Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Elland Bridge to Avocet Works, Brookfoot / Bradshaw Fields

Elland - Brookfoot.

A poor morning with heavy showers blown along on a strong wind as I walked from Elland to Brookfoot.

I got off quite lightly, being in the right place when the downpours arrived - either under trees or sheltering behind a nearby building.

While I was sheltering behind the Avocet buildings, Long Tailed Tits were going bonkers in the trees above me, about something.

Thinking Owl or Raptor I was scanning the trees but could only find a Crow nearby.

As I left along the riverside path, a very dark brown, scruffy, Mistle Thrush sized Raptor shot out from a low perch by the path.

The bird rose quite awkwardly through the branches to land in dark trees and then left flying over the canal.

This was the "highlight" of a slow day and the bird was probably a male Sparrowhawk. 🤔. (Just possibly it was a juv. Merlin but no photo so I'll never know . Probably an odd place for Merlin, but bad weather could have a bearing on this assumption).

Bradshaw Fields:-

Not so lucky with the weather, this time out, as I was caught in a heavy shower - boo hoo.

Just a short walk but an interesting one.

A few Herring Gulls were in with the mostly Common Gulls.

One Gull had a leg ring and another (or the same one!) looked a candidate for

a Yellow Legged Gull.

Looking at the photos , not much 'yellow' on view - I cannot turn any Gull into a Y.L.Gull - see what you think.

Birds:-

Elland - Brookfoot

Canal, River:-

Jay, 6 Mute Swan, Kingfisher, Female or 1cy ?  Goosander.

Cormorant, Buzzard.

Ski Lake:-

3 Black Headed Gull, 1 Heron and a few Mallards.

Avocet Area:-

4 Cormorant, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail.

Male Sparrowhawk.

Moorhen.

Bradshaw Fields:

Green Woodpecker (heard).

2 Stonechat.

3 Jay.

Little Owl. 

Buzzard.

A good few Gulls nearly all Common Gulls with a few Herring Gulls.

A few Meadow Pipits.

Fox.

Elland - Brookfoot


Superfast Kingfisher!




Bradshaw Fields:








Some Large Gull Photos.


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