Hardcastle Crags - 7th Nov

Oh so quiet in the woodlands, hardly anything of note, it was even difficult to find the expected commoner species. One small flock of 'tits' along with at least 2 Goldcrests was as exciting as it got for birds. Soup etc in Gibson Mill cafe was a treat.

We returned along the top road, hoping for some thrushes but nothing doing at all. Passing Shackleton Knoll, just in one field were c60 Common Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 5 Herring Gulls as well as c20 Black-headed Gulls.

Today (from NK) - 8th Nov turned up 2 Shelduck on Mixenden Reservoir -they got spooked by a motorbike doing circuits around the reservoir embankment. The juv Whooper is still braving it out there.

From Whiteholme today (MH) 1 Wigeon, 31 and c60 Pink-footed Geeese >W plus others heard in the fog. 7 then 24 Golden Plover went through. Also a suspected move of Starlings was difficult to assess given the banks of fog. Unusual up there to see a Song Thrush and a Blackbird. 

10 Whoopers reported from Green Withens (TW) and another 8 at Gorple (SiB and JS)

At Ryburn dam 70 Fieldfare, a Chiffcaff and 18 Pinks went >W at 11:02 PGr

We managed a single Mandarin drake there mid afternoon.

Cold Edge

1cy Common Gull, with Black-headed Gull and 2 of 20 2+cy Common Gulls

6th November

 A different Grey Plover from yesterday turned up today at Whiteholme. Always a special find - from AC and MH.

A drake Gadwall reported from Withens Clough, another good find in Calderdale (DJP)

Ogden Water produced 3 Mandarin Ducks, maybe arrived overnight and held there till the mist cleared this morning. Drake and 2 females (BS). I called there later in the morning but looked like they had gone. I also checked Soil Hill, as did NK who managed one more species than I did, a Kestrel. The fog came down as soon as I got up there and didn't clear ! 

Juvenile Whooper still on Mixenden Res'r.

News for 5th November

Grey Plover this morning at Whiteholme  but it left late morning. Also a decent move of Pink-footed Geese and Starlings and 3 flyover Great Black-backed Gulls and a 1st winter Caspian Gull. (AC and MH) Also later, a small flock of c20 Golden Plover this afternoon (JJL).

Cromwell Bottom - 3 Goldeneye earlier today (M Sh)

I tried Soil Hill late morning but generally drew a blank all round ! No sign of the Black Redstarts but who knows, they could still be in the vicinity.

Cold Edge

1cy Continental Cormorant, P c sinensis. Rear edge of yellow gular patch drops vertically from the gape

Mixenden and Ogden reservoirs

Mixenden - Whooper Swan - juvenile still present this afternoon and a single Cormorant.

Ogden - At least 16 Teal present late morning, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Wigeon alongside the numerous Mallard. Also a Dipper down in the sluice.

Ryburn

4 Mandarin

Soil Hill

Been trying hard all year for Black Redstart but this mornings visit to Soil Hill paid off with two. Both first spotted at a distance catching insects on the walls along Ned Hill Road. Very mobile throughout though BS and NK turned up there at the right time ! BS got a few decent shots off with one on a roof to confirm identification. 

Both birds were very mobile ending up on walls near the turbines, then on the muddy summit and I left them around the mast around 11:45. I tried hard for some decent shots with the small camera and a 'dud' screen ! These are the best I could do of the juv? male. the other female type was more elusive though  more photos to check later.

Nothing else up there - but no matter as these were good enough. 

As far as I can recall only one (?) previous record in Calderdale this year at the end of July, from AC at Blackstone Edge/ Turvin Road.

Whiteholme res'r etc...

Pair of Pintail reported this morning from Whiteholme - dropped in mid-morning (MH)

Also earlier today a Little Egret flew up Colden Clough (SiB)

Cromwell Bottom etc

Checked the ski-lake as best we could this afternoon despite the limited viewing. A drake Goldeneye was a nice surprise towards the east end of the ski-lake. Also 3 drake Tufted Duck, 2 adult Herring Gulls, 20+ Black-headed Gulls,7 Common Gulls, 16+ Cormorants, Grey Heron, a Moorhen as well as usual Mallard. Failed to locate yesterdays Great-crested Grebe or Wigeon.

A Kingfisher was showing well catching fish and flying to and fro along the canal. Also a few Siskin high up in the Alders

Elsewhere JJL reported the Whooper Swan still present at Mixenden res'r this morning. Also 7 Whoopers arrived at Whiteholme mid morning consisting of the pair with 5 juveniles (MH). 2 more Whoopers present at Ringstone (LD, PD).

Mixenden res'r etc and Ogden

A small group of Whooper Swans were reported yesterday morning flying over Cold Edge (AR) around 10:30. Later in the day what appear as the same Whooper Swans had arrived at Mixenden res'r and photographed by NK. I called up at Mixenden this morning on the off chance they might have stayed overnight. Still there, 2 adults and 3 juveniles. Probably fresh in from their breeding grounds in Iceland. I felt encouraged that juveniles had survived the journey and made it safely to the UK.

Little else at Mixenden other than a few Black-headed Gulls and 2 Common Gulls.

I also checked Fly Flats - fantastic views in good light from the top road but very few birds - singles of Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Red Grouse and a passing immature Common Gull.

Ogden this afternoon - managed to locate 1 Brambling in flight in a small Chaffinch flock though a larger Chaffinch flock, maybe 40+ birds got flushed by a male Sparrowhawk with the Chaffs disappearing over the trees so no chance to check for Bramblings. Plenty Mallard, a few Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 female Wigeon, 1 female Goosander and 3 Canada Geese. All seemed to be feeding in the weedy shoreline.

Whiteholme

Whooper Swan 10. Flew off ESE

8 of 15 Golden Plover