Saturday, November 08, 2025

Hardcastle Crags - 7th Nov

Oh so quiet in the woodlands, hardly anything of note, it was even difficult to find the expected commoner species. One small flock of 'tits' along with at least 2 Goldcrests was as exciting as it got for birds. Soup etc in Gibson Mill cafe was a treat.
We returned along the top road, hoping for some thrushes but nothing doing at all. Passing Shackleton Knoll, just in one field were c60 Common Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 5 Herring Gulls as well as c20 Black-headed Gulls.

Today (from NK) - 8th Nov turned up 2 Shelduck on Mixenden Reservoir -they got spooked by a motorbike doing circuits around the reservoir embankment. The juv Whooper is still braving it out there.

From Whiteholme today (MH) 1 Wigeon, 31 and c60 Pink-footed Geeese >W plus others heard in the fog. 7 then 24 Golden Plover went through. Also a suspected move of Starlings was difficult to assess given the banks of fog. Unusual up there to see a Song Thrush and a Blackbird. 

10 Whoopers reported from Green Withens (TW) and another 8 at Gorple (SiB and JS)
At Ryburn dam 70 Fieldfare, a Chiffcaff and 18 Pinks went >W at 11:02 PGr
We managed a single Mandarin drake there mid afternoon.

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