Wintersett

Sunday saw us exploring the Wintersett area in Wakefield. We've only been to the Anglers Country Park before but after seeing a write up about it in the Birdwatch magazine we planned to spend the day there. It has a lot to explore - the Country Park, Wintersett Reservoir, Cold Hiendley Reservoir and Haw Park Wood. We didn't manage it all!

Walking around the Country Park first we were early enough there were few people about. I did spot a couple of people at the visible migration point and saw on twitter later that they had seen several birds of prey, whilst we did not see a single one all day!

Round the lake were Black Headed & Common Gulls, Canada/Grey Lag Geese, Wigeon, Tufted Ducks, Mallard, Coot, Gadwall, Moorhen, Little & Great Crested Grebes. In the trees Robin, Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon, Crow, Magpie, Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinch and many Chiffchaff, the sound of which followed us around everywhere we went today.

From the hide we added Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Cormorant, Shelduck and my first Sand Martins of the year. Back near the car park we saw a Pied Wagtail on the roof of the visitor centre and Tree Sparrows in the trees and on the feeders.

Quick stop for a bit of an early lunch, we were glad we got there early, the nice weather had brought out the crowds and we disappointed a couple of people who thought they were going to be able to get our parking space. 

Walking out of the car park and heading right we walked to Haw Park Wood, which was amazing, I no idea such a woodland was here, the conifers give a slightly spooky air to it at times (or maybe that's just me). Despite the crowds back at the Country Park there wasn't too many people here plus there are plenty of paths to explore, we didn't walk through it all, I was flagging a little - too out of shape!

I really liked the way this wall was built, lots of nooks and crannys, a few holes and lots of plants.

Again there were Chiffchaffs aplenty, Wrens, Chaffinch, more Tits, Goldfinch, Thrush, Blackbirds, Squirrels and lots of bees.

A Common Carder I think

Red Tailed

After this we walked a little way around Wintersett, I was hoping for Cetti's Warbler as i've seen there are 4 or 5 in the area  (http://barnsleybirds.blogspot.co.uk/). Twice I briefly heard singing which could have been the Warbler but I didn't hear enough to be 100% sure and the family were not up for hanging around much longer at this point!

I'm glad we made the effort to venture further than the Country Park, it's well worth doing.