√Bingley - St. Ives

11:15 - 14:45

I set off this morning for Oxenhope. As I approached Denholme I could see the mist in the distance so I went to Bingley St. Ives instead.

A dull, dark damp drizzly outing in the woods proved to be tough going.

Lots of birds singing but few to photograph.

I did half the perimeter and called at the cafe via the Coppice pond.

The pond held c45 Canada Geese, Coots (a pr. with 1 chick) Pr. Mute Swan with 2 remaining Cygnets (6 originally I was informed).
A F. Tufted Duck was out in the middle of the pond.

After the cafe I did the second half, going up to the top by the golf course near Altar lane.

A Spotted Flycatcher caught my eye, as it flew behind a a tree. 

Funny how a fleeting glimpse reveals the bird sp. sometimes.

It then went in and out of a nest hole in another tree before it flew off.

I waited around a good while and it returned.
A second Spotted Flycatcher came along and was chased off by the first one!

Also very close by I got a very fleeting glimpse of a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

The nest hole looked quite big,hope the GSW has not got it's beady eye on it's contents!


Other birds:-

6 Chiffchaff, 6 Nuthatch, Jay, Wren, Chaffinch, Blackcap singing, Swallow, 4 Mistle Thrush feeding together in one field.
Willow Warbler. Buzzard calling NE of Bingley.
Kestrel, At least 10 Swift, high - most probably lots more!
Song Thrush and a few more sp.