Green Withens - a gem !

A really good find this afternoon (MSt) at this quite remote location. Well done for getting a photo as well as correct identification,

Water Pipit

(click on the photo to enlarge)

The bird was first seen in the conduit behind the small Yorkshire Water building at the far side of Green Withens reservoir. It then flew into the nearest – and only – tree nearby !

Cold Edge

Fieldfares
Mistle Thrush singing

Calder Valley

Pink-footed Geese - another single flock reported today with c70  >W over Greetland at 14:30 (RR) and presumably the same flock over Mytholmroyd around 14:40 (NR).

Also reported this afternoon was a good flock of c70 Siskin in and around the conifer plantation at Walshaw Dean. (NCD DF).

This afternoon a Snow Bunting was reported along the track between Blackstone Edge Reservoir and Whiteholme (info via AH).

First Curlew flyovers reported today as well, with 2 over Bridestones (BL) and another 2 over Fly Flatts (BS).

Lee Mount

47 Pink-footed Geese >WSW this morning at 11:35 looked to be making good speed despite the blustery westerly. Making plenty of noise. A great sound to hear.

Fly Flatts and Withens Head etc

Fly Flatts - not a lot doing there in the wind, cold and wet.
1 Greylag Goose came over the moor but flew straight through towards Cold Edge
Apart from that just singles of Raven, Carrion Crow, Kestrel and Woodpigeon.

Withens Head
60 Starlings, 15+ Fieldfare and 2 Red Grouse

Shroggs Park
Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and a Nuthatch all in brief song first thing.

Lee Mount....

A very good birding day today to say most of it was spent at home in blustery and inclement weather.
A Raven and a Peregrine over this morning at different times.
A male Blackcap in the garden shrubbery

Then a Early Warning Call from AC - Pink-footed Geese heading my way. Right on queue thanks Andy, they came high over the house 114 of them (count from photographs) around 12:30. Maybe the same skein seen by JM over Erringden Moor heading >W shortly afterwards. Erringden is just about due west from Lee Mount so it's a possibility.

Then later in the afternoon, more 'pinks' high up >W making a lot of noise with c160 at 15:35.

Also from SB today - another skein of c150 >W over Barkisland around 11:45.

Early birds...!!

Was awakened this morning, it was raining heavy at the time, at 05:25 by Pink-footed Geese. They must have been low down and right over the house and very noisy and sounded to be heading >W.
All the same a welcome 'year tick' after I missed all of the big move over Calderdale on Friday afternoon.

Had the daily Grey Heron on Booth Dean Clough, where the house is on, we are at the Turner Wood part.
.

Mixenden Reservoir and Soil Hill

Mixenden
4 Goldeneye (1 adult drake)
2 Goosander
1 Cormorant
1 Canada Goose
2 adult L B-b Gulls
1 Herring Gull among around 100 Black-headed and Common Gulls

Soil Hill
Heck it was cold up there !
1 Common Snipe flushed on the summit
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Jay in the spruce plantation on the south slope near the road along with 6+ Fieldfare

Also a rarity for me at home this morning!! - a Kestrel - so scarce at this location nowadays.