Sorry!!!!!
Okay. Thought I'd get that out the way as I start pretty much every post with a sorry and an excuse for not posting. This time? I have moved city and am now studying for a degree in photography in Leeds, England. Woop! Exciting!
Anyways, since moving, I have found myself very limited in my wildlife watching opportunities. It's important to note that I completely blame myself for this though. In the past couple of weeks, however, I have made a considered and deliberate effort to rectify this atrocity (wow...big words. Brain spin!)
One of these trips came in the form of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Nature Reserve - Adel Dam. Located in north Leeds, this wildlife haven is situated in a lovely location which feels more like the countryside than 6 miles outside the city centre!
As I constantly checked the weather forecasts on the run up to Saturday's trip, I was slightly disbelieving of the "lengthy sunny spells" forecast. Especially when it started snowing a few days before. Saturday came and, surprise surprise...it was SUNNY! Granted it was freezing outside - which the forecast had warned about...but I wasn't too bothered about that. Also I had borrowed a camera and 100-400mm lens from uni and so was raring to go.
Lorna and I made the short walk to the bus stop. Busy bus and so we were stuck at the back of upstairs...where we were stuck beside this really rude and annoying group of people. I kept reminding myself of some of the "star species" lists I had seen for the reserve. Maybe we'd see some of them. Block out the people! Stay focused on the photos I'll be able to take! When we arrived at Golden Acre Park (in which the reserve is situated), we came up against another small problem. The reserve isn't on any of the parks maps - since technically it's outside the Leeds City Council controlled section of the park! Whilst we were looking around, we visited the lake where we saw Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Coot and other water birds. Having looked at another map, we came across our first Woodpecker of the day - A Great Spotted Woodpecker. Male. Very soon after this, we saw a life tick for me - a Nuthatch. We were beginning to really enjoy the park, but still couldn't find the entrance to the reserve!
Eventually though, having asked a couple whom we overheard talking - who obviously knew the difference between a blackbird and a crow, we found the hallowed gate! When we entered, we made light work of the initial section of path to the first hide. This hide overlooked some feeders where we saw various tits and other small birds. Also Moorhen and Mallard Ducks. Having decided to go around the reserve and return to this hide for a longer more detailed stay, we made the short but muddy walk to the second hide overlooking a small lake. From here right away, we saw Teal and Grey Heron. Within moments, however, these birds faded into the background of my awareness...as out shot a dash of blue! Even a circling Sparrowhawk couldn't distract me from what we had seen! The Kingfisher, later determined to be a male of the species, gradually made it's way around the lake towards the hide. The 400mm zoom of the lens I had came in handy as it remained a ways off till eventually flying somewhere behind the hide. The cold eventually stirred us from the task of waiting to see if it would return to pose and we decided to continue on the round trip back towards the first hide.
From here, we again saw the ducks etc. We also saw Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit and possibly Marsh and Willow Tit although no photos sadly to confirm (when seeing them from that distance, it's hard both to tell them apart and from Coal Tits.) We also saw a return and had better views/photo ops of Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker! Lorna and I had a chance to share some birdwatching tips and ID help with a few groups of people (it was the camera - a lens that size, people just assume you know what you're talking about. Unsure whether I do or not!)
After that, we left the hide and headed straight for the YWT staff member who had come to the entrance in the time we had been walking around and signed up to become members of the charity. What can I say? We were most pleased by what we had seen and want to continue making a positive impact on the environment!
Having left the reserve, we went to a small cafe in the park and sat eating soup watching the birds eating feed left out for them next to the tables. These included a couple of Blackbirds, a flock of Long-tailed Tits and our first sighting of Chaffinch. We also had another view of Red Kite - which had in fact been the first bird we saw after getting off the bus...and which would later swoop over our heads whilst waiting for our bus back.
All in all, a fitful day! Now for some photos!
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| "Also I had borrowed a camera and 100-400mm lens from uni" (Credit: Lorna) |
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| "Eventually...we found the hallowed gate!" (Credit: Lorna) |
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| "The Kingfisher, later determined to be a male of the species, gradually made it's way around the lake towards the hide." |
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| "We also saw a return and had better views/photo ops of Nuthatch" |
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| "...and Great Spotted Woodpecker!" |
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| "These included a couple of Blackbirds" |
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| "...a flock of Long-tailed Tits." |
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| "Having left the reserve, we went to a small cafe in the park and sat eating soup" (Credit: Lorna) |
Thanks for reading. Remember to check on my facebook page for continued updates - which is kept much more updated than this blog! The address for that is: http://www.facebook.com/markienelsonphotography
The corresponding album for Adel Dam NR is found here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.444152862324154.98793.257953610944081&type=1&l=1bcd61736c
