Cold Edge

Whitethroat female

Linnet: breeding male (was with a female)

Blackstone Edge Reservoir & Whiteholme Reservoir

   The Sanderlings that had been present had moved on by yesterday morning, but there continues to be some excellent wader action on the exposed shoreline, especially at Blackstone Edge. Yesterday there were seven Ringed Plover, but this had increased to 13 this morning. Dunlin numbers remained steadier, with six on both mornings. Yesterday also had an Oystercatcher, which had moved on by this morning. 

  Whiteholme, by contrast, has struggled for waders, although it is not a surprise given the more limited shoreline. A single Dunlin and a single Ringed Plover have been present on both days, otherwise just the usual species present.

-Dunlin

-Ringed Plover

In total managed 8 species at Blackstone Edge Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S243352855

In total managed 16 species at Whiteholme Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S243351537

Shibden Park

Mistle Thrush: 1 of 2 juveniles in a feeding party of 4. Pale head; white spots on upperparts

Blackstone Edge Reservoir & Whiteholme Reservoir

  A very windy and often rainy morning checking out Blackstone Edge and Whiteholme Reservoirs this morning. 

  Fortunately, most of the birds at Blackstone Edge were on the mud adjacent to Turvin Road, so it was easy to check and see most of yesterdays waders still present. Two Sanderling were still showing well, along with seven Dunlin and seven Ringed Plover. It was quite a lively scene, and always good to see waders like this at an inland site.

  Whiteholme was more challenging due to the high wind. A Sanderling was sitting on the centre island, and a Dunlin was in the northernmost corner. I could easily have overlooked other birds, it was impossible to check fully since I could not hold the scope steady...

-Sanderling, Dunlin & Ringed Plover

In total managed 9 species at Blackstone Edge Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S242297018

In total managed 9 species at Whiteholme Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S242294475

Sanderlings at Blackstone Edge...

 

Busy with waders yesterday evening Dunlin x 8 , Ringed Plover x 6 , LRP x 1 , Curlew x 1 and 3 Common Sandpipers

Blackstone Edge Reservoir & Whiteholme Reservoir

 I was hopeful that the change in the weather conditions might bring in some migrant waders. The previous day I had visited both Blackstone Edge and Whiteholme reservoirs, and while there were a few Dunlin and Ringed Plover, there was nothing different. But with overnight rain I was optimistic that there might have been something different drop in.

  Blackstone Edge was my first port of call and from the road I could already see that the reservoir looked quite lively with wading birds. A scan produced 6 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Curlew and the best of the bunch, two Sanderling. 

-Sanderlings

  Buoyed by this, I continued on to Whiteholme Reservoir which was conspicuously quieter. There were no Dunlin at all here, probably due to the more limited shoreline. Most birds are probably preferring the other reservoirs. Still, upon reaching the northernmost corner of the reservoir I was please to find another three Sanderlings feeding on the mud. These were quite confiding at times.

  On my departure from Whiteholme the two Blackstone Edge Sanderlings were still present, leading me to confidently state that there was no overlap between the birds on the two reservoirs. 

-Sanderlings

I also managed a patch tick at Whiteholme with this rather lost Grey Squirrel. I can't imagine what must have gone wrong in the animals brain to make it think that coming this far onto the moors was a good idea!

-Grey Squirrel

In total managed 12 species at Blackstone Edge Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S241834687

In total managed 12 species at Whiteholme Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S241834467

Shibden Park

Little Grebe adult

Coot: adult with 5 young

1 of another brood of 5 young Coots

Canada Goose adult with 8 young

Cold Edge

Lapwing chick

Oystercatchers

Whimbrel

(The Whimbrel's upperwing seems to have more contrast than a Curlew's, due to the innerwing being paler. And the bars on this bird's tail look finer than on a typical Curlew.)

Cold Edge

Whimbrel.

These two photos were taken looking west along Leadbeater (lower) dam. The front view shows pale supercilia and central crown stripe, and a dark line between bill and eye. The side view shows a short bill.

The bird flew off (unseen) as I was trying to get closer to it. But then as I walked along the east bank of Haigh Cote (upper) dam, I saw and photographed what I think is the same bird at its north end. This photo shows a short bill, angled towards its tip. And a pale supercilium and crown stripe; and a dark line through the eye. The bird's plumage is colder brown than a Curlew's.
 

Cold Edge

1 of 5 singing Willow Warblers

Roe Deer stag

Ringstone Edge

Moorhen: pair with 6 young

Barkisland

Oystercatcher 2

High Brown Knoll etc

I went up there this morning with Dotterel in mind - no luck there today. I searched the same area where I found 2 in May 2005 - can't believe 20 years ago .....though the vegetation has certainly increased since then making a search quite difficult with very few bare areas.

What a beautiful day to be out in the hills with wall to wall sunshine and a stiff easterly breeze on the top there. Not a lot to report other than 6 Curlew and a distant Golden Plover calling. 1 Buzzard , 2 distant Raven and a few Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. 

3 adult L B b Gulls, 1 Swallow and a House Martin  all heading >N over the moor.

Also got a call from PGr who managed 2 Yellow Wagtails in the cow field off Long Lane at Southowram - they had gone when I got there. Nice record Pete.

Ringstone Edge

Whitethroat singing

Willow Warbler singing

Great Crested Grebe: pair immediately after mating

Tufted Duck pair

Ringstone Edge

Oystercatcher 2

Mallard with 2 young

Soil Hill

  A very pleasant morning, with bright, sunny and quite still conditions. There was plenty of birdsong to enjoy and good numbers of migrants, including 8 Willow Warblers and 12 Whitethroat seen at various locations around the site. The highlight was the return of the Soil Hill Sedge Warbler which was in good voice but not especially showy. Given this species' scarcity in Calderdale, it's always good to see the territory reoccupied each spring.

  At 07:36, an adult female Marsh Harrier flew low over the North Slope, circling directly overhead but sadly also directly into the sun. It eventually flew off, heading SW down the Ogden valley. I record this species here just about annually, so it's always good to see. 

-Marsh Harrier

-Sedge Warbler

In total managed 39 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S234856114

Ogden area

At least one Great-crested Grebe on Ogden this afternoon. 

Woodlands very very quiet other than a singing Blackcap and 1 sighting of a Goldcrest

4 +3 Swifts >NW -straight through

Cold Edge

 2 singing Whitethroats

Stonechat male