I saw on twitter recently about a Whooper Swan on the lake at Roundhay Park, it had been injured last year and once released had stayed with the Mute Swans there. So Saturday morning my daughter and I jumped on the bus and headed over there.

It was freezing but so beautifully sunny it didn't really matter about the cold. There was a park run happening when we arrived with the finish line not far from the top lake where we usually walk first so we bypassed that and went straight to the main lake.







There were a lot of corvids all over the park - Jackdaw, Rook and Crows, they were not in the least bit bothered by the people around, in fact one strutted it's way down the path towards us like we weren't even there.






At the lake straight away we were honked at by a farmyard Goose that was with all the Canada Geese along side the fence. We had bought some food from home (not bread), my daughter was in charge of that......do you ever grow out of feeding the ducks?!

As soon as we got past the fence the swans and ducks headed straight for us and you really couldn't miss the Whooper, the bright yellow beak a stand out against the others but then the noise it made was quite unique and to be honest had my daughter in hysterics. It was quite a fiesty little thing and held it's own amongst the Mute Swans, they were all a bit nippy with their beaks. A few Mallards and Moorhens made a bit of a half-hearted effort at going for the food but they didn't stand a chance - too many long necks






I must admit I took an awful lot of photos of the Swans and the noisy Black-headed Gulls that descended, they looked quite beautiful in the sunlight.



We walked around part of the lake and saw Cormorant, Tufted Ducks, Coots, Moorhen and one Teal hidden in the overhanging branches.


On to the top lake were more Swans, Mallards, Tufted ducks, Black-headed gulls, also a pair each of Gadwall, Goosander, a single Herring Gull and overhead a Sparrowhawk.





Waiting for the bus outside the park entrance a Sparrowhawk dashed across the road in front of us and a Red Kite was flying above the trees. Perfect way to end our visit.

Managed a couple of hours on the reserve this morning and what a morning, so many birds about and decent weather to boot.


Canada and Greylag Geese were in the field by the car park along with a pair of Herons and a fair few Magpies and Crows.

A lone Common Tern was on the Lagoon, along with the usual Black Swans, Canada Geese, Coots, Moorhens, Great Crested Grebe and plenty of Sand Martins and Swifts flying overhead.

Along the Willow Path were Bullfinch, Robin, Jay, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.



Out of the Duck Marsh hide we saw a Reed Warbler, Herons, Little Grebe, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan, Canada Geese and a Sparrowhawk overhead.




From the Willow Path Hide a Common Sandpiper, Gadwall, Lapwing, Coot and another Heron.

The lovely new Reedbed Hide is now open and looks great. The reedbeds themselves had several Reed Buntings flying about, a lone Gadwall and several unidentifiable LBJs flying backwards and forwards across the near reedbed, possibly more Warblers. A Cormorant was on it's the usual pylon perch.


My husband spotted a Pied Wagtail fly across the path from Tim's Field into the coppice. The field itself is looking quite stunning right now.


Watching the reeds from the screen near the gazebo we could hear Reed and Sedge Warblers, we only caught brief glimpses though.

The air by the visitor centre was filled with Swifts, Sand Martins and Swallows, I could watch these all day! But I was pressed on up to the Managers Garden only to find the Little Owl resting in the tree at the back of the feeders. Thank you to the gentleman who pointed it out when we got there! On the feeders we saw Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Jackdaws and Magpies.




A stop for a cuppa and we watched Dunnock and Goldfinch around the feeders and Jackdaws all over the field.


Walking down the access road brought us a Whitethroat.


We can't leave without looking onto the river from the bridge, good thing we did as we saw a Goosander with her brood, which were constantly trying to climb on her back.

Here are some of my other favourites








I'm looking forward now to the first Leeds Bird Fair here on the 25th June!