Friday, December 29, 2017

FREE BEER

Always the best headline for getting people's attention. But it's also true.....

12 months ago at the start of 2017, we didn't know we'd add great white egret and confirmed baird's sandpiper to the Calderdale list (did I miss any?). As we approach 2018, who fancies guessing what the next new addition will be?

If it's a bird we've never had before (even historically) the person who guesses correctly will get a 9 pint mini keg of beer from Slightly Foxed.

So who fancies an inland red-breasted flycatcher? A very lost dartford warbler (they have made Castleford this year) or a red rumped swallow? Rose coloured starling? Pom' skua? All still up for grabs, or anything else you think we're well overdue.

 I'll start things rolling with a left field shout of white tailed eagle.


38 comments:

Brian Sumner . said...

Not forgetting the Fly Flatts Caspian gull in October.

Matt Bell said...

I knew I'd miss at least one!

Brian Sumner . said...

Put me down for Spoonbill Matt unless I,ve missed any records. I,ve checked through NCDs Birds of Halifax. Thats a must for Cromwell Bottom unless I see one over Fly Flatts on its way there.

Matt Bell said...

I think I remember spoonbill has been seen a couple of times since the NCD bible was produced. Someone?

AndyC said...

Red footed falcon was also seen for the first time last year. Spoonbill was seen over Warland a few years ago..Put me down for Cattle Egret. (cetties Warbler and Bearded Tit car'nt be far away). happy new year.

Dave Franz said...

I'll have a bash at Pectoral Sandpiper.

heavy birder said...

Pallid Harrier for me.

AndyC said...

Yes , good call Nick

Vicki J said...

Great grey shrike for me. No idea if one has already been seen but I would love to see one

heavy birder said...

We have already had 16 Great Greys the last one at Scammonden in 2015, but always nice to see.

Brian Sumner . said...

Thanks for the update on the Spoonbill Andy although it would be nice to get one down on the deck.
A dog walker at Mixenden res tonight asked me how often we get Golden Eagle over the area. That fellow deserves a keg of beer.

Muxy said...

I think that fella has already had a keg! I'll go for purple heron if that's not on the list. I know we don't have great habitat but you've got to be in it to win it and I fancy that beer 🍻!

Brian Sumner . said...

You could be right there Muxy.
With Spoonbill out of the contest I,ll go for Isabelline Wheatear though this will need a good photo to identify one. With big numbers of Wheatear coming through Fly Flatts it could happen and we,ve already had Desert Wheatear.
I,ll still predict a Spoonbill on the deck in 2018.

Vicki J said...

Risking my bid getting kicked out again I'm going for Corn Bunting!

Brian Sumner . said...

Plenty records of Corn Bunting I,m afraid Vicki, NCDs Birds of Halifax.
Interestingly there were 9 at Ogden in 1954 which I would have gone for but I was only 3 at the time.

Vicki J said...

OK im pretty new to this so third time lucky red necked phalarope on fly flatts.

Brian Sumner . said...

How did you know what I dream about Vicki.
Never been one on Fly Flatts unfortunately but they have been recorded in the area along with
Wilsons and Grey.
This could go on all night.

One thing for sure Matt, you,ve woken the blog up.

Unknown said...

ill go for bee-eater.

Vicki J said...

Haha nice one. This is my new favourite game but I'm quitting now as I'm rubbish at it and you have clearly all seen loads more than I have. But fingers crossed for any of the above next year.

Matt Bell said...

Vicki - don’t quit yet!!! Some of these records are decades and decades old. How about you pick one of these as yours:
Barred warbler. Night heron. American golden plover. Red rumped swallow.

heavy birder said...

A full list of everything that as been seen is in the back of all the recent Halifax Bird Reports.

Phil D said...

That's a great list, being fairly new to birding I couldn't have played along without it, cheers Dave

There's a few on the list I was surprised to see, Puffin and Guillemot being two!

After looking down the list I was going to say Bearded Tit but noticed Andy's already called that above, so I'll say Purple Heron.

Happy New Year, all the best for 2018

Phil D said...

Just noticed Muxy has called Purple heron........back to the drawing board! :)

Unknown said...

Happy New Year everybody!
Thanks for the list - some unexpected sightings on there.
Gary is plumping for a Glossy Ibis, and I'm going to try my luck with a Penduline Tit.
(& Chester the cat is going for a Savi's Warbler - though I think we may have to drink the keg for him ;-) )
Angela & Gary

Dave Brotherton said...

I'll go for Bluethroat, wishful thinking.

AndyC said...

Phil , Bearded tit is a good choice as is Cettis warbler as I have gone for Cattle Egret... ( Western Cattle Egret)

AndyC said...

Just to recap....
Nick D..Pallid Harrier
Andy C...Cattle Egret
D Franz ...Pec Sand
B .Sumner...Is Wheatear
Muxy.....Purple Heron
Matt....WT Eagle
gary ... Glossy ibis
Angela.....Penduline Tit (I hope you win , I will buy you another if you do)

Phil D said...

Cheers Andy, I see now, re-read instead of skimming over it like I did this morning.

Bearded tit for me then, at least it will be a bird I can ID if I see one! :)

David Sutcliffe said...

From Alan T - Dartford Warbler.
Seeing as Cattle Egret has already gone - what the heck ! - Black Kite for me...

David Sutcliffe said...

Brent Goose is also overdue.

AndyC said...

Phil D ....Bearded Tit
Alan T ...Dartford Warbler
Dave Sut ...Black Kite( Brent Goose is a good one)

David Sutcliffe said...

Parrot Crossbill from David Crawshaw (and then Pec Sand - can't believe there hasn't been one) !

Dave Brotherton said...

Doesn't Bluethroat count then ,one was in Lincolnshire this year so getting closer

AndyC said...

Bluethroat has been seen before in 1984....

Dave Brotherton said...

Cheers Andy, how about Cettis Warbler or Night Heron

AndyC said...

both good ..

ChrisJB said...

Can't see Arctic redpoll on the Halifax list, so I'll go with that.

Matthew Broadbent said...

Was told today by Nick that this is still ongoing, so I'll go with Brent Goose if that still hasn't been seen?