Category Archives: Bird Watch
The Sound of the Birds
We had a beautiful morning this morning for our walk through the Park with birder Linda Jenkinson of Start Birding Linda pointed out the different bird calls she heard, and gave us an idea of the differences and how to recognize them. We also learnt a lot about the ‘life’ of a bird, how it acts at different seasons, and the different types of habitat. Birds we heard (or saw)
Blackbird
Blackcap
Buzzard circling overhead
ChiffChaff
Crow
Coal Tit
Dunnock – used to be called a hedge sparrow
Goldcrest
Magpie
Robin
Starling
Whitethroat
Willow warbler
Wren, apparently one of the most common birds
Flock of racing pigeons
Wood Pigeon
Five Places Left on Birding Walk -11 May
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Wild About Gardens – by Chris Parapia
Heather planting on Jubilee Walk
A good number of Friends of Parkinson’s Park turned out on Saturday 26th October as part of the RHS Community Initiative ” Wild About Gardens” week.
We were very fortunate to have received 500 free crocus bulbs from the RHS and 500 free narcissi bulbs from the Groundwork Trust.
In addition we were kindly donated 8 bird boxes by Mr Nigel Jones a local bird enthusiast who also turned out on the day to put them up.
New bird boxes, donated by Nigel Jones
Chris and Barbara focussed on bulb planting at the farmgate entrance, Richard, Josie, Peter, Heather and Bobby concentrated on Heather, Gorse and Broom planting over at the Jubilee Walk area of the park, and Nigel and Liakat put up the boxes.
The weather was kind and we received lots of positive comments from local people walking through the park.
Thanks to everyone.
Bird Watch – A Dancing Heron And Other Winter Wonders by Darren Shepherd
Mandarin Duck on Yeadon Tarn
Hello. I am finally stirring from my winter slumber, and the over indulgences of Christmas! The shortest day has been and gone, and we can look forward to warmer weather next week.
The highlight of the birds seen in the park this winter is the Waxwing (bombycilla garullus). A winter visitor from Northern Europe: a beautiful bird indeed: listen out for them flying over with a soft jingling call.
There are also a lot of Goldfinches around, and some superb Bullfinches. The male is a stunner in his striking red and black plumage.
I continue to see the Red Kite; even flying around in heavy snow; probably Continue reading
Bird Watch – Nuts About Nuthatches by Darren Shepherd
Nuthatch Feeding – sitta europaea
Well, the summer is officially over, and, as we move into autumn, the post breeding tits, and other small insectivorous birds, start to roam the countryside in flocks. These flocks find Parkinsons Park much to their liking, with the wealth of cover and food on offer. Last Friday, when entering the park from the Nethercliffe Road entrance, I could hear the ‘twittering’of such a flock feeding in the tall trees and scrub that borders Kelcliffe House.
Amongst the noise, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the call of a “NUTHATCH” (sitta europaea). “Superb”, I thought, “a completely new bird for the parks list” ! The bird is a stunning little thing, not much bigger than a sparrow, but a true Olympian for its climbing prowess, and adorned in red/orange,white,and blue plumage looking rather exotic in Jubilee colours. Other birds in the flock, included blue, great, and coal tits, along with my favorite the long tailed tit. Continue reading
Bird Watch – Gone But Not Forgotten, by Darren Shepherd
Little Ringed Plover at Crompton Parkinsons
Hello again and welcome to the next bird watch post. This post is about some very rare birds that took up residence on the Bellway building site a few years back, but have now gone.
The first bird is the “little ringed plover” a superb little wading bird that colonised the UK as recently as 1965, with just the odd pair breeding at a gravel pit “down sarf”. These birds decided to set up home in Guiseley on the site of the demolished lamp works of “Crompton Parkinsons”, which, due to the reccesion, had been left for a few years before work commenced. The old bricks from the factory were crushed on site and spread out as hardcore.This allowed various puddles and pools to become established and alive with insects and wild vegetation, providing ample food for the birds. The birds raised young for at least 3 years, but were predated at least once,with cats and corvids the main suspects. Continue reading
Bird Watch – See What You Missed!! by Darren Shepherd
Grey Heron. (Source: J J Harrison)
Well, the Jubilee picnic is over and its time for the latest installment of bird watch. The bird watch event at the picnic, didn’t last very long I’m afraid, as other activities took centre stage; we’ll improve the signage next time. Let me know below, if you are interested in coming along for an hour or so and I’ll organize another.
During the short space of time that the Jubilee picnic bird watch was running, we managed to see some exciting birds. It started with a ‘sparrowhawk’ overhead at 2.20pm spotted by a Mr B Shepherd (my Father). A common buzzard could be seen soaring over the “High Royds” area around the same time. Continue reading
Bird Watch – Dawn Chorus by Darren Shepherd
European Robin (Source:Northamptonshire Wildlife)
This morning I met up with David Myers to make a film of the bird life in the park singing one of nature’s glories of this time of the year – the dawn chorus. We met at 5am; the weather was calm but very cold for May. The morning started well, with various warblers and other passerines singing, but not particulary showing well – camera shy maybe? One bird that did appear was the robin, which at least gave David some good shots.
Other birds we heard, included the willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, garden warbler, great tit, blue tit, and wren. However, around 5.30 we decided to call it a day as most of the birds had stopped singing or moved away from us. Due to the unseasonally cold weather a lot of summer migrants have been late arriving from the wintering areas in Africa and as such the park was quieter than usual at this time of year. On a positive note there should be many more years that the people of Guiseley can enjoy the sights and sounds of Parkinsons Park, without houses encroaching on the area !!
Bird Watch – Birdsong
You can listen to the Park’s birdsong on You Tube, or better still, take an early morning stroll and hear the real thing – hope there is not too much snow over Easter !! Thanks to one of the Friends for providing this – Darren tells us this is likely a pair of song thrushes that he has seen near the copse.
Friends of Parkinson's Park CIC 
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