Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Goosander chicks in Calderdale




Took this photo this morning at 0715 on the River Calder at Elland GP a beautiful sight with 5 young. Also on the river 4 Little Grebe, 3 Kingfishers, 2 Tufted Duck, 7 Grey Herons, 16 Canada Geese and 10 goslings and 2 Goosanders by the recycling tip. Reed Lagoon 1 Reed Warbler singing, 1 Reed Bunting and 2 Little Grebe. Ski Lake. c 60 Swifts, 16 Swallows, 6 House Martins, 2 Sand Martins. Fishing Lake. 2 Mute Swans, 1 Great Crested Grebe and a Coot with 9 young never seen a brood this big. Flying over 1 Fem Sparrowhawk, 1 Male Kestrel and 1 Gt Black Backed Gull and must have seen close to 80/90 Long Tailed Tits a good morning by my standards.

7 comments:

Nick Carter said...

A good morning in Calderdale by anyone's standards Mike, well done!

Mike Stead said...

A fantastic find,Mike: I've never seen Goosanders breeding on the Calder before - let's hope it's the start of a bigger Goosander colony.

Jeff Cox said...

A cracking morning Mike. I was walking past the same River Calder (but a few miles further upstream) and didn't see a quarter of the birds you did. Will have to go for a bacon butty one morning and see what's around.

AndyC said...

Brilliant record and about time.last night there were about 300+ Swifts above the lake.

Nick Carter said...

We need to check with Nick D or Andy C but this might well be the first recorded breeding in Calderdale.

AndyC said...

Definatly a first.

Mike Henshaw said...

Firsts at my age do not come easy so very pleased at this,as you know I walk on there every morning so I will try to keep track of them.