Havenah Park birding near Harrogate

As Harry was asleep I took the opportunity to go for a walk and birding session on the outskirts of Harrogate.
A beautiful day saw a handful of species

A calling Great Tit

Male chaffinch

Oystercatcher at Scargill ressie

Male Pheasant 

Bullfinch at Stone rings

A lovely pair of BULLFINCH are regular visitors to Jen & Jon's feeders.

Non official tick list (NOL)

I have seen the following species in the UK that were not in a 'bird zoo' (clipped and there just for general public amusement...) I call these my NOL (Non official list)

1. SACRED IBIS (2012  Stanwick Lakes, Northants)
2. BLACK SWAN ( First encounter at Dinton many years ago)
3. HELMETED GUINEAFOWL (Various)
4. MONK PARAKEET (Borehamwood with LGRE in 2015)
5. HOODED MERGANSER (Radipole, 2015,2017)
6. BUFFLEHEAD (Rodley NR)

It's of note for my own record, as a bird spotter in the UK that I have seen these unusual species in a wild environment.

Yorkshire Bufflehead & Grouse!

A trip up to the in laws - first sighting was a RED GROUSE driving back from Billy Bobs kids haven after seeing Ruth, Gwen et al - it was a very fortunate spot as it flew across some scrub by the side of the road whilst driving back to Harrogate. Then a cheeky twitch to see a female BUFFLEHEAD at Rodley NR near Leeds. This bird is of unknown origin so has to go down as a plastic tick. Great to see one anyway as its a first for me
Year list @ #115
NOL @ #6

Female Bufflehead 

Back at Wilstone

Driving back from Northampton I thought I would stop off at Wilstone. Two lovely BLACK TERN and a YELLOW WAGTAIL were great sights on a beautiful early evening - it's been a while since a yellow wag has been in my sights. Great calling as it flew off towards Startops

Yellow Wagtail by the jetty 

YW

Black Tern

The Fonz! Maybe. 

Black Tern in flight  

Woodpecker @ Granville

Walking back into our house after an early morning swim I heard a close by squeak of a woodpecker. A GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER has returned to Granville Road! A male returns again - maybe the same one from last year.

Great view of the male markings

GSW enjoying the suet - last seen May last year

Wilstone visit

A quick visit to Wilstone to see if and black terns were in town - none to be seen but COMMON TERN and SWALLOW & HOUSE MARTIN a plenty 

Swallow at the ressie

Common Terns 

Looking for the LSW

A trip out to Cassiobury park at lunchtime - very cold - I saw a NUTHATCH and a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, but no LSW in sight

GSW - female due to black back of neck