River Aire sightings

On the River Aire, between Whitehall Bridge and the Dark Arches of Leeds City Centre I noticed this beautiful Black Swan, more than likely an escapee but nonetheless a striking character . They're native to SW/E Australia and were brought to Britain as an ornamental bird.  I remembered that Paul (Little Brown Job) spotted one at RSPB Fairburn last year. These two shots upstream and downstream indicate how close to the City Centre it was.  

Continuing our wander around Granary Wharf we stumbled upon the Leeds City Cruise boat and hopped on for a £3.00 return trip to Clarence Dock, what a great way to travel through the city. It was a much gentler journey than my last boat excursion which was to the Farne Islands where I suffered a humiliating bout of sea sickness, all for the love of nature! Another bird (this time more ornament than ornamental) was this Grey Heron sculpture near Brewery Wharf.

Other wildlife sightings included two female Goosander on the river to the rear of the Yorkshire Post building. They're frequently visitors as they overwinter on the river, previously they've appeared further upstream, in December last year by Kirkstall Abbey and also near Redcote Lane. The unexpected surprise of the day was the appearance of a Kingfisher as it zipped upstream and out of view.

Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits

During this weekend we visited Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits, near Ilkley. One of four reserves managed by The Wharfedale Naturalists Society since 2007. The reserve consists of land around two reclaimed gravel pits adjacent to the river Wharfe. Thanks to Amanda for recommending the site which on first reading I mistook for Otley Gravel Pits that we visited last year, but this is a great addition to our list of places to visit.

The pond was our first port of call, during our visit the weather was overcast and breezy with little butterfly activity other than a Small White on the wing, no Damselfly/Dragonfly activity yet, but I imagine it'll be a good spot for both in the summer months. Walking around the opposite side of the pond Andrea took a nice shot looking up towards Cow and Calf rocks.

Bird sightings included Grey Heron, Oystercatcher, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Curlew, here we watched 20 Sand Martins across the river, constantly on the go.

Whilst watching the Sand Martins a pair of Goosander appeared from downstream and settled on the opposite bank.

We spotted a Buzzard on the horizon and within moments another two appeared, I've never seen three in one spot before.

Its a super spot for wildflowers, with many patches of Lords and Ladies (Arum maculatum) those in shade on the verge of opening and those in a sunnier aspect now in bloom.

On our way back, near the roadside we passed beside a carpet of Ramsons (Allium ursinum) in dappled shade.

Wood Forget Me Not, clusters of tiny powder blue flowers with yellow centres.

Common Solomon's-Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum), arching stems, alternate leaves, hanging clusters of bell shaped flowers.

Fern fronds unfurling, the golden brown stems predominant.

And a patch of fully open ferns swaying in the breeze and adding a splash of emerald green to the woodland floor.

Kirkstall Abbey by the river

Despite a chill in the air I wandered down to Kirkstall Abbey. In the park this Chaffinch perched on the branch of a Sycamore, among the newly emerged lobed leaves and drooping flower panicles.

It kept its Chaffinchy eye on me as I wandered around below, stopping to gaze at clumps of Leucojum aestivum, part of a flower border and quite lovely.

Along this stretch the River Aire , at intervals grow clumps of Ransoms/Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum) with arching, broad green elliptic leaves topped with clusters of white star shaped flowers 6 petals and 6 stamens on a leafless stalk. Although never having tried them myself, both flowers and leaves are edible, Nigel Slater has a wild garlic (and nettle) recipe in today's Observer.

A few metres away two male Blackbirds were engaged in a dramatic stand-off on a fallen White Willow.

Here's the White Willow on the banks of the River Aire, one of two Willows in the area that have collapsed, the original storm damage occurred earlier in the year, but this time it's gone completely. There are plenty of Willow and Elder along this stretch, so I'm sure other plants will benefit from the newly available resources left in its wake.

A good opportunity to get some close ups of White Willow catkins.

Whilst wandering around the Willow I heard an unfamiliar call and glimpsed a pair of Common Tern, (the quality's not great, poor light, fast Tern)

And as one good Tern deserves another.

Rather blurred this one, but moments before it dived suddenly and snaffled a fish, which you can just make out in its beak.

Whilst waiting for the Tern to return (it didn't) this male Goosander flew downstream, at the time I couldn't tell what it was but with the help of a little Photoshop jiggery-pokery you can make out the sawbill and the characteristic markings. Goosander are a familiar sight on this stretch of the Aire in winter, so it was good to still see them around .


I turned my attention to the riverbanks and this umbelliferous plant which made for some interesting pics, if only I'd thought to take a less artsy reference pic I might have had a chance of identifying it, but as usual I didn't, Anthriscus sylvestris maybe?

As I was leaving the park and with the light at its lowest due to the onset of rain I spotted a Jay, it spotted me and made for cover sharpish. Not bad for an impromptu early evening wander.

Bolton Abbey Dippers

This weekend we visited Bolton Abbey and enjoyed some fine sightings of Dippers on the River Wharfe. Andrea spotted one on her previous visit so we arrived at our destination hopeful but certainly didn't anticipate four separate sightings.

Dippers are fascinating to watch, when feeding for aquatic invertebrates they dive underwater staying submerged for 10 to 30 seconds at a time due to the fact that their blood has high levels of haemoglobin which increases their ability to store oxygen. We didn't manage to get any pics of the bird diving into the water but were pleased to come away with a few of the Dippers perched in the midst of the riverbed.

Also on the river this pair of Goosander male (front) and female (rear).

An unexpected pleasure to see this pair of Mandarin Duck travelling downstream.

A more familiar sight, Nuthatch are abundant throughout the woodland walk and are particularly easy to see at the stone shelters along the riverside walk where visitors leave seed for the birds. Other visitors included Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Robin.

Kirkstall Abbey & the River Aire

This afternoon we took a short stroll by the River Aire and around Kirkstall Abbey without the camera. There were some infrequent visitors by the weir including 3 overwintering Goosander and 1 Little Grebe all busy diving for fish. A Grey Wagtail bobbed around the water's edge. A small wader quickly flew by and settled out of view, (markings & bill like that of a Common Sandpiper) it had a similar shape & flight pattern as that of a bird I noticed at a small fresh water spring at Beckett Park last week, must keep my eyes peeled! Three Canada Geese headed upstream whilst the fourth made its way up the weir bank. The regular occupants were present - Mute Swan, Mallard, Moor Hen, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Crow, Blue Tit, Long Tail Tit.

Kirkstall Christmas sightings

'On Christmas Day in the morning', well more like early afternoon we wandered down along a stretch of the Kirkstall Valley along the Goitside walk that starts near Morrisons. 'And what was in those ships all three?' No ships today, but as we stood overlooking the goit that runs underneath Bridge Road metres away from the busy crossroad with the A65 we spotted a Kingfisher heading towards us, underneath the bridge & off downstream. Its the first Kingfisher we've seen in Kirkstall & it was fantastic to see it so near to home.

Then we headed downstream, from the bridge at Redcote Lane we spotted 5 overwintering Goosander, two pairs and one single male. Perhaps two of these birds were the pair we saw a couple of weeks ago upstream near the Abbey. Although not a great shot of the bird (bottom left) I do like a context shot now & again so here you get to see Kirkstall/Burley in the background (well it is Christmas). A Grey Heron flew overhead whilst we watched the Goosander.


Between Redcote Bridge & the canal 6 Redwing settled in the treetops, slightly too far away for a decent pic.

Throughout the walk Jay x 1, Blue Tit x 10, Great Tit x 7, Long Tailed Tit x 6 Blackbird x 9, Chaffinch x 3, Magpie x 10, Robin x 6, Moor Hen x 7, Mallard x 12 & squirrels scampered across the frozen canal.