Whiteholme

Carrion Crow

Raven

Round and about !

 A very good find this morning for BS, thanks for the call Bri, with a drake Common Scoter on Fly Flats so I made a move for it. Can be quite scarce now on Calderdale reservoirs but from a distant it was showing well. A couple of Redshank were skulking along the shoreline along with Oystercatchers and Lapwings.

Also had a check at a few spots just in case an early Wheatear might be about. PB was on the same mission but we failed on that score. Maybe just a little patience needed before we spot one but they will be on their way anytime!

On the way back I called at Mixenden to check for any other Scoters or Whoopers but there was nothing doing. Good to see NK doing the rounds too. A couple of Siskin in the bushes by the top gate took flight into the pines.

Whiteholme

Oystercatcher 2

Blackstone Edge

Stonechat male. Female also present.

Lighthazzles

Mallard pair: first sightings here this year.

Also, Raven 2 NW

Fog bound this morning !

The fog took an age to clear today though it did lift enough to have a look at Stodfold, Carrs Beck and lower end of Hunter Hill this afternoon.

1 Dipper in the stream at Stodfold and on the edge of the fields adjacent the Calderdale Way a pair of Pied Wagtails and c 22 Fieldfares were wary to and from the safety of the tree line. One Curlew calling as was a Green Woodpecker on the slopes of Hunter Hill where a single Buzzard was sitting it out on a fence post. 20 or so Meadow Pipits went overhead, not for stopping. One Grey Wagtail on the edge of Mixenden Res'r.

Blackstone Edge

Blackbird 1 male.  (Also, a Peacock butterfly)

Shibden Park

Coot nestbuilding

Hag Lane

Looking over into Shibden Valley this afternoon we walked the hillside along Hag Lane towards Claremount and return via the hillsides towards Bradford Old Road. Nice bit of sunshine !

2 Green Woodpeckers were 'yaffling' it out from different areas of the valley and a distant Buzzard. Still no sign of winter thrushes up there, or Skylarks but a Little Owl, viewed on a post along Bradford Old Road was nice to see.

Latest news from around the country of Wheatears arriving mostly reported from 'the south'. Though one just marginally outside our recording area by 20m, just north of Portsmouth today from SB.

Mixenden Reservoir

Call from JJL during the morning with 13 Whooper Swans on Mixenden. Thankfully they were still there early afternoon. This was the best I could do with my camera and the bright sunshine. They are always a bit special and we can probably expect a few more in the next few weeks as they head back to Iceland...

Still no Goldeneye at this site. It used to be a good spot for a small number in winter. Nice to see there was a pair reported from BS at Fly Flats this morning.

Byron Edge

Golden Plover 2. I think this is a southern pair, with the male (top 2 photos) having a dark lower face.

The female shows well the diagnostic rear of Eurasian Golden Plover: wing tips about level with tail tip, and tip of tertials well short of tail tip.

Blackstone Edge

Skylark 3 (1 singing)

Lee Mount and Fly Flats area

Blackbird pair in the garden - the female was gathering moss and dead grass ! They'll be lucky with all the magpies about here. Also a surprise was a Stock Dove on the lawn - thats a new one for the garden list though I do see them at times through the scope, towards Swales Moor.

A couple of bonus birds on the way up near Nolstar - 2 Grey Partridge feeding in among the remnants of hay left for the sheep. No luck with either Golden Plover or Skylarks. Just got to Fly Flats mid afternoon and the fog rolled in and sideways rain. I just managed to see 4 Oystercatchers and hear some Canada Geese, Curlews and Red Grouse !

Hebden Bridge

Dipper

Castle Carr Road

A nice walk on there this afternoon cool westerly wind in some sunshine ! 

Highlight was of 9 Stonechats along the length - 1 pair near Wainstalls end, then 1 male with 2 females running a fence line half way along and lastly 2 pairs together in gorse and heather. Same count on return avoided duplication.

Also 18 species in total including 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 2 Meadow Pipits, 4 Curlew and just 1 Lapwing.

There don't seem to have been many Redwings or Fieldfare about up there all winter !

High Royd STW

I check this site just occasionally. Not quite like it used to be since the sludge lagoons were left to the willows ! We just checked the filter-beds from the canal side towpath today. It's often good for migrant hirundines and Swifts later in the year given the insects emerging  from the site, canal and river though a few Sand Martins have been reported from Fairburn Ings and Swillington St Aidan's the last few days so always worth a check !!

Probably just short of 40 Pied Wagtails on the beds this afternoon and 1 Grey Wagtail with 40+ Carrion Crows. Goldcrest, tit species and a Nuthatch calling in the nearby woodland.

Whiteholme

Stonechat female: the white patch on the inner greater and median coverts is quite prominent. Male stonechat seen nearby.

Whiteholme

Raven: 3SW, 1 on pylon calling

Fly Flats area

A nice surprise with a single Redshank this afternoon with 32 Lapwings in the area at the end of the wooden fence line with another 8+ Lapwings and  2 Curlew around the shore towards the south end. Failed to locate BS's Ringed Plover from earlier in the day. One pair of Tufted Duck on the water with 10+ Mallard. Plenty Canada's scattered about, mostly in pairs with just a single Greylag Goose on show.

The only small bird was a Pied Wagtail briefly on the boat-house roof.

At Withens Head there were 6 Curlew. Two Red Grouse raced across the moor.

Blackstone Edge

The first Meadow Pipit and Canada Geese (3 pairs in all) that I've seen here this year

North Bridge

1 of 4 Greenfinches (1 singing)

Mixenden, Fly Flats, Withens Head

Very little to show from any of the sites early afternoon. Conditions a strong gusty >SW with rain.

Mixenden Res'r - 3 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls along with 9 immature Herring Gulls. Several Black-headed Gulls now in full breeding plumage looking good. Very few Common Gulls at the time I was there.

Fly Flats - 19 Lapwing in one of the top fields looked to be finding plenty worms !

Withens Head - 2 Curlew

Shibden Park

Stock Dove and Mallard

Whiteholme

Most of 87 Pink-footed Geese flying SW at 1145 (thanks MH)

Blackstone Edge

Kestrel female

 

Mixenden Res'r and Fly Flats

Mixenden. An interesting morning with a nice surprise of 4 Shelduck on the reservoir. Also on the embankment a pair of Oystercatchers. 2 Cormorants flew over >SW and an adult Great Black-backed Gull dropped in but didn't stay for more than a few minutes.

Plenty of activity with c200 other gulls, mainly Common and Black-headed and at least 12 Herring Gulls. All tricky to count as so many were to and fro-ing and with plenty of disturbance on the embankment where they like to stay and preen.  Most were arriving from the north and departing >SW.

From the woodland a Nuthatch was making plenty of noise with a Green Woodpecker 'yaffling' from the hillside. Then a call from BS with Pink-footed Geese over Queensbury coming my way. Very distant from my spot. They were over towards The Withens, maybe 60 or so.

I headed up to Fly Flats and  4 birds arrived and landed on the water - Shelduck - they must have been the ones from Mixenden.

Shelduck at Mixenden Res'r

Soil Hill

  It was a blustery morning on Soil Hill today, so I did not expect too much bird activity despite the otherwise pleasant and clear conditions. 

  As I began my descent along Perseverance Road towards Ned Hill Track, I spotted a large gull flying SW slowly into the wind, almost adjacent to Ned Hill Track. Whilst I expected to see a Herring Gull in my binoculars, I was stunned to see the bird had creamy-white primaries; a white-winger! Due to the general lack of Glaucous Gull records in the country, I assumed the bird would be an Iceland Gull, but my priority in the moment was to grab as many photos as I could. 

  Once the bird began to move away from me I had a chance to check and confirm the bird was an Iceland Gull and to get the news out. It continued towards Ogden until I lost it as it dropped below the plantation there. I hoped that the bird would have settled on the reservoir but both BS and JJL confirmed that it was not there, so it presumably carried on its way.

   I note that the long-staying bird at Roundhay Park in Leeds was not reported today, so it may be the same bird. Iceland Gull is my 133 species for Soil Hill! 

  Additionally, there was a very dapper male Stonechat at the bottom of the North Slope but sadly no Jack Snipes today. 

-Iceland Gull

-Stonechat

In total managed 32 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S302937172

Beacon Hill

Stock Dove.  No white, short tail, pink bill.

Lee Mount ...

Garden feeder very entertaining at times especially with up to 12 LTT's favouring the coconut feeder.

Photo through the window

Swales Moor on the top this morning - perishing up there and very little to show for the effort.

90+ Carrion Crows, 60+ Jackdaws, 10+ Magpies, 22 Starlings, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wren, 1 x 3rd winter Herring Gull.

Ploughcroft - 14 Chaffinch, 12 Goldfinch, 10+ House Sparrows and 2 adult Herring Gulls feeding in the field.

Fly Flats and Withens Head

Birds very scarce..... 4 Carrion Crows and Red Grouse heard. 22 Canada's  at Fly Flats though there was no frozen water. Some good sunshine though it is a cold spot up there !!

Big frustration came when scanning from the top road, an interesting looking bird flitting around the the boats and always on vantage points then dashing down to the ground and back again. Immediately suspected a Black Redstart, it certainly wasn't a Stonechat. A greyish looking bird though mostly in silhouette with an obvious tail but around 100m away. Unable to get any more on the bird which was always on the move. Disaster..... grrrr no scope !!! Then I lost it.

I returned this afternoon, with the scope, stayed for over an hour along with checks at the stone pile at Slade and then Withens Head - both areas have attracted this species in the past - not a sign of anything other than a Kestrel and a single Meadow Pipit.

Maybe BS will clock it ......tried again Wednesday 18th bitterly cold wind, nothing doing - other than 1 Oystercatcher and 6 Canada Geese.

Soil Hill

   I've been working the Hill since the start of February with some pleasant birding between the fog, but this morning I had my first standout species since my return when this brute of a Great Black-backed Gull flew north. This is only my second record for Soil Hill, but with a few seemingly in the area this winter, I had high hopes for an encounter. 

  Jack Snipe has been an almost daily occurrence throughout February (when I have looked for them), although the higher totals of five individuals were only at the start of month, with only a solitary individual this morning. Common Snipe has been for more erratic with three this morning the highest count. In addition, up to four Golden Plovers have been frequenting the Soil Hill summit in the last week.

  The first Linnet of the month flew over this morning, as did the first Siskin. The flock of Fieldfare on Taylor Lane, which has been up to 40 birds strong at times, contained five Redwing this morning, which was a good return since I have not seen any for the most part this February. 

-Great Black-backed Gull

In total managed 37 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S301657089

Cold Edge and Ovenden Moor

 BTO Winter Bird Survey today - been waiting for at least half-decent conditions given the fog and rain over most of February so far. Sunshine this morning, wall to wall, so made the effort despite the frozen snow covering up there.

Birds were certainly at a premium with most of the Canadas moved out as well as the corvids and most other birds ! Best of the day were 2 Curlew flyovers calling probably heading to some lower elevation to feed. Little else 2 Reed Bunting, several vocal Red Grouse, 1 each Kestrel ,Chaffinch and Blackbird. Even most of the corvids were missing. One hardy Magpie up at The Withens shows how dire it was for birds.

Cold Edge and Fly Flats

 Another check of the goose flock at Cold Edge this afternoon. The site lived up to its name !

102 Canada Geese,nothing new with them. Also 22 Lapwing, 50+ Jackdaws, 2 Kestrel, 2 Blackbirds , 1 Song Thrush and a Starling. Very few smaller gulls this afternoon, there are usually a good number.

It was worth a trip up to Fly Flats with 5 Oystercatchers, on the edge of the shore including a pair in copulation. 3 Mallard and 2 Carrion Crows were the only other hardy birds there apart from 4 pairs of Canadas hidden away in the tall grasses !

Blackstone Edge

Kestrel male

In flight in dull conditions I often find I cannot sex a Kestrel. Helpfully perching, this bird's grey head and prominent moustache are clear, although the grey is quite pale and might be difficult to see in flight. And the back has spots not bars. But books often say a male Kestrel's back is brick-red, and that's not the case here: it is the same brown as a female's back. Do colours darken as a bird ages?

Lee Mount / Shroggs Park

Quite a morning after hearing some Pink-footed Geese over around 09:30 unseen in the mist sounding as if heading >W. At 09:50 more were heard, this time noisy and low coming right overhead  >W. Phone out and a decent video recording but failed to work out how to get it on here ! At least 450 is probably the largest count ever over this location.

Around the same time BS had skein of c50 'pinks' over Ogden >E but they were soon lost in the mist.

Later in the morning a Great Spotted Woodpecker was 'drumming' near the park lodge and a Nuthatch was also singing nearby. I was pretty suspicious what sounded just like a Chiffchaff singing, unlikely, so investigated further - it was a Great Tit. Also 16 Redwing on the park football pitch and a flock of c17 Goldfinch nearby and c16 Long-tailed Tits at one point as well as Song Thrush singing.

We don't seem to be able to escape cold rain and mist this last week or so. Maybe more of the same for the coming week.

Mixenden Res'r

 I gave it a go late morning - shouldn't have bothered !!! That east wind was raw at the gate watch-point. Very few gulls though the conditions don't seem to deter them. 6 adult Herring Gulls looking immaculate on the water with another 7 of mixed ages went straight through >W. On the water c 40 B h Gulls and 16 Common Gulls and apart from a 30+ flock of Jackdaws over that was about it !

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane - Almost 2 hrs on the top there from mid morning produced 23 species in a cold SE wind at 5c. It took a while to find anything but I was pleased to pick out my first Skylark for the year - it didn't drop in, a flyover >E. Coincidently JJL also managed a Skylark on Soil Hill this morning. Both sites, until recent years, have supported a few wintering birds. It's good to see a hopeful return !

Meadow Pipits with a final count of 16 were playing hard to get, dropping in to the long grass.

As usual the site always has a large contingency of corvids. Today was no exception with around 90 Carrion Crows and c50 Jackdaws.

The big surprise as I tracked back down the hill was a small flock of c20 Linnets on the edge of the quarry in a very weedy area. This is another bird that used to winter up here with regularity, as well as Soil Hill. Both sites occasionally attraction the odd Twite. 

Around and about !

Mixenden Res'r - single Shelduck still there looking pretty settled but I expected it would have moved on this morning with a clear sky. 

Cold Edge - Mainly to check the goose flock (still hoping Whitefront Geese)! 86 Canadas and a single Greylag was about as good as it got along with 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Reed Bunting and a Kestrel and a few small gulls, woodpigeons and corvids.

Beacon Hill area this afternoon - c25 Goldfinch and 11 Redwings + corvids, woodpigeons and small gulls was as good as it got but it was good to be out in the dry !

Mixenden res'r

Adult Great Black-backed Gull and the Shelduck still there today.

Mixenden Reservoir

It's always worth a check at local reservoirs at any time of the year. Winter can be pretty grim at times but there is always a chance of something turning up especially in inclement weather. This morning was no exception with mist on the tops and a very cold damp south easterly.

I went to the usual watch-point. Plenty Black-headed Gulls 60+ with a few Common Gulls and 16+ Herring Gulls including noisy adults. Gulls staying to bathe and preen with plenty of coming and going.

Scanning the waters edge on the west side was a Shelduck then later preening on the embankment where it seemed to stay most of the day with updates from NK and JJL. An annual but reasonably scarce bird in Calderdale.

Great Black-backed Gulls occasionally pass through in the winter months. Today was no exception as an adult arrived, a brutish looking bird but always great to see. Best I could do with the camera was a distant shot across to the other side of the reservoir.

Size difference with an adult Herring Gull showing to its left

Mixenden Reservoir has been pretty poor in recent years but from 2010 when an adult Little Gull turned up on 9th November the site has always been worth a check. Some special birds have been seen there with, what seems a lull since 'lockdown'.!! Up to that time some of the 'specials' recorded there have included Iceland Gulls, Mediterranean Gull, Smew, Gadwall, Great Northern Diver, Common Scoter, Avocet, Dunlin, Osprey and Whooper Swans (those are the ones off the top of my head). oh and a Black Swan that probably escaped from captivity.

Cold Edge

Grey Heron 2 adults. Both birds have some grey at bill tip and base - more on the right bird.

Moorhen with Mallards

Rochdale Canal.

Took a walk along the canal from Luddenden Foot towards Brearley this afternoon.

14 Siskin were feeding high up in canal-side alders along with a Buzzard over. Not a lot else other than 2 Dippers close together from the bridge over the Calder at Luddenden Foot.

One red-head Goosander, 2 Cormorants and plenty of Mallard about along the canal and on the lagoon at Brearley.

86 Canada Geese and a single, very noisy, unringed Barnacle Goose in the fields.

Cold Edge

Stonechat male

3 of 4 Stock Doves

Pair of Rooks touching bills

The 1941 Witherby handbook says that the male presenting food to the female is a common feature of Rook display. Also, fondling of bills is often observed in mated birds.