Mixenden Reservoir

A nice surprise was a Chiffchaff which appeared four times in the hedge near the top gate this morning along with a Robin, 2 Chaffinch and a Blue Tit. No chance of a photo with it skipping about after the few insects on the leeward side of the hedge. Checked for the other sub sp. possibilities but I couldn't be sure of anything different from collybita though photographs might help if it stays around. Hardly any green on the bird, mostly brownish above, black legs, very pale buff supercilium and buff face , chest  and belly looking slightly paler towards the vent.
2 Goldeneye present - 1 female type and the other a juvenile drake
11 Mallard
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Stock Dove
100+ Woodpigeons
1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 adult Herring Gulls and a good mix of Black-headed and Common Gulls

Also reported on BirdGuides on 3rd December - a Waxwing near St Peters Church, Sowerby. Could be worth a check if anyone's nearby !

Byron Edge

Stonechat - 30x optical zoom - taken ('point and shoot') with Lumix TZ80 pocket camera

Shibden Park

Goosander. 

First winter: white line through lores from eye to bill.

Cold Edge Dams

1st winter goldeneye (brown iris, fairly tame).
I think it is a male because of the amount of white on the breast. There's some sort of mark on the bill, -

nearer to the face than the yellow band on an adult female's bill - ? mud.

Snow bunting

Thanks to Dave F for the text saying he'd re-located the elusive Snow bunting up at Whiteholme on Saturday.

It was still showing well when I got there, a great bird to see despite the thick fog, a lifer for me.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting showing well in the fog at Whiteholme this afternoon.PD,DF

Elland Gravel Pits

Cormorant 16 on pylon
Little grebe 2

Mixenden Reservoir

3 Goldeneye again this morning (2 drakes)
2 adult L B-b Gulls in with B H gulls and Common Gulls
5 Herring Gulls (4 ad and 1 first winter)
3  Mistle Thrush

Also from Booth Wood Reservoir
3 Whooper Swans there this morning (PD, LD)

Snow Bunting

One Snow Bunting still at Whieholme Drain this morning.

Mixenden Reservoir

Mid-morning visit in the hope of - well whatever, after the easterlies.
1 pair Goldeneye
2 Cormorant
c200 gulls on the embankment including 1 immature Great Black-back standing head and shoulders above the rest, 2 adult Lesser Black-backs including a very dark backed individual probably intermedius, 3 adult Herring Gulls, around 40 Common Gulls and the rest were Black-headed Gulls some showing the head darkening.
That was about it, with mist on the tops and constant drizzle throughout !

Halifax Town Centre areas

Well worth a check at the moment where there are berrying trees and shrubs especially around supermarkets.

I checked the lower end of Gibbet Street and Pellon Lane this morning. A lot of birds in the area, mainly around 'The Range' car park, 'Halifax Police Station' and 'Salem Methodist Church'. Plenty Redwings, Blackbirds and Mistle Thrushes ansd Starlings as well as Jackdaws and a mass of Goldfinch. All were temporarily 'spooked' by a female Sparrowhawk. No Waxwings found as yet but there is a possibility one or two could be around somewhere !!?