosander was unperturbed.

On the walk back I spotted a blckbird in a wild rose bush. Hip-hip hooray he chortled!

Blackbird Blackbird

I also got a better view of the female long-tailed duck that has been around for a while. Whilst taking this an egyptian goose flew in but landed out of sight.

Long-tailed Duck Next stop, Old Moor. I've never got the perfect yellowhammer photo. I still haven't!

Yellowhammer Yellowhammer Out on the Mere the wildfowl were largely on the ice which gave some nice teal shots.

Teal Teal Teal

The gadwall have obviously paired up ready for next spring.

Gadwall Back near the car a robin and a reed bunting were in the hedge. The bullfinches were too wary to let me take their picture.

Robin Reed Bunting

Final stop: Fairburn Ings. The light was fading so I just walked down to the swan feeder station by the entrance. Surprise, surprise! The boardwalk thing has been much extended so as to drive the swans mad! As you walk along the new extension all the birds set off to follow you. A black-headed gull posed on the railing...

Black-headed Gull ...and this swan sailed straight at me!

Mute Swan