Paper Shop & Bingley 5 Rise Locks.

Paper Shop.

I had a walk to the paper shop this morning and found the usual suspects lurking in Bradshaw Park.

Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, 7 Blackbird, House Sparrow, Starling, Goldfinch, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon.

In the pine trees, near the farm, just after the left-turn to Oats Royd  C10 Greenfinch.

The highlight of the trip was a Mistle Thrush singing loudly in a tree top.

Bingley 5 Rise Locks & Towpath.

After  bacon butties all round in the 5 Rise Locks cafe, we had a stroll, with our friend Stuart ,along the towpath for a few miles and back again.

I was hoping for Waxwing -  I have seen them here before in January – but no luck today.

Birds:-

LTT, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, 4 Moorhen, BHG, Mallard, Greylag Goose, c50 Jackdaw, 21 Canada Goose, Mute Swan & Cygnet, 1 Redwing over, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Goldcrest.

Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Goldfinch.

A bird of prey which I originally thought was a Sparrowhawk, soaring overhead - a long, long way up. It was circling slowly then a few wing beats then circling - then it disappeared into the distance. I just managed 1 distant shot.

The wing tips are wrong for a sparrowhawk, it looks more buzzard-like to me, on the photo, but the tail is wrong for a buzzard?

When we got back Stuart & Sue returned to the café and I had a snoop on the path that runs below the 5 Rise Towpath. Before leaving the towpath, however, I was rewarded with a F. Goosander.

On the lower path:-

Pr. Bullfinch, 1 Singing Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 more Moorhen  and a Pheasant with the usual small birds about.

I kept scanning for Snipe in the boggy stuff towards the railway line but did not spot anything other than Moorhen – I don’t know if this is a good place to see them?

Bradshaw Park:-

Bingley Canal & 5 Rise Locks area:-

Robin in good voice.