7th february to 4th March2026
Change will come...each day is a little bit longer...
February 7th and 8th
I found my way to Waterloo Lake in Roundhay Park, Leeds. Apparently the Iceland gull had just flown off and returned later that day long after I had departed. But the persistent birder went back again the next day - earlier this time but it had just flown off! Again!
I resolved to wait and be ready.
I took some photos...
A very angry Canada goose was attacking the other geese.
Meanwhile the Iceland gull was reported from up on a nearby hillside. So off they all went up the muddy hill struggling with their tripods and cameras. I decided to stay where I was. I can only assume that the assembled host [of gulls] didn't like to see the encroaching army of old campaigners attempting to take Soldier's Field [as the hillside is named] and along with the rest of the gang the Iceland gull duly came and landed on the lake in front of me and another lazy birder who had stayed put. And so smug.
En route homewards I stopped near Fairburn Ings to se if any cattle egrets were about. Here's a quartet of them with their guard close by.
Valentine's Day. A trip to Kildale where I nearly ran over a red grouse. I then headed to Lockwood Beck where I didn't see my main target [marsh tit] but a treecreeper showed nicely.
February 16th: an afternoon jaunt to Blacktoft. Very quiet and cold. Lots of ducks, 3 winter-drab little grebes, a couple of greylags.
White-fronted geese flew over the reserve.
February 18th: Lockwood Beck
Bouncing siskin plus female siskin, yet another treecreeper and a collection of long-tailed tit portraits.
I also visited Nosterfield and Sutton Bank that day. Highlight was marsh tits at Sutton Bank feeders.
South Gare February 21st
I went hoping to see snow buntings. Walking towards the area I had been told to check when, not having gone very far from the steps down onto the sand, I realised the snow buntings were scuttling towards me. All I had to do was stand still and watch. Eventually two birders came over.
'Well done,' one said. 'You've found them at last!' I smiled. In truth they had found me.
Spurn February 22nd. Few photos taken that day as everything was a long way out on the mud. The Brent geese were a long way off and most of them had their back end pointing my way!
A redshank in strong sunshine from the Crown and Anchor.
February 25th: Wykeham Raptor Watchpoint, Forge Valley and Bempton. Seven year ticks in the day - pretty good I thought.
Last year my birding was severely curtailed so when I got to the raptor watchpoint I was stunned to see how much things had changed. It was as if I had never been there before...
Goshawks were seen but distantly through my scope. Forge valley had nuthatches plus the usual birds including more marsh tits. Bempton produced gannets, razorbills, guillemots, linnets and skylarks. Here's a few of Bempton's best. [Unfortunately the shorties were in shortie supply that day].
March 2nd: Hartlepool.
Reed bunting and long-tailed tits at Cowpen Bewley.
Ring-necked parakeets at Ward Jackson Park.
Probable early bumble bee bombus pratorum at Haverton Gate, Saltholme. Followed by a pair of pintail from Salthome Pools hide.
Finally for this posting a walk round Fairburn where I saw relatively little [certainly no spoonbills] but two buzzards overhead in the sunshine were nice to see.
