Soil Hill

Been trying hard all year for Black Redstart but this mornings visit to Soil Hill paid off with two. Both first spotted at a distance catching insects on the walls along Ned Hill Road. Very mobile throughout though BS and NK turned up there at the right time ! BS got a few decent shots off with one on a roof to confirm identification. 

Both birds were very mobile ending up on walls near the turbines, then on the muddy summit and I left them around the mast around 11:45. I tried hard for some decent shots with the small camera and a 'dud' screen ! These are the best I could do of the juv? male. the other female type was more elusive though  more photos to check later.

Nothing else up there - but no matter as these were good enough. 

As far as I can recall only one (?) previous record in Calderdale this year at the end of July, from AC at Blackstone Edge/ Turvin Road.

Whiteholme res'r etc...

Pair of Pintail reported this morning from Whiteholme - dropped in mid-morning (MH)

Also earlier today a Little Egret flew up Colden Clough (SiB)

Cromwell Bottom etc

Checked the ski-lake as best we could this afternoon despite the limited viewing. A drake Goldeneye was a nice surprise towards the east end of the ski-lake. Also 3 drake Tufted Duck, 2 adult Herring Gulls, 20+ Black-headed Gulls,7 Common Gulls, 16+ Cormorants, Grey Heron, a Moorhen as well as usual Mallard. Failed to locate yesterdays Great-crested Grebe or Wigeon.

A Kingfisher was showing well catching fish and flying to and fro along the canal. Also a few Siskin high up in the Alders

Elsewhere JJL reported the Whooper Swan still present at Mixenden res'r this morning. Also 7 Whoopers arrived at Whiteholme mid morning consisting of the pair with 5 juveniles (MH). 2 more Whoopers present at Ringstone (LD, PD).

Mixenden res'r etc and Ogden

A small group of Whooper Swans were reported yesterday morning flying over Cold Edge (AR) around 10:30. Later in the day what appear as the same Whooper Swans had arrived at Mixenden res'r and photographed by NK. I called up at Mixenden this morning on the off chance they might have stayed overnight. Still there, 2 adults and 3 juveniles. Probably fresh in from their breeding grounds in Iceland. I felt encouraged that juveniles had survived the journey and made it safely to the UK.

Little else at Mixenden other than a few Black-headed Gulls and 2 Common Gulls.

I also checked Fly Flats - fantastic views in good light from the top road but very few birds - singles of Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Red Grouse and a passing immature Common Gull.

Ogden this afternoon - managed to locate 1 Brambling in flight in a small Chaffinch flock though a larger Chaffinch flock, maybe 40+ birds got flushed by a male Sparrowhawk with the Chaffs disappearing over the trees so no chance to check for Bramblings. Plenty Mallard, a few Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 female Wigeon, 1 female Goosander and 3 Canada Geese. All seemed to be feeding in the weedy shoreline.

Whiteholme

Whooper Swan 10. Flew off ESE

8 of 15 Golden Plover

Shibden Valley

Grey Wagtail

Whiteholme

Redshank 2

10 of 25 Golden Plover

Walshaw Dean

 A pleasant afternoon, overcast with no breeze, and the sunshine was limited to about half-a-minute.

A flock of 20+ Long-tailed Tits moved apace through the conifer plantation. Also a couple of Blackbirds in there as well as a Robin. 

Our main aim was to check out the spot,photo below, where the recent Siberian Stonechat had been seen, Plenty of Stonechats about along with a few Reed Buntings in one area of rock, stone walls and grass/heather on the east side of the lower reservoir. At one point 8 Stonechats were on a fence line with others in and out of the vegetation, all obviously feeding well. Difficult to get an accurate count though 15+ (maybe nearing 20 !). No sign of the Siberian bird. Could it still be nearby ?

Little else other than at least 3 Kestrels and 2 Buzzards en-route and a flock of around 40 Redwings passed >W. Also from Steve B were 15 noisy Fieldfares in the Sycamore trees.

Whiteholme

Raven 1. Flew off south

Also: 2 Ravens north at Blackstone Edge

Whiteholme Sunday morning

 A great morning to be out with fog in the valley's and swirling fog on the tops.

Pink-footed geese 525 all WSW in 6 skeins

Jackdaw 217 in one large noisy flock WSW

Whooper Swans 5 WSW

Also about Hen Harrier , Merlin, Buzzard , Kes , Mipits 86, Reed Bunting 16 , Widgeon 4 , Teal 1 and 1 Golden Plover on the shoreline

,

Siberian Stonechat (Maurus) Lower Walshaw Dean

 

Ryburn

 Mandarin 2 females (grey bills)

Whiteholme and Soil Hill

Whiteholme today from MH - in a strong blustery wind but good visibility.   A cracking start with 17 Stonechats along the long drain,. 2 Reed Buntings, female Merlin, 16 Golden Plover  and 41 Pink-footed Geese >W

Soil Hill for me - just on the summit. No sign of any moving birds in the drifting mist and light drizzle. Similar count from my previous visit with 9 Skylarks, c 30 Meadow Pipits, 1 Stonechat , 2 Grey Partridge and plenty Pheasants.

Beacon Hill

1 of a flock of 15 Mistle Thrush

Also: parties of 12 Greenfinch and 9 Goldfinch, and 1 female Chaffinch

North Halifax

 A struggle to find much today on Hunter Hill and Carr's Beck and nothing at all on Mixenden res'r other than a few 'loafing' Black-headed Gulls.

2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 1 Raven (heard) along with the usual corvids in abundance. c160 Woodpigeons flushed from the beech trees as the farmer was rounding up his flock of sheep.

Whiteholme Res'r

 Today's news from MH. Well done braving it out in the strong blustery wind ! 

41 Golden Plover, 47 Pink-footed Geese >W, 11 Meadow Pipits, 1 Raven, 1 Red Grouse and Whooper Swans heard but unseen in the mist.

Cold Edge

Tufted Duck male

Soil Hill - 1st October

It was grim up there early afternoon - compared with the lower ground. I made a mistake of wearing boots and not wellies. What a muddy mess - but did I enjoy it...YES !

It was very similar to the top as it was many years ago, it turned up some very good birds then. The site still does !!

After being scraped off this year in late summer it leaves bare earth more or less all over the top.

Despite the look of desolation I came across a few interesting birds that I hadn't expected in the conditions.

1 Stonechat, 9 Skylarks, 40+ maybe up to 50 Meadow Pipits consistently wary of the 2 Kestrels showing interest.

Also a Snipe flushed and 2 Buzzards drifted south.

Cold Edge

1 of 6 Teal

Reed Bunting, Stonechat, and Meadow Pipits

Stonechat and Magpie