LATE NEWS FROM SATURDAY.

Sorry got behind with postings but on Saturday morning IG and myself headed up Walsden to Ramsden Wood and White Slack. Braving the biting easterly gale's, as a result not a great deal was seen but a few highlights are listed below.

Ramsden Wood
Green Woodpecker (heard)
Nuthatch coming to feeders in a garden along with numerous Blue/Great tits.

A pair of Stonechats by the Farm on the right of the footpath heading towards White Slack.
Another pair were seen near Cranberry Dam.

Solitary Skylark sticking low in the tusock grass at White Slack

White Slack Farm
3 Redwings
3 Chaffinch
2 Goldfinch
Pied Wagtail

On route several Owl pellets were also seen.

Fieldfare at Ogden

We saw 12 fieldfare on a wire alongside Keighley Road, Ogden on Saturday. Having seen a flock of around 30 here the previous week, they are probably still in the area.
S E Drake

Ogden/Fly Flats etc

Again today the cold wind keeping everything down!
Ogden - just a few Siskin but flighty - probably 20 or so but not much else.

Fly Flats - went looking in the quarries for Snow Bunting but nothing doing. 7 Canada Geese on the res'r (and another 7 on Dean Head above Castle Carr) 16 Lapwing on Cold Edge Dams put up by female Sparrowhawk and that was about it!

Wainstalls/Luddenden Dean

Wainstalls - Castle Carr Road - 1 Stonechat still, also 4 Stock Dove, 4 Redwing, 9 Fieldfare, 6 Starling - all toughing it out in the very cold wind!

Luddenden Dean (much calmer) 36 Stock Doves came down off the moor from Fly Flats direction and seen feeding together in field near Saltonstall. Also male Sparrowhawk showing well around Wade Wood area and 2 Kestrels nearby. Usual Green and Great-Spotted Woodpeckers in the dean and 1 pair Bullfinch but not many other small birds showing today because of the wind!

Crossbills 25th February

Gorden Denison found 7 birds at Roils Head early AM. I relocated at least 5 of these birds at 3.00PM on the north western boundary of West End Golf Course. Unfortunatly they dissapeared just before Roy and Sean arrived.Its worth visiting this site on a regular basis, because in the past birds have kept to the boundary adjacent to Roils Head, where small pools of water have formed on the track. Roils Head playing fields is also surrounded with pine trees and is worth checking out.

High Royd Ringing Records

As far as the GBN goes, Ringstone Res. has been a successful community environmental project (see Nick's post, 18th February) and we were pleased to raise the majority of the grant aid. It fits well alongside another two Yorkshire Water projects we have, one of which is leasing a 34 acre Sewage Works in Wakefield. We're also running a Balsam Eradication research project. We are now looking for new conservation opportunities and hope to have firm news of a Pennine Haymeadows project (with knock-on benefits for Twite and upland waders) in the near future. As part of working up a large Lottery bid, I've been looking over the old '50s ringing records for High Royd SF which we were able to access thanks to Colin Shields. These are a great read and a precious archive. For at least the next month they are in the safe-keeping of Green Business Network at 5 Town Hall Street, Sowerby Bridge (faces you at the far end of Wharf Street, just before you go over the river bridge towards Ripponden, swimming pool/library just round the corner). This is now an open invitation for anyone to drop in during office hours to browse them. There is a copier available and unlimited tea/coffee! Someone is there most days usually Jim Porter (best to call ahead Tel. 01422 316661). Just mention my name - Nigel Oliver - and that the box file is on my desk. Nick Carter will confirm that dropping in is a relaxed affair. Happy reading.

20th February

Female Stonechat still at Norton Tower, 25 Fieldfares at Heath Hill Road and 2 Golden Plovers at High Road Well Moor.

PS There are still lots of people who have not yet subbmitted records for 2005. Could I please have them as soon as possible please.

Bramblings

I counted at least 17 in Boothtown today first light. There *may* be more.

Site of this count was the small park down Chester Road on the garden feeders.

There were some in Boothtown park but didn't count these as birds were flying between the two parks.

Very nice to hear and see a Song Thrush singing from the treetop.

Jumble Hole

Had a quick look this morning for lesser spotted woodpecker, as Jumble Hole was a stronghold until the mid 90's, but unsuprisingly didn't see or hear anything of them. I'll keep trying though!
2 GS woodpecker
1 green woodpecker
9 bullfinch
2 mistle thrush
1 dipper
12 long tailed tits
multiple blue and great tits!

Ringstone Edge

As many of you will know the Halifax Birdwatchers' Club has a satellite group known as the Calderdale Bird Conservation Group which was set up by members who wished to be involved in local conservation work rather than just the production of an annual report. As a result of the efforts of its members the CBCG has been involved in many local conservation issues including helping to draw up the Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP), raptor protection work, assisting with Twite conservation projects, nestbox schemes in Hardcastle Crags etc. One of our main achievements so far has been to lease the north shore of Ringstone Edge from Yorkshire Water and the creation of pools and scrapes with the aim of encouraging species such as LRP to breed. Along with this we have also applied for planning permission to erect a hide on site, this permission has now been granted and we are in final negotiations with YW to begin construction. As a condition of the lease and insurance the group is obliged to control and regulate visitors to the hide and north shore area, therefore it is important to note that these areas are NOT public access, indeed to have it so would cause unnecessary disturbance to the birds. In order to allow keen local birders chance to use the hide and watch the area we have agreed to control access by means of a permit/key arrangement with a proposal to charge £15 which will include a key for the hide and a copy of a baseline report for the Ringstone recording area. The money received from this will go towards covering the cost of the insurance premiums, Further details of how to obtain a permit/key will be posted on here when the hide is complete.

All this could not have been achieved without the efforts of a relatively small number of local birders who have given much time and effort to the Group. Equally we are indebted to Marshalls plc, the Hanson Environment Fund, and the Green Business Network (GBN) whose generous donations of landfill tax credits made it all possible. Anyone who wishes to become involved in our work can contact me on midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk

Roils Head 18th February

2 female Crossbills were watched feeding in Pine trees for 10 minutes this afternoon before being spooked by a dog walker. Also present 5 Sklarks and a Kestrel.

Lapland Bunting?

Report received today from an unknown Lancashire birder of a Lapland Bunting on the twite seed at Lighthazzles, Andy and Iain were there soon afterwards but couldn't locate it, investigations are ongoing.

Northowram

7 Skylark (2 singing)
3 Snipe (2 very silent when flushed?)
20 Greenfinch
9 Bullfinch
6 Goldfinch
6 Great Tit
10 LTTit
2 Stock Dove (new this Year)
15 +10+7 +11Woodpigeon(small parties seem to be on the move heading N/E)
Sparrowhawk(display)
LTT(pair displaying in next
doors garden)
1 Herring Gull west
11 pied Wagtail(1 First winter with yellow face still)
1 Pair of Kestrel Display

Another Shibden Report

2 Tawnys heard calling briefly at 2pm this afternoon.
1 Goldcrest
15+ Long Tailed Tits
15+ Blue tits
8+ Gt Tits
1 Wren
2 Dunnocks
4 Chaffinches
1 Bullfinch
3 mallards- on/around small pond
2 Moorhens- as above
1 Jay
4 Robins
2 Coal Tits
C.15 carrion Crows
5 Greenfinches
Magpies of course- c. 12
Starlings 6 over.
Colony of House Sparrows c.15 birds at Ploughcroft

SURVEY WORK

The North Pennine Bird survey starts in the first week of April.They are looking for good field ornithologist you must have a car and be avaiable to work until end of June .Any one interested call me for details.

Male Blackcap

Sighted today at Boothtown park. This means there is still at least one male and one female of this species in the park area. Seem to be frequenting wider areas than previously.

Also:

Several Pied Wags
GSW
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
One Long tailed tit
4 Blue Tits
4 Gt Tits
Carrion Crows
Several Magpies
C. 20 Starlings impersonating other species.
1 Blackbird

Mixenden/Ogden

Mixenden area - 2 white carrion crows - one in the fields down Straight Lane with another further up the valley at Whitegate/Shaking House and both visible at the same time.

Mixenden Res - Great-crested Grebe and also Green and Great-spottted Woodpeckers calling in the plantation. Also one Curlew flew over high >NE calling.

Pair of Goldeneye at Ogden Res - immaculate male starting to display. AlsoDipper on the top pond.

Ogden golf course area/Brockholes - Kestrel, 80 Starlings, 30 Redwing, 15 Fieldfare, Grey Partridge and Skylark. Also c35 Greenfinch and c6 Siskin on a garden feeder.

Bulk buy bird food

Is anyone interested in joining together to buy bird food in bulk hopefully with a view to saving money? I am keen to continue using CJ Wildbirdfoods as they have donated seed to the Twite supplementary feeding work etc in the past and deserve our support as they make sizeable donations to bird conservation charities. To see what they have to offer go to http://www.birdfood.co.uk/ if you are interested E mail me at midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks

Early Nesting

The BTO are asking to be informed of instances of early nesting to investigate possible causal links with global warming. At Wirral a nest of Blackbirds actually fledged on the 2 Feb.

To add to the recent list of 'urban' birds (Peregrines, roosting Pied Wags etc) there has been a Dunnock sighted by myself on the water under North Bridge. Anyone any species to add?

Without checking my records, my first Calderdale Fieldfares were ones I saw yesterday. 7 birds were at the edge of the main road through Boothtown. Are they a bit thin on the ground locally this year? Redwings appear fairly numerous.

These messages appear courtesy of the hideous weather.

Ringstone

Quick look at the res this morning produced very little apart from c50 Goldies. 25 Lapwing and a couple of Goosander, feeders quiet.

Keep your eyes open!

Just had a phone message left by Pete Grice to let me know that a Burnley birder has had what they feel sure was a fly over Rough legged Buzzard in their area heading our way.

10th February

Reed Bunting at Roils Head, Female Stonechat at Norton Tower and male Stonechat at Heath Hill Road. 1 Golden Plover and a Hare at High Road Well Moor.

Rooks

I walked down from Lydgate into Tod this morning, and I noticed the Rooks have started work on their nests at Stoney Royd Lane - about 10 birds present and 7 nests in various stages of completion so far.
Also Coal Tit singing in grounds of Pennine Lodge nursing home, (opposite Centre Vale Park), and plenty of Dunnocks in song along the whole walk.

Northowram

4 Skylark,1 singing(first this year)
6 siskin
4 Bullfinch
2 redwing
1 Sparrowhawk
10 Meadow Pipit
2 Goldfinch (display and song flight)
1 Snipe
2 little Owl

9th February

Female Stonechat still at Norton Tower, 2 Little Owls at Heath Hill Road and 5 Golden Plovers at High Road Well Moor.

Boothtown Park

3 Bramblings showed well today in low trees between toilet block and old chimney. Allowed approach to within approx. 6ft, cracking views in the bright sunlight. At least three birds, 2 F and 1 M. Later a flock of birds, probably Brambling, passed overhead- 7-8 birds.

Female Blackcap still around in bowling green trees immediately opposite the lane behind. Possibly a second bird too but sun in my eyes. Tend to favour the tree behind lampost.

3 Pied wags, 1 Great Spotted Wood, 2 Coal tits, 8+ LT tits, 1 Song Thrush. Numbers of other tits, Carrion crows, Starlings etc.

Redpolls

5 Redpolls at Roils Head this afternoon, 4 of which were considered to be Mealy Redpolls. Appeared slightly larger with two pale streaks on the mantle, also very pink on breast and flanks. Undertail coverts pale with only one noteable streak. The one Lesser Redploll appeared to be slightly darker with no pink on the breast and more heavily streaked on the flanks, also lacked the two pale bracess on the mantle. Anybody else had any Mealys ??

3 Great Black- backed and 1 Herring Gull went west over Luddenden Dean PM.

Odds and Ends

I wimped out of my trip up to Lumbutts this week, but for the sake of reporting something, here goes.
Monday 30th: Green Woodpecker calling behind Tod Railway Stn.
Tuesday 31st: Grey Heron in R Calder, Tod Town Centre.
Thursday 2nd: Grey Heron in R Calder by Hebden Railway Stn, and 2 very pale Muscovy Ducks on Hebden Water near pack horse bridge.
Friday 3rd: M Kestrel near Bird'i'th'Hand, Warland.

BIRD RECORDS

There are still lots of people who have not yet submitted thier 2005 bird records. Could I please have them as soon as possible, so I can make a start on the next report. It would help tremendously if you would use the group recorder programme. For a copy of the group recorder programme, contact Nick Carter.

2004 report sales- We have just about managed to get our money back for the report, so any more sales would put us in profit for the year.

sunny Vale and Shibden Hall Road

Walked through this area today - not one of my regular haunts but some very good habitat - does anyone watch this area on a regular basis?

Sunny Vale - Grey Heron, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker with good numbers of Blue, Great and L T Tits and a Goldcrest. Also good numbers scattered about Chaffinch, Greenfinch and at least 3 pairs of Bullfinch.

Shibden Hall Road - 28 Redwing, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker and 106 Jackdaws in the field behind Pennine Parcels just by Godley Bridge.

2 BRAMBLINGS

Reported by Iain Greenwood in Boothtown Park again today between the toilet block and the old tower. :( No sign of the female blackcap.

Elland GP

2 Hrs this afternoon - 5 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 50+ Mallard, 5f Goldeneye, c30 Goosander, 3m Pochard, c10 Tufted Duck.
Also on river - 3 Little Grebe, 4 pair Teal, Kingfisher, 2 Dipper. Also Green Woodpecker and good numbers of Blue, Great and LTTit and 1 Goldcrest, 5 Redpoll feeding on old willow herb seed and c30 Siskin on old tip and c4 pair Bullfinch.
30 Lapwing at Southowram this am.

Northowram

15 Meadow Pipit
1 Woodcock(flushed from dence cover)
1 grey Wagtail9on cricket pitch)
1 Green Woodpecker
2 GS Woodpecker
20 Lt tit
4 redwing
6 Bullfinch
4 Pied Wagtail

Northowram

15 Pied Wagtail
8 Bullfinch
7 meadow Pipit
2 skylark
2 GS woodpecker
1Sprhwk
3 Siskin
3 Cole Tit,8 Longt,tit

Boothtown Park & Ringstone Edge 13:00 - 16:45

Boothtown Park
3 x Peregrines over
M & F Brambling
M & F Bullfinch
M Sparrowhawk through
F Blackcap
also approx 6 Redwings,Mistle thrush,Blackbird,Blue/Great/Coal and Long tailed tit, Chaffinch,Goldfinch,Greenfinch,Wren,Robin,3 Pied Wagtails,Carrion Crow,Jackdaw,Magpie,Starling.

Krumlin
Female Kestrel,Goldfinch,Carrion Crow,Magpie.

Ringstone Edge including surrounding fields.
Little Owl
30 Golden Plover
27 Lapwing
3 Snipe
7 Meadow Pipit
1 Female Goosander
M & F Mallard
c30 B H Gulls
Female Reed Bunting,Chaffinch,15 Starling

Cold Edge 30th January

15 Greylag Geese, a pair of Goldeneye, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Red Grouse at Fly Flats. 1 Redpoll over Ovenden Wood, Pellon.

Fly Flatts

One Dipper, one Goldeneye and nothing else! Six Goosander at Withens Clough in the evening

28th January

13 Greylag Geese at Cold Edge + distant flock of geese seen going east over Halifax at 3.30PM.

Pellon - Mount Tabor 27th January

2 Coal Tits at the Golf Course, 2 Goldcrest at Roils Head. 8 Golden Plover at Highroad Well Moor, a Grey Heron and a Sparrowhawk at Ovenden Wood.
Male Stonechat at Heath Hill Road yesterday.

Lumbutts area

Longfield Dam, 11:30
1m Goldeneye
1f Wigeon
12 Lapwing
7 Canada Goose
c12 Mallard

While there, I saw a couple of flocks of gulls heading NE. First c40 Black-headed flying quite low over the Calder Valley, then a few minutes later I caught the end of a stream of mostly sub-adult gulls (Lesser Black-backed, Herring or both?), flying much higher, and numbering perhaps 200?

Lee Dam. 12:00
3m, 5f Goosander on main dam.
1 Grey Heron
Coal Tit present in trees.
Collared Dove heard calling in Lumbutts village.
House Sparrow colony at farm exceptionally noisy.

Roils Head 24th January

2 Reed Buntings and 5 Bullfinch feeding on Heather.

Gordon reported 18 Greylag and 1 Pink-fooed Goose at Cold Edge Dams on Saturday.

Shibden Valley and Holmfield 24th Jan

Upper end of Shibden valley today - a good number of Great, Long-tailed and Blue Tits and 1 Coal tit, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper and Little Owl, 20+ Redwings and 2 pairs of Bullfinch looking immaculate! Also Red Fox watched for half-hour catching several small rodents in a marshy field.

Beechwood Park in Holmfield also came up with Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers, Kestrel, pair of Bullfinch and a Siskin over.

Whiteholme

60/70 Twite
1 Goldeneye
no other birds at all nothing

More pink feet

c.350 pink footed geese north over Jumble Hole at lunchtime

Lighthazzles

Just having a quick check on the Birdguides website and I came across a report of c.1430 Pink footed Geese west this morning over Lighthazzles, observer unknown. Also reported were 50+ Twite at the feeding station. I have spent the day in the Pilling area (west coast) looking for a reported flock of Twite which included colour ringed birds, talk about looking for a needle in a haystack! big area+ small birds = no success.

Afternoon walk 22nd January

Skylark at Roils Head, Stonechat at Norton Tower, 2 Little Owls, 1 Sparrowhawk and 75+ Lapwings at Heath Hill Road and a Bullfinch at Ovenden Wood.

Fieldfare

We watched a flock of approximately 60 fieldfare with 30 starlings in trees adjoining Keighley Road/Causeway Foot, Ogden and then in field at the junction of Syke Lane and Keighley Road, yesterday, Sat 21st. S E Drake.

Ringstone sat

1 jack Snipe
2 snipe
3 Goosander
1 cormorant
3 reed bunts
1 Meadow pipit
2 Teal
4 Mallard
1 Pied wag
1 Hare
1 Small Tortoishell (northowram)

Ovenden Wood 21st January

11 Redpoll west over Moor End Road this PM

Roils Head 20th January

2 Redpoll, 5 Bullfinch, 2 Reed Buntings, 1 Skylark, 75 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Common Gulls present this PM.

Roils Head 18th January

9 Redpoll present and 1 Meadow Pipit.
16th January, Peregrine south over Heath Hill Road and pair of Little Owls present.

Lower Gorple

Pretty poor today in strong winds. 2 pied wagtails, 2 canada geese, 1 reed bunting, 1 red grouse, 1 kestrel, 1 grey heron.

Lumbutts Area

Longfield Dam, 11:30
15 Lapwing
1 f Wigeon
6-8 Mallard
c50 Black-headed Gull
17 Canada Geese
1m Kestrel near Shepherds Rest

Lee Dam, 11:45
10 Goosander (2m 1f on top dam, 1m 6f on main)
1 Coot (on main dam)
1 Moorhen (also on main dam)
1 Jay
Flock of 150+ Starling
3 or 4 each of Fieldfare and Redwing with Starlings
Goldcrest heard
1m Kestrel - same one as above?

Northowram 14th & 15th jan

50 common Gulls,Small movment of GBB Gull and Herring Gull moving west,1 snipe, 1 skylark,15 meadow pipit ,1 redpoll ,12 siskin,30 Magpie,1 GSwoodpecker and a small influx of Blackbirds 12 in back garden.also first displaying Greenfinch.

Gorple

Two Pintail and a Raven today (per Pete Grice).

Possible Little Egret

Message received this morning that Les Midgley (Brighouse birder) had brief views of what he thinks may well have been a Little Egret near to where the two were seen in 2003. The bird was seen to fly off in the direction of Brighouse, local birders are on the case!

Error Walshaw Dean!

Sorry I got the date wrong - it should read 12th January not the 10th!

Fly Flats - 12th Jan

One female Goldeneye on the res'r and still a pair of Stonechats braving the elements near the access gate to the sailing club.

Walshaw Dean 10th Jan

Three skeins of Pink-footed Geese (370) flew over going west between 11 am and 12 noon; 70 + 180 + 120.

Drake Goldeneye on top walshaw res'r, 1 Kestrel and c50 Red Grouse over the moor. 1 f Goosander and 3 Siskin over Blake Dean.

1f Sparrowhawk over Crimsworth Dean and 30+ redwings in the crags woodland up the track towards Walshaw from Gibson Mill. 28 Goldcrests counted along the track from Gibson Mill to crags car park would seem to indicate a good number wintering in the crags.

Calderdale Birds

Ogden Res - 10th Jan
Went looking for Crossbills again this afternoon. No luck this time as the weather was very poor - wet and windy although there were some sheltered spots in the woods with c20 Goldcrests in different areas. 1 Dipper on the top pond, 80 Mallard + a few duck allsorts, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Moorhen, 30+ Common Gulls and 80+ Black Headed Gulls passing through towards Thornton Moor Res.

Well done Andy with 123 for Calderdale last year - can't get near that with 106!

Todmorden 9th Jan

Green Woodpecker heard on hillside behind Tod railway station at 08:20 - a good start for a very pleasant day at Leighton Moss.

8th January

3 Water Rails reported at High Royd, 2 seen + another heard.

2 Peregrines again on Dean Clough Tower AM. Female seen to take a Pigeon.

Roils Head 7th January

8 Bullfinch and 1 Reed Bunting present.

13 Waxwings reported near the Allan Fold, King Cross.

5th January

Phil Cunningham reported a strange dark duck on Fly Flats Res, seen from a distance without bins. Myself and Gorden went for a look but only a single Goldeneye present.1 Tufted Duck at Cold Edge Dams, a Stonechat at Roils Head and a fox nearby.

Whos Won ?

Whats this !.Yes its that time of year again when some lucky person will win the Hx Birdwatchers annual species Championship.John Beaumont is the proud owner at the moment and it will take some getting off his mantlepiece i can tell you.My score this year is 123 anyone who can beat this should let Gordon Denison know asap.
Yes they are Bald Eagles. 

Lumbutts area

Lee Dam, 10:45-11:15
11 Goosander (7M,4F) on main dam on my arrival. Some flew off later, leaving 3M and 3F which moved onto the smaller upper dam.
Not much else about, but Wren, Blackbird, Coal, Great and Blue Tits in the trees, and House Sparrows at the farm to the SW.

Longfield Dam 11:30ish
Carrion Crows much in evidence, but no winter thrushes this time!
1M Goldeneye
40 Canada Geese (+1 white "domestic" type)
4 Lapwing
6 Mallard
!

Ogden

The open area leading up to the stone circle produced 18 crossbills this afternoon at 2.40 pm. Quite flighty but very vocal and unfortunately unable to re-locate once they flew off into the lower woods.

Ogden 4th January

Dipped on Crossbills, missed them by 10 minutes.Distant Short-eared Owl, 2 Sparrowhawks, Red Grouse, Great Spotted Woodpecker and several Goldcrests present.DJS had Dipper but we missed that also. Fox at Mount Tabor on way home.

Recorder program

As we are at the start of a new year this is a good time for me to remind everyone that we have a computer program available to us (courtesy of the Bradford Ornithological group) for recording, storing and submitting your local sightings. The program includes a fully searchable database and is very simple to use. The Bird Club records are kept on this system which means you can submit your year end records to Nick Dawtrey with only a few clicks of the mouse! the records are then in a form that enables Nick to very easily add them to the "master database". If anyone wants a copy of the program (which is completely free) just E mail me on midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk and I'll put a disc and instructions in the post.

Crossbills 3rd January

Iain Greenwood reports at least 11 Crossbills at Ogden at 3.00pm. Also Dipper here.

Peregrine reported on Dean Clough tower plucking a Pigeon this pm.

Stonechat at Heath Hill Road yesterday and dead Badger found here on 1st January was said to be a road kill.

Warland Reservoir

2 goldeneye
2 mallard
40 twite on the 'beach' at the north end. Couldn't get any colour rings from them.
Nothing on Lighthazzles or Whiteholme.

Bird Report

The 2004 Bird Report is selling well, but we are still 82 pounds short of breaking even. Can I remind people to forward any money owed, to me as soon as possible so I can balance the books.

Also this is a good time to ask folks for thier records for 2005. The sooner I get them the sooner work can start on the next report.

All the best Nick..

Happy New Year

Just a quick post to wish all contributors and readers of this Blog a happy and bird filled 2006. A special thanks to Matt who's initial idea this Blog was and to all for your contributions and comments. I would like to offer a personal thankyou to all those who have worked for the Cons Comm during the year, there has been a lot of hard work done by a lot of people.

Northowram 31st

Happy new year to you all
2 snipe, 2 skylark,1 bullfinch,1 golfinch,50+Greenfinch,15 Chaffinch,2 fieldfare,3 redwing,30 common Gull,20BH Gull,1 grey Heron,40 Jackdaw and 19 Magpie

Calderdale Birds

Wainstalls etc- still one pair of stonechats toughing in out in the cold on 29th December. Also Green Woodpecker on the golf course at Ogden. Little Owl and one Lapwing nearby at Stodfold Farm below the golf course. White Carrion Crow still around Mixenden area.

New species for garden list 29th December

A male Reed Bunting this afternoon was a new species for Moor End Gardens.
Pete Grba has reported a Willow Tit at EGP sometime last week and Darrel flushed a Long-eared Owl at the back of High Royd sometime last week.

Jumble Hole/Underbank

Woodcock flushed from cover. Sparrowhawk, 3 bullfinch, 2 goldcrest, 12 redwing.

Northowram 29th Dec

2 Ruff in fields with 85 lapwing unfortunately they were flushed by a dog walker and flew off west.2 Skylark,3 Meadow Pipit,35 Redwing,2 Fieldfare,2 Golden Plover ,1 Snipe ,11 Herring gull and 1 Song Thrush.A brilliant afternoon.

Roils Head 27th December

5 Bullfinch, 1 Reed Bunting and 2 Wrens. 1 GBBGull west at Mount Tabor and a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Pellon again.

Ringstone Edge

Quick check this lunchtime produced only 6 Goosanders.

Walshaw Dean

1 m. goldeneye on Lower Walshaw
2 mallard
15 fieldfare
1 Great spotted woodpecker
7 red grouse

High Royd sewage works

3 water rails reported today (JB)

Waxwing/s

Reported from a garden at Dale Avenue, Kilnhurst (Todmorden) on Sunday 18 Dec, record via Hugh Firman.

Ringstone today

1 Reed Bunting
3 Teal
2 mallard
10 grey Partridge
1 Pheasant
1 Meadow Pipit
50+ Common Gull
20 BH Gull
1 Female Stonechat
20 Greenfinch
10 Chaffinch
3 Pied wags
2 Blackbird
1 Herring Gull

Injured short-eared owl

This short eared owl was picked up by a farmer whilst cutting hay at Slack Top, Hebden Bridge. It had an injured wing, and is being cared for by a falconer who is attempting to hack it back to the wild, though the wing is still damaged.

Lower Gorple

2 robin, 2 wren, m. kestrel, 2 red grouse, chaffinch, great tit, meadpw pipit, 24+ reed buntings in larch by the house.

Red letter day for recorder

A 1 hour local walk this afternoon started with a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by Carrion Crows at West End Golf Course. 2 minutes later and a large raptor was picked up being chased by another Carrion Crow ? fantastic a superb Female HEN HARRIER flew slowly south west over Norton Tower towards Sowerby Bridge and into the distance heading for the Baitings area (thank goodness for corvids). 100 yards further and the local Stonechat appeared, this was followed by a Little Owl and 100+ Redwings at Heath Hill Road. Over High Road Well Moor and 3 Golden Plovers were sat in the fields replacing yesterdays Hare. On to Moor End Road and 100+ more Redwings were feeding in the fields with the odd Mistle Thrush. Finally 3 Roe Deer stood out in the open for 5 minutes on my way back home.

More Waxwings

3 Waxwings reported today by Steve Cummings at Horne Street, Pellon Lane.

Roils Head and Heath Hill Road yesterday
Stonechat, 2 Reed Buntings, Little Owl and c40 Fieldfare.

Christmas pint

Just a reminder that we are meeting next Thursday (22nd) for a quick pint at "The Works" in Sowerby Bridge. All welcome. Even Adie.

walshaw Dean

2 Raven
2 stonechat
3 Carrion crow
1 Kestrel
10 Red Grouse

More Waxwings

News was sent out today on the birders text grapevine of 4 Waxwings on Burdock Way roundabout that were seen to fly towards Sainsbury's. Info from Sean Gray.

Lighthazzles

Report from unknown birders passed onto Brian L of a couple of Snow Buntings at the Lighthazzles Twite seed sometime during last week. Sorry to be so vague but that's all the info I have! Any birders on the text grapevine that haven't recently paid subs need to do so ASAP please.

Blackstone Edge res

1 Shelduck today (per BL) and c30 Twite at the Lighthazzles seed

EGPits 9th December

29 Cormorants
11 Tufted Duck
1 widgeon
2 pochard
50+ goosander
4 goldeneye
4 Redpoll
4 grey heron

Lower Gorple

f. kestrel, 2 red grouse, pheasant, meadow pipit, 2 fieldfare. Also 5 mallard and 3 canada geese on Widdop.

EGPits

28 Cormorant (min)
2 pochard (males)
4 goldeneye(1male,1fst winter male & 2 Females)
1 Widgeon
8 tufted duck
1 GC Grebe
2 little Grebe
22 Coot
8 Moorhen
3 Mute swan
50+ Goosander
2Kingfisher(male & female)
1 Grey wagtail
40+Mallard

Crosley gardens
2 Waxwing

Waxwings

The waxwings are back. Or at least two anyway. On the corner of Crossley Gardens 1:00pm today. Checked again an hour later, but no sign around the area.

EGPits

70+ Goosander
20 Cormorant (apparently there have been up to 24 last week)
1 Goldeneye
30 Mallard
2 Little Grebes
7 Tufted duck

Hen Harrier

A female reported today in usual area (BL)

EGPits and Ringstone

EGP
21 Cormorant
2 Little Grebe
1 Goldeneye (MALE)
6 Tufted Duck
22 Goosander
RINGSTONE
7 Bullfinch
11 meadow Pipit
8 Fieldfare
3 Redwing
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Blue Tit