Todays news - 23rd August

Common Redstart on the fence line along Back Lane, Ogden this afternoon. Also Swallows in abundance around Ogden's Giants Tooth/ Ovenden Moor with juveniles crowding the fence lines and feeding frency with Black-headed Gulls above them on the emerging insects.

Little Grebe at Lower Gorple (JS)

2 Yellow Wagtails briefly at Ringstone (PD LD)

Latest news - Whiteholme Res'r

From yesterday BL and MH. 

Persistence pays off !

1 Wood Sandpiper, 30 Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin and a juv Greenshank

Todays update from Whiteholme - 23rd August

32 Ringed Plover, 11 Dunlin and 5 Greenshank (MH)

Withens Clough

We did a reservoir circuit this afternoon. A little breezy, cooler than of late and very pleasant to be out and about. Always checking last years Black Redstart spots, but no luck on that score and no Stonechats today.

Swallows still busy around the barn and Goldfinches nearby on the thistles with a Wheatear working the stone walls.

Masses of shoreline, never seen it so low, not a sign of any waders that we were hoping for. 

1 Tufted Duck, c15 Mallard, c130 Canada Geese and a real surprise in the small silt trap pond at the top of the res'r was an adult Little Grebe. 4 Black-headed Gulls and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull on the shore and 2 Kestrels working the ridge.

Just one butterfly, a Wall Brown was a surprise on a dandelion flower.

Carr's Beck and Hunter Hill

This morning there were 2 Common Redstarts showing, very briefly, in the hedge. Adult male and the other looked like a juvenile male. I waited a good while but they did not re-appear though there is lots of suitable habitat on the edge of the golf course.

Along Hunter Hill there were c100 hirundines in the shelter of the valley. Mostly Swallows with lots of juveniles on the fence lines. Also maybe 20 or so House Martins. Difficult, well impossible, to get an accurate count.

Also a single Curlew arrived and landed briefly on the hill then headed off high >E calling.

Todmorden area - 20th August

Welcome information and sightings from MC yesterday

A Whinchat with Stonechats near Lower Hawk Stones Farm and a Yellow Wagtail in field just above Greenhurst  Hay Farm. Both places in a circular Bridestones walk. 

Scarce records for Mick this year and for Calderdale and very much appreciated for the records. Habitats up there looking promising for a number of scarce Calderdale species.

Thanks Mick - greatly appreciated the records came to us thanks to BS.

Beacon Hill

Whitethroat 1.  Also:--

Fly Flats

Just got there in  time to view BS's Turnstone which appears to have arrived in the mist up there this morning along with Ringed Plover and a Redshank. Managed to scope the bird from the top road. It was associating with a single Ringed Plover far out on the mud - then I lost it just as AC arrived. Tried hard to re-find it but there are masses of shoreline and had to give it up after another hours search. 

In the meantime another wader turned up - so distant that AC legged it down to the north track and managed to get a photo clear enough to confirm a Golden Plover - a scarce bird up here nowadays.

Turnstone only my third record for Calderdale in the last 10 years, all singles at Fly Flats  7/5/15 and 12/8/19.

This afternoon at Ogden the best bird was a Kingfisher down in the sluice looking for fish in the pond.

Ogden Water and golf course.

Found very little this morning around the res'r  -  went to check for waders given the very low water levels and exposed shoreline. No waders but the gathering of gulls continues with c100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 8 adult Herring Gulls, 4 adult Common Gulls and 20+ Black-headed Gulls. Woodland very quiet. 

A Spotted Flycatcher was good to see in one of the golf course gully's catching fly's from the tops of rowans. Another Spotted Flycatcher was in Carrs Beck along with a striking male Common Redstart. A family group of 5 Whitethroat were enjoying the feast in blackberry bushes. Willow Warblers and Blackcap were flitting about in the hawthorn bushes with a few Linnets and Goldfinch nearby. Plenty Swallows about but no sign of any Swifts today.

A drake Common Scoter was at Fly Flats - thanks to BS.

Scammonden area

 

A few hours this morning with JB  produced , 2 Spot Fly , 1 Redstart , 9 Stonechat , Blackcap 7 , Whitethroat 9 , Willow Warbler 11 , Chiffchaff 17 + , Whimbrel calling heading s/w , + Green + GS Woodpecker , Nuthatch , Bullfinch 5 , Sprwk etc..

Blackstone Edge

Ringed Plover 1 juvenile. Head and breast markings brown

Dunlin 1 juvenile. The plain head is striking

Ringed Plover 6 adults

Wheatear 1

Kestrel female

Withens Head - 7th August.

 Just a check for Black Redstart but drew a blank there at this occasional, yet traditional migrant stop !

2 each of Wheatear, Stonechats, Kestrels, Swallows and Pied Wagtails late afternoon.

Shibden Valley

50 House Martins, (plus 5 Swallows - 3 ad, 2 juv). The outstretched wing in the close-up is brown, ageing the bird as juvenile.

Blackstone Edge

Little Egret 2. Flew west at 1045

Shibden Park

2 adult Little Grebes

Ogden Water - 5th Aug.

  This afternoon - not a lot that I wouldn't expect.

1 Great Crested Grebe - looked from a distance like an adult in winter plumage

c110 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 85% adults with lots to and fro to bathe, rest and preen.

3 adult Herring Gulls, 2 adult Common Gulls and around 30+ Black-headed Gulls.

2 Cormorants, pair Bullfinch, 3 Willow Warblers and 1 Sparrowhawk hunting low along the perimeter footpaths.

Beacon Hill

Little Owl: 2 juveniles