Redcar Tarn

Thursday 1st January a.m.
 A mild but dull start to the New Year with a temperature of 10°C as we headed off for a walk on to Hewenden Viaduct.A good number of the usual species were around getting our annual list off to a good start, the most notable birds came from the reservoir area which included Pheasant, Goosander, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan & Kestrel.
 We later went up to Redcar Tarn to see what was about, still high numbers of birds here including Lapwing,BH Gull,Mallard,Tufted Duck,Starling,Chaffinch,Muscovy,Pied Wagtail,Robin,LBB Gull & Common Gull.We caught up with the flock of Chaffinch on Tarn Lane but they were very flighty & we couldn't locate a Brambing in the flock today.There was another Gull that gave us a problem with ID, at first glance we thought Common Gull but it was too big.Then we thought Herring Gull right size but no red spot on the bill, we concluded maybe not a full adult, possibly 3rd or 4th Winter bird & settled for Herring Gull.

LBB Gull

Mallard & Pied Wagtail

Muscovy Ducks

Chaffinch

Herring Gull - 3rd or 4th Winter bird

male Tufted duck

female Tufted

Lapwings with Ovenden wind farm in the distance

Lapwings,BH Gull & Starlings