Whiteholme

 There is one Dunlin here, but what about the other two? It looks as if one bird has a white rump.

Whiteholme

 Any thoughts on this pipit? The bill and posture do not seem right for Meadow.

Blackstone Edge

 Male Reed Bunting

2 Common Sandpipers. Also 4 at Whiteholme, and 1 in Byron Edge drain

Whiteholme

 Little Ringed Plover

Greylag Goose pair with 3 young

Blackstone Edge

 Can anyone see enough on these photos to identify these 2 waders? They were taken at the limit of my 30x zoom pocket camera. Sanderling?

Great White Egret, Ringstone Res

Thanks Dave, photo of it leaving yesterday evening

Ringstone Res'r

Mid afternoon PD located a  Great White Egret along the shoreline. Several of us got up there to see it and for some of us a first for Calderdale. Thanks Phil.

Latest news was the bird left heading in a westerly direction around 19:45.

Ogden

Several local birders have spent  time in recent weeks looking for summer migrants. I spent some time, as did NK, this morning doing the same thing mainly checking the woods and heath-land areas in search of migrants  which used to frequent this site on occasions. These included Tree Pipit, Redstart, Pied and Spotted  Flycatchers - but no show this summer, so far ! Sadly, not a sign this morning of a Swallow or a Swift.......

On a positive note, a Cuckoo was in good voice most of late morning, singing from somewhere on the edge of Ovenden Moor. Willow Warblers and Chaffinch were well in evidence as well as couple of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. A Dipper was in the Hebble Brook and a Grey Heron on the res'r.

Ringstone Edge

 Moulting Buzzard

Ringstone Edge

 2 Coots present

Ringstone Edge

 1 Little Grebe

Also, singing warblers: Blackcap 1, Whitethroat 2, Willow Warbler 5

Bradshaw

Absolutely bonkers scenes this morning!

Due to the thick fog, I postponed my morning visit to Soil Hill until visibility improved. However, I kept an eye on things from my window. As the fog began to lift at around 09:20, a casual scan with the scope picked out a large white bird on the newly constructed pond just south of Bradshaw village. Although it had its back to me, it helpfully turned revealing its great big snout, clear even through the poor visibility.

Spoonbill! 

After putting the news out I kept an eye on the bird until AC arrived, after which it stayed probably another 10 minutes after before it took off. It never looked settled, with the bird preening constantly, and as the fog continued to lift, it clearly reached a point the bird felt was sufficient for it to continue on its way. Although it initially looked like it might head off towards Ogden, it looped around, and headed off northeast towards Bradford, directly over our heads, providing the best views of Spoonbill I have ever had! 

An absolutely bonkers record! It is a shame that it did not linger for other observers, or for the fog to clear enough for it to be visible from my Soil Hill area. 

-Spoonbill

Ringstone Edge

 2 Oystercatchers

1 Common Sandpiper. I had forgotten how far the tail projects beyond the wingtips

Soil Hill

 The bright conditions produced an excellent morning birding on Soil Hill today. There was a short period between 06:35 - 06:55 when a bank of fog rolled through, but otherwise clear and still conditions all morning.

• At 07:18 a Yellow Wagtail flew south over the North Slope. Initially I only heard the bird and I thought it would get away, but eventually spotted it just before it passed out of sight. It may have been feeding on the bottom Cattle Fields before, but I did not spot it there.

• Two Grasshopper Warblers reeling this morning, including one individual that showed extremely well!

• All other migrants had an increase in numbers from yesterday; nine Wheatear, eight Willow Warbler & eight Whitethroat.

In total managed 42 species this morning, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S135897480

-Yellow Wagtail

-Grasshopper Warbler

Soil Hill

Despite the dull conditions today, was a lively and enjoyable morning on the Hill, with a few notable highlights.

• At 07:45 a Common Tern laboured west over Keelham, attracting significant attention from the local crows, which harrased the bird frequently. It eventually dropped down below the houses on Cragg Lane, near Denholme Velvets, and not reappear, so probably came to its end there, but the crows did not persue to finish it off. Although it is difficult to judge the injures inflicted by the crows from the distance observed, its slow and struggling flight could mean it had been already stricken by bird flu, although I have no actual evidence to back up this theory.

• On a happier note, a splendid male Whinchat was my first of the year.

• Across the site, there were six Wheatear today, down from 14 yesterday. 

• Other migrant totals; one Grasshopper Warbler (Two on the 30th April), six Willow Warbler and five Whitethroat.

In total managed 41 species this morning, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S135774758

-Whinchat

-Common Tern