Swales Moor

Top - Stonechat

Lower -Group of Herring Gulls

 

Late morning

A male Stonechat was a nice surprise along Ringby Lane along with 2 Skylarks and 12 Meadow Pipits

c40 Herring Gulls and 5 L B B Gulls went >NW in small groups along the ridge

c80 Carrion Crows in a freshly manured field along with c40 Jackdaws, 20+ Magpies,2 Pied Wagtail and c40 Common Gulls

6 Stock Doves

1 Kestrel

 

 

Weekend

Very little reported over the weekend. We could do with some clear weather and fog clearing from the tops!
Mixenden this morning but still hill fog above 800ft. Just a pair of Goosander and 12 Mallard and the usual small gulls checked carefully!

First post from Highroad Well

Hello,
I've been enjoying following the Calderdale Birds blog for some time and am now looking forward to contributing. I'm based around Highroad Well so can keep you all posted on birds in my area.
Vicki J

Mixenden Res'r and Cold Edge

Mixenden Res'r
1 Great Crested Grebe
A pair of Kestrels

Balkram Edge
1 Little Owl

Cold Edge
The Pink-footed Goose is still there with 7 Greylags and 53 Canadas - in the fields near the lower pond
2 f Goldeneye on the lower dam and 3 Tufted Duck
15 Fieldfare nearby
Several Red Grouse

There is also a single Pink-footed Goose at Scammonden Dam with c100 Canadas (Steve L)

13th Feb

c100 Redwings at Norton Tower and 87 Lapwings at Mount Tabor. No sign of the Mealy Redpolls at nearby Roils Head though.

Pink-footed Goose

It's unusual to find a 'pinkie' on the ground in Calderdale (but its still great to see the skeins flying over) but this is the one at Cold edge found the other day by Alan T. Still there today.

Redpoll

Redpoll's

Just posting some photo's from Nick - seen this afternoon at Roils Head.

Trying to ascertain whether they are Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis ssp. cabaret) or Mealy Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) or perhaps some of each?

Difficulties posting photos so might have to put them on separate postings ??

 

 

Lesser Pecker

It was heard clearly drumming in trees next to the main path at Coach Road. But it never managed to reveal a good view of itself !
About 100 metres further up the track from most of last year's sightings.
Also a male and female G S Pecker were noisily chasing through the trees nearby.
Hope this is the first of a few more posts !

12th Feb

Roils Head, 7 Redpoll, a few of them may be mealys ?? (Still can not post photos). 6 Skylarks at Tower Hill and 12 at High Road Well Moor.

Today's news

From Pete G - Oystercatcher at Baitings Res'r and a Shelduck at Ringstone Res'r.

Cold Edge - the Pink Footed Goose still there with 53 Canada's and 7 Greylag Geese. Also a f Goldeneye on the lower dam and 10 Lapwings nearby
1 G C Grebe on Mixenden Res'r

Hove Edge area from Mike St. A Common Buzzard over this afternoon and earlier today a L Sp Woodpecker drumming nearby.

From Alan T - 2 Mute Swans at Cromwell Bottom. One on the canal and the other on the ski-lake

From GWH - A pair of Goldeneye on the  River Calder at Cromwell Bottom today just above the wier. Could be worth checking tomorrow.

Yesterday

From Mike St

Hartshead area am.

Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, Yellowhammer (at last), 3 Pied Wagtails, Pheasant, Song Thrush, GS Pecker, 300+ Woodpigeons.

 

EGP pm.

River - 3 Little Grebes together, 4 Goosanders.

Lake - 2 Little Grebes together, 4 Tufties, 4 Goosanders, but no sign of Gadwalls.

Canal - juv Mute Swan with yellow tag 106: it appears to be the same bird that was on the river at Colnebridge last year.

LEO's

Well done Nick. A great idea, let's hope for some success!

LEO's

We installed 2 baskets today for LEO's in a small area of local woodland.

Ogden etc

I make it 119 Pink-footed Geese - right overhead at Ogden Res'r heading towards Cold Edge at  around 10:35.

Thanks to BS for the alert - I owe you !!

Nothing else much there and yesterdays 3 Wigeon had gone.

 

Just a G C Grebe on Mixenden and a female Goosander

 

Earlier c200 'pinks' went over Brighouse >NW at 10:00 (DF)

Hebden Bridge and Hardcastle Crags

Start at the cafe and end up at the cafe was a good move for us today!!
We walked up from Hebden Bridge to the crags ie. Gibson Mill and return but birds were scarce.
1 GreenWoodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2+ Nuthatch
Surprisingly only 1 Dipper, in the top pond at Gibson Mill
Blue, Great, Coal and some L T Tits and a Treecreeper.
A pair of Kestrels, one carrying long grass looked like nesting material though there is a possibility it had caught a vole with the grass and was being closely followed by the male?
Not a lot else but an enjoyable walk.
Grey Herons already on territories
No reports of 'pinkies' yet today.

Other news today

Just a pair of Goosander at Mixenden this morning.
From Steve L - 3 Gadwall at Cromwell Bottom ski lake as well this morning. 2 drakes and a female. Gadwall is always a good find for Calderdale!

From Ogden this afternoon - 3 Wigeon from John I.

Wainstalls - Cold Edge from Alan T this afternoon a Pink-footed Goose in with a few Canada's and Greylags.
7 Golden Plover at Ringstone Edge

Other news today

From NK - 2 Great Crested Grebes at Mixenden still and a pair of Goosander this afternoon and a nice early Oystercatcher. A flock of Pink-footed Geese were also heard over Mixenden plantation but not seen at 15:30. Though Nick D had a flock of 70 about the same time heading >W so were probably the same skein (?)

Another flock of Pink-feet also went over Lee Mount heard at 20:40 >W but not seen in the dark.
More tomorrow with a bit of luck.!!

Ogden

Late morning
Lots of Coal Tits (maybe 20+) feeding with other tits in one area of woodland near the 'Giant's Tooth' along with a single Goldcrest, a Nuthatch and a Treecreeper
1 Sparrowhawk over
1 Cormorant on the water
12 Canada Geese
c80 Mallard
c80 B H Gulls and a few Common Gulls in with them
A call from BS alerting of a big skein of 'Pinkies' over Queensbury around 12:30 - we just managed to see them in the distance heading towards Thornton Moor though they changed direction >N against a big bank of cloud over the moor. I got some poor distant photo's but they were just good enough to get a close count of c215. Thanks bri we would have missed them without your call. !!

Other news today

Some Bramblings still about at Krumlin along with some Redwings (GS)

2 lots of Pink-footed Geese 57 and 45 >W seen from Northowram around 09:00 (AC)

1 Jack Snipe disturbed at Widdop Reservoir this afternoon nearly got trodden on ! (SB)

Luddenden Dean and Castle Carr Road

This afternoon - the mist came in with a vengeance after a bright start to the day
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
8 Grey Partridge
2 pairs of Little Owls in the usual territories ( I couldn't find the other resident pair in the mist)
2 Jays
2 Goldcrest
1 Wren
1 Dipper in the stream by the 'Cati' pub

Near 'The Lowe' on the feeders it was amazing to see so many birds fighting for a place to feed 30+Blue, 30+Great and 10+Coal Tits, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c15 L T Tits and several Bullfinch, Chaff's and Goldfinch.

Withers clough

Thick fog and heavy wind this afternoon, the house by the res has put up some feeders in the bushes which us attracting 3 reed buntings 

3 goldeneye (1m 2 f) and 3 gooseander (1m 2f) on the res which is mostly iced over 

A few red grouse calling from the moor 

A large finch flock over the hinchcliffe looked to be Siskin, also 2 raven over Mytholmroyd this morning and dipper displaying near hebden 

Brambling

C100 Brambling in the trees on Scammonden Road Krumlin this morning.SL

Jumble Hole

I looked out this morning to see what at first I was convinced was several very large flocks of geese, each in a neat 'V' formation flying east down the valley towards Hebden. I grabbed the binoculars and discovered they were actually 'long winged' gulls (too far away to get a definitive ID - what is most likely?). There was a procession of 15 flocks in total, and a total number of over 900 birds by the time they'd stopped.

At dusk, I got a new tick for the garden as a grey partridge flew past and landed in a field next to the house.

Mixenden Res'r and Fly Flatts

Just 2 G C Grebes ar Mixenden this morning.

Fly Flatts - walked on as the road was closed due to the ice.
A struggle to find anything other than 22 Mallard on the ice. 1 Carrion Crow, a B H Gull and lots of Red Grouse on the moor.

High Brown Knoll

I had a walk up there yesterday afternoon in the hope of perhaps Snow Bunting ! No success on that score but some very good habitat for them. Just lots of Red Grouse, 1 adult Herring Gull flyover>W and 9 Common Gulls >E.

It was good for walking on the top with soft snow on the surface and the ground underneath frozen so there were no bogs! Fantastic views all round. Not sure if I can get any photos on, though might try later.
It's worth a try up there in May for Dotterel !!

Mixenden Res'r

No sign of the diver - as expected!
Just a G C Grebe this morning but this is definately a different bird from Tuesday. This one is in breeding plumage whereas Tuesdays bird was in winter plumage.
1 Kestrel doing a display flight over the plantation
20+ Magpies
That was about it but who knows what might turn up in these bitterly cold conditions?!
Another juv G C Grebe from Alan T turned up at Mixenden during the day and both still there this morning Fri 6th Feb

Other news

An update on Withens Clough from Nigel G
Thursday 29 January (the day of blizzards)  1 male and 2 female Goldeneye.
Sunday 1 February (sunny) 2 males and 3 female Goldeneye . Both males were doing courtship displays. Also one male and female goosander staying close to the Goldeneye.

Also saw a male and female goosander on 29 January on the canal half way  between Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge.

Brighouse area

From Mike St.

 

The Merrie England cafe (the outdoor seating area) has attracted a Grey Wagtail - seen boldly wandering between the tables, no doubt tempted by their fine range of sandwiches !

 

Not much else in the area, though a Great Crested Grebe was seen on the river from the car - just upstream from the town centre.

Three Mistle Thrushes, three Nuthatches and a Goldcrest were the best sightings at Coach Road.

Mixenden Res'r

G N Diver  - No sign of it today as I checked at 09:00 and still not there 13:30. If it's gone for good then with Pete's sighting yesterday it had been there exactly 7 weeks from December 15th.
A new arrival today with a G C Grebe and a Little Grebe still there and 12 Canada Geese.
1 male Sparrowhawk through the plantation.

1st Feb

Mixenden Res'r

G N Diver still present this morning, from PS.

Today's news

Mixenden Res'r - the diver is still there at 10:00 this morning but proved elusive this afternoon in the stormy conditions though BS found it still there late afternoon, see Brian's blog link West Yorkshire Birding.

Also from Vicky J - 7 Bramblings in a garden at Highroad Well this morning, feeding on seed on the ground with one bird also seen on the feeder. Also 2 Redpoll.
It's good to know a few Bramblings are turning up this week.

From Pete Gr - Cromwell Bottom a pair of Goldeneye on the lake and c20 Redpoll in alders this afternoon.
At Jay House Lane there were a few Tree Sparrows with masses of birds to the north of the lane including 500+ Golden Plover (maybe a lot more?) , c150 Lapwings, and Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling flocks. The birds can be very distant so they are tricky to count and check for rarities even with a scope. Well worth checking in the next week or two with a chance the birds could be nearer? I guess they like it as it is well away from any disturbance ! Or who knows they may move away if ground and weather conditions deteriorate further !

A small flock of 40 to 50 Pink-footed Geese >W late afternoon near Walshaw and a Woodcock nearby (NCD DF)

Bramblings - Manor Heath

We went to look for the Bramblings as my wife has never seen one and found a mixed flock of Chaffs/Brambling of around 20 birds exactly where had been described.  They were very flighty with lots of dog walkers around and to be honest I was really struggling to determine between the two. Managed to get this record shot of the one nearest the Woodpigeons which I am sure is a Brambling.  I would estimate the flock was approximately 3:1 in favour of Chaffinch.

Mixenden Res'r

Diver still present this morning
1 Grey Wagtail
c180 B H Gulls
c 35 Common Gulls

Mixenden

Checked out the site late morning with Alan T - Great Northern Diver still present along with a Little Grebe

3 Herring gulls dropped in though they headed off >W after a brief stop

100+ mixed Black-headed and Common Gulls

1 Grey Wagtail flyover

5 Canada Geese came in

The diver photo was taken last week and also the white Carrion Crow which is still at Upper Brockholes after many years !

Recent photo's

Kestrel in Luddenden Dean and G N Diver at Mixenden

Cromwell Bottom etc..

Went with Nick D this afternoon, somewhere with a bit more shelter than the tops today!
Cromwell Bottom
16 Cormorant
9 Tufted Duck
1 Goosander
6+ Grey Heron
1 juv Mute Swan
14 Teal just above the wier
Several Bullfinch
1 Siskin
1 adult L B B Gull
182 Canada Geese
plus a few other bits and pieces....

Jay House Lane
We couldn't locate any Tree Sparrows in the cold wind - they will be there somewhere !
6 Stock Dove
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail

Shelf Moor
c70 Lapwing near the trailer field

Queensbury - was covered in snow and coming down thick and fast - we saw a 'rarity' - a gritter wagon outside BS's garage - nice one Bri (sorry we didn't have time to stop though)!!!!

Mixenden Res'r
Great Northern Diver still present

Manor Heath Park

I have just received a report , via Bruce, from Lawrence, of at least 3 Brambling in the last few days in Manor Heath Park, along the inside of the wall running parallel to Manor Heath Road. There are some tall trees there including Beech with an understory of Holly etc. so it will definitely be worth a look in the next few days. Many thanks for the report.
 

Last Call

Last call for bird records for 2014. Could people please send records in for inclusion in the 2013- 14 report within the next week, thanks.

Other news today

C. 100 redwings plus 20 starlings close up, near to road, Saville Park left of chippy at around1pm. Steve B.
And from Steve L around 11:00 - 2 adult Whooper Swans at Ringstone Res'r.

G N Diver still on Mixenden Res'r 16:15
A pair of Goosander at Ogden late afternoon.

Withens Clough

Cragg Vale - Withens Clough. From Pete G this morning c 60 Brambling in some beech woodland up the tarmac track 300 m or so from the car park which is just below the Res'r embankment.
Also 4 Goldeneye on Withens Clough Res'r. ( 2 drakes).
Thanks to John M for picking the Bramblings out for us this afternoon. They were mostly sitting in the tops of trees and were very quiet and difficult to approach.  Also a Nuthatch with them and a few Chaff's. Further up the track c70 Redwings, c30 Fieldfare and a c10 Starlings.
And calling in the valley a Green Woodpecker
Well done Pete G for a very good find with the Bramblings..

Mixenden Res'r and Swales

Diver still there this morning.
Little Grebe in among the willows
Female Sparrowhawk
17 Herring Gulls >W over Hunter Hill about 09:30

Swales Moor - late morning
1 Meadow Pipit on the top but nothing else other than corvids
11 Herring Gulls >NW
4 Great Black- Backed Gulls >NW looked massive and impressive (1 adult and immatures)

This Sparrowhawk flew into our window today and become somewhat immobile. I soon brought it round. The First Aid course some of us did in December came in very useful although CPR was rather a delicate task!   I had forgotten how sharp their talons are and she held onto my finger until she had a selfie taken with me. She few off later non the worse.

That expression reminds me of some of my friends after a few glasses of wine.

She has my finger - ouch! The glove was on the wrong hand - silly me.

Mixenden Res'r

It was good to meet up with BS this afternoon and check on the G N Diver which is still there. The weather was quite misty with light drizzle so we didn't find a lot else other than Woodpigeons heading to roost in the plantation and 3 Chaffinch flyovers.
9 Herring Gulls headed through towards Mount Tabor. The other B H and Common Gulls were heading in the other direction towards Ogden.
We both heard 2 Curlew like calls but didn't see anything in the mist and were not 100% sure if wasn't someone's dog whistle!!!

Luddenden Dean (yesterday)

Afternoon walk along Castle Carr Road from Wainstals found not much other than a Little Owl fluffed up in the cold!
Down in the Dean was more productive with another 2 Little Owls and c150+ Chaffinch heading up to roost but not a sign of any Brambling with them, unfortunately.
Near the Hullet amongst the Holly and Hawthorn I ventured on a tit flock foraging through. A Chiff- chaff called several times, a surprise indeed at this time of year and it took some finding, eventually in a thorn bush with Blue Tits and still calling.
2 juvenile Great Black backed Gulls headed>NW and a large flock of Herring Gulls followed them over the moor. The Herring Gulls were calling all the time and I'm not sure how many there maybe 100+ ,  till I check the photos I took as they went over - c120 on photo check
1 drake Goosander >S

Mixenden Res'r

G N Diver still this morning with 3 f Goldeneye keeping their distance. Also 1 Little Grebe.

Copley

There was a group of 8+ Goosander, mostly females, on the Calder just W of the railway viaduct at Copley, glimpsed from a train Friday 11.00.

Mixenden Res'r

G N Diver still showing well
17 Canada Geese
1 Greylag Goose there but left >SW with the Canada's at 09:30
1 Moorhen
1 Little Grebe
2 L B B Gulls with c100 B H and 20+ Common Gulls

Jay House Lane

From Mike St.

At J H Lane today there were 500+ (the most I've ever seen there) Golden Plovers, with 250+ Lapwings - wheeling and circling overhead before settling in the fields - virtually a 'murmuration' !

Also 19 Tree Sparrows, and a Common Buzzard near the M62.

 

Looks like the Tree Sparrow colony is holding it's own -a good sign.. djs

 

Mixenden Res'r

Late morning
G N Diver still present
1 drake Goosander came in
3 Teal left >SE
1 Grey Wagtail
1 ad Herring Gull with c60 B H and  c25 Common Gulls
1 Sparrowhawk in the plantation accompanied by Magpies

Twitchers !!!

Well done to Daniel (alias Dish Fish) for getting on Winter Watch tonight - he was with the twitchers (rubbing their thighs with Chris Packam and Martin) watching the Harlequin Duck on the River Don in Aberdeenshire. That was a long journey and back for a twitch done with great enthusiasm I guess.

See the link Dishfish birding blog for info on his trip and videos and lots of other interesting features on his blog.

Pinks

Click to enlarge

One skein very high over Hx Town centre this morning. I was hoping the photo came out ok to get an accurate count of this skein. Unfortunately it's not good enough from the phone and cropping it comes out blurred though I reckon about 180 in this skein.

Mixenden Res'r...and 'pinkies'

G N Diver still there this morning.

An early alert from Mike H with pinks moving over Brighouse mid morning with 3 skeins total 400 to 500 birds all >W. Then soon after 11:00 pinks were coming over Halifax Town centre (SB and me) with approx 100 + 200 + 80 +  also over Lee Mount. Maybe the same or part of the same lots as Mike saw? More on the way?? No more reported during the day so far at 16:30.
It's been a good spell for  'pinks' so far in January.

Brighouse area

From Mike St ... this afternoon a Merlin was flying very low over the fields, and a Buzzard nearby

In fields at Birkby Lane, above Bailiff Bridge, there were at least 350 Golden Plover with about 100 Lapwings, giving great views from the roadside. (the ratio used to be the other way around !)

On Clifton Lagoon the juv Mute Swan is still about, along with 2 Herons, and there were 5 Goosanders on the Calder nearby.

Crimsworth Dean

This afternoon - fairly quiet with only a few small birds about between crags car park and the top of the woodland other than 2 Nuthatch calling and a Green Woodpecker
1 Grey Heron
c30 Redwings and a few Blackbirds feeding in Holly bushes
2 Sparrowhawk sightings
1 Kestrel
1 Grey Partridge calling in the top fields
2 Stock Doves singing at the top of the woods.
Plenty snow and ice up there!

Halifax

c35 Redwings on Burdock Way roundabout this morning. Thought they might have been Waxwings at first as we drove past but they were  definately Redwings !

Fwd: Test

Subject: Test

Testing photo by email

Mixenden Reservoir - diver still present this morning - Monday 09:00. Present for 5 weeks now.

Other news today

Pink-footed Geese still on the move >W again today with c100 heading towards Calderdale direction 11:30 ish (JW) and c70 past Jumble Hole at 12:30 (MB) and at least 50 reported flying over towards Ogden around 12:15 (DW)

Withens Clough Reservoir on Monday 12th January from Nigel G
3 Goldeneye with a male in courtship display with 2 females
3 Goosander - 1 male 2 females

Mixenden Res'r

This afternoon - ice now starting to form along the shoreline near the plantation - how far will this extend in the next few days I wonder?
Great Northern Diver still there
2 Little Grebe and a female Goldeneye diving near the edge of the ice.
c200 Black-headed Gulls and 20+ Common Gulls on the water
1 male Sparrowhawk chasing a Dunnock through the bushes but outcome unknown !

I'm still having a problem posting photo's and not getting anywhere trying to solve it !

Other news today

Not a lot - but from SB - 40 or so pinkies over Hardcastle Crags >W at 16:15

After being inside most if the day I decided to venture out late afternoon into the Wheatley Valley. I'm glad I made the effort as I found a spot in tall beech trees where c60 Magpies were gathering to roost, but there were more to come from Pellon and North Halifax. Final total 262 and I wasn't able to see if others were coming in from Halifax or Boothtown direction.
Also a Fox near Brackenbed
c60 Woodpigeons also came in to roost along with c 80 Redwings, 3 Song Thrushes and 6+ Blackbirds

Mount Tabor Garden

First for my garden with 2 Reed Buntings visiting today.  Apologies for the poor out of focus shots in bad light.

Mixenden Res'r

G N Diver still there at 11:00 with plenty of Black Headed and Common Gulls. Roads were getting a bit tricky up there though!

Other news today

Pink-footed Geese on the move through Calderdale today with all reports >W
c200 over Copley c12:25 (SB)
c120 over Jay House Lane near Clifton c12:40 (DF)
c220 over Copley at c12:50 (SB)
c100 over Norland at c13:00 (AT)
c40 over Northowram c14:15 (AC)

Elsewhere
7 Tree Sparrows at Northowram (AC)

91 Redwings counted in Manor Heath Park with possibly a few more in the surrounding trees (JM)

Ogden - The Withens

We walked from Ogden to Top Withens this afternoon - snowstorm on the way up and glorious sunshine on the way down !
1 Kestrel
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Robin again by the mast at Top Withens! Got some photo's but still can't post any for some unknown reason!

Mixenden and Soil Hill

G N Diver showing well at Mixenden this morning but I didn't find anything else.

Soil Hill - 'The Hill' was its usual unforgiving self with nearly a white-out at 09:15 in a sideways snowstorm!  1 'crazy' Dunnock by the mast and 1 Common Gull flyover with nothing else at all.

Geese

Here they are, David. I only managed to get 43 of them!

Ogden

44 Pink-footed Geese >W over the top end of Ogden plantation at 14:20 this afternoon. We heard them first and were fortunate to just see them through a gap in the trees - and get a phot - but for some reason posting photo's is throwing up some problems on the blog at the moment ?!! so will try later. Not a lot else we could find in the gusting westerly but the pinks will do for today.

Mixenden Res'r

Diver still there along with a Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail, 2 Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel.  Nice to see Alan T  up there as well ticking off the species for the yearly challenge!!!

Mixenden Res'r

G N Diver still there this morning in the snowstorm! Still there this afternoon, checked the site with Nick D but little else about.
We had earlier tried Fly Flatts - like Arctic Tundra! Just a Kestrel and a Red Grouse.
Surprisingly, a Robin feeding along the road by the mast just near the Withens at 1,400 ft !!



Can't work out why these photos have come out like this - photo's deleted to see if this is causing the problem ??

 

Jumble Hole

A woodcock flying at dusk gave a glimpse of spring tonight. Sightings of tawny owls are regular too at the moment.

On the feeders, gs woodpeckers are very common, appearing hourly. But nuthatch and greenfinch are almost completely absent so far this winter.

Cold Edge escape !

From B S - A customer who lives at Cold Edge Dams asked me to put the word out that a 4 month old American Rhea,  it's 4 ft tall and looks like a small Ostrich, has escaped from its field near the dams and disappeared . If seen by any birder please ring Bri or text the grapevine so I can pass it on ta.

Mixenden

Stodfold area and the lower end of Ogden golf course this afternoon
16 Meadow Pipits
5 Canada Geese but no sign of the Barnacle Goose
90+ Jackdaws
30 Carrion Crows
20+ Chaffinch in the big hedge (no Bramblings)
12 Redwings
c15 Blackbirds
2 Mistle Thrush
c12 Stock Doves
c25 Woodpigeons
1 adult Gt B B gull >SW with 2 Herring Gulls
G N Diver viewed from a distance on the res'r

Mixenden Res'r

Diver still there this morning showing well. It's been there 4 weeks now. !
1 Little Grebe
1 drake Goosander > N
11 L T Tits
6 Goldcrests
1 Treecreeper
A few flighty Redwings about this morning in and out of the plantation.

Nest Boxes

Now is a good time to start putting up nesting boxes for this coming spring and summer.
Some members of Calderdale Birds Conservation Group were putting Tawny owl boxes up in suitable woodland areas last week. Well done lads!

Mixenden Res'r

Diver still there this afternoon looking very settled.  Not much else other than c6 Goldcrests in the Willows along the west shore.

Mixenden Res'r

G N Diver still present this morning. Despite the stormy conditions  the res'r was reasonably sheltered on the west side thanks to the plantation but the weather does not seem to affect the diver anyway.
1 Little Grebe
c70 B H Gulls
25 Common Gulls
2 Great Black-backed Gulls and 17+ Herring Gulls >W - they love moving in this weather !!

I went looking for Woodcock in the plantation without success, its certainly a welly job in there!
1 Chaffinch, 6 Goldcrest, several Blue and Great Tits, 1 Long-tailed Tit and a Nuthatch calling.

Mixenden Res'r

G N Diver still present this morning at 9:00. A Little Grebe there
and a Cormorant flyover>W
5 Herring Gulls >W

High Royd

I had a check here earlier but it's generally a waste of time checking the former sludge beds as it's so overgrown and impossible to view through the trees. There is a small area of phragmites and scrub areas as well as wet bog. Only chance of getting anything here is in Spring listening for warblers including still the possibility of Reed W, Sedge W  etc. it's probably also ok for Water Rail.
The filter beds were just about viewable with c40 Pied Wagtails and at least 6 Grey Wagtails and 2 Moorhen with 2 Grey Heron flyovers.
Nuthatch and Gt Spotted Woodpecker in the nearby woodland along with c 15 L T Tits.

Mixenden Res'r etc

Diver still at Mixenden today at 08:30 - still there at 14:50 (NK)
Also the Barnacle Goose is back with the Canada's  at Stodfold

Sainsbury's car park Halifax - Song Thrush singing there this morning.

Cold Edge Dams - 1 Cormorant
Fly Flatts - 54 Mallard, 1 Kestrel, and 2 Red Grouse. Also over the moor 14 Herring Gulls >W

Mixenden Res'r

G N Diver still this morning at 08:40 but I couldn't find the Little Grebe.
1 female Sparrowhawk over
Mistle Thrushes singing at Mixenden plantation and also in Shroggs Park this morning and a Magpie carrying nesting material!!

Lower Valley

From Mike St earlier today

I had a walk around the Lower Valley this morning, and came across the following -

Colnebridge - Kingfisher, juv Heron, and a pair of Bullfinches.

Kirklees Hall - 2 Song Thrush, 35+ Goldfinch, and a Grey Wagtail.

Clifton Lagoon - male Goosander, juv Mute Swan, a dozen Mallard, and 3 female Goosanders on the river.

Skiing Lake, EGP - 6 Cormorants.

And at Sunny Vale yesterday - 4 Teal, a Kingfisher and 3 Nuthatches calling.

Ploughcroft and Pepper Hill (above Claremount)

Hag Lane walk this afternoon behind the ski-slope. Lots of birds about on the hill top on the sheltered side looking over Shibden Valley. This adult female Sparrowhawk landed nearby, but behind a bush! It gave a fantastic view in the sunshine, especially the underside - but it was through so quickly it was hard to keep up with !!!

Sparrowhawk

 

6 Mistle Thrush

30+ Fieldfare

30+ Redwing

c100 Starlings

c50 Common Gulls

c20 B H Gulls

7 Herring Gulls high >W

1 Pied Wagtail

1 Jay

1 Kestrel

4 Mute Swans ( a long way off way down in the valley on Shibden Park Lake)



Mixenden Res'r etc

Diver still there at 11:00 along with a Little Grebe.
Also with the B H and Common Gulls an adult L B B Gull
7 Lapwings high >NW

Cold Edge
1 f Goldeneye and a drake Tufted Duck
20+ Fieldfare

Fly Flatts
35 Mallard
2 Kestrels

Short Walk PM

Brearley 5 goosander (2m, 3f) . They surfed down the weir and on down the Calder.
1 dipper feeding.
1 grey heron
Hawksclough
GS woodpecker close to the canal
Kingfisher flew up the canal
Mytholmroyd 
2 grey wagtails on the Calder.
1 dipper on Elphin Brook.
Peregrine over
2 ravens over

Luddenden Dean

Jerusalem Farm area with plenty birds about especially tits on the feeders along with a Nuthatch. Also Chaff's, Goldfinch and Bullfinch about.
Nearby a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers with the male "drumming"
2 Grey Herons
1 Jay
40+ Redwings - mostly in the Holly bushes
6 Lesser Redpolls in the Larch's

Upper Dean
The highlight was a flock of around 30 Redpoll and 12 Siskin feeding in a solitary Alder
2 Dippers together in the stream near the Lower Lodge
1 Treecreeper
1 Nuthatch
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
Finches and tits on the feeders by 'The Lowe'

Castle Carr Road
2 pairs of Little Owls
c30 Fieldfare
A few Mistle Thrush and Blackbirds about today but no Song Thrush's
Not a sign of any Brambling.

Just out of area - cetti's warbler

A cetti's warbler was reported yesterday on the East Lancs site as singing at Lee Green reservoir, east of Burnley (towards Widdop - not more than 3 miles from our recording area border). I've thought for a while this is an overdue bird for Calderdale, and might not be too long now before one turns up.

Eastwood sewage works

92 pied wagtails were on and near the filter beds, with 2 grey wags and 2 meadow pipits. Up to 200 black headed gulls are present most days. A pair of goosander were on the canal (a neighbour reported 5 males and 3 females in the same area last week). A kingfisher was heard on the river, but not seen.

Mixenden and Swales

This morning, the G N Diver still showing well at Mixenden Res'r and a Sparrowhawk over.

Nothing doing at Swales other than c70 Carrion Crows and a similar number of Jackdaws and 3 Stock Doves with a Common Buzzard nearby briefly.

Today's news

G N Diver still there at Mixenden and showing well at 15:00 but not a lot else though 2 Sparrowhawks nearby and 2 Kestrels

From Steve L
Jay House Lane - c300 Golden Plover
Cromwell Bottom - 3 Mute Swans ( 2 juvs and an adult) also a pair of Goldeneye there.

See Brian's blog - West Yorkshire Birding for a great report from first thing this morning at Fly Flatts - some great sunrise shots and a great bird for January with a Redshank + photos.

Moorlnd Walk - Fri

Drive to spot and walk produced at least 7 Kestrels, 1 of which was struggling to carry large prey which I assume it couldn't have killed.  We were then examining feathers from a prey item that to our eyes looked liked Kestrel feathers in colouring.  Then right on cue a Peregrine came straight above us.  Don't know if they would ever take Kestrel or just coincidence.  Also had c6 Grey Partridge and c12 Grouse.  Then a small brown bird appeared and it was a Robin at > 1200ft in January. 2 Pied Wagtails in the drainage ditches also very high up too. 2 Sparrowhawks too.

Blog postings !

A number of local birders are having difficulty posting and putting photo's on the blog. We could do with a few more doing postings, even if it's just day to day birds as everything is of interest.

I'm not sure if this is a general problem and I'm not 'tech guy'.
If you are having difficulty posting please let me know then perhaps we can get some advice on how this can be resolved !

Brighouse

From Mike Henshaw's Brighouse garden, a couple of nice shots taken recently.

 Female Blackcap on Christmas Day 2014

Redwing feeding on Cotoneaster berries

 

Keep them coming Mike - well done.

Todays news

2 Tree Sparrows at a site in Northowram earlier today and also a Jack Snipe at Fly Flatts this afternoon (AC)

Several Pink-footed Geese through - all >W this afternoon  around 16:30 with c50 over Northowram (AC) and c200 over Skircoat (SB)

Great Northern Diver - Mixenden res.

I finally managed to summon up the enthusiasm to go and see the GND this morning. After nearly a full circuit of the reservoir completed there was still no show and the sleet was coming down more and more heavily, it looked a bit grim to be honest. Then suddenly I caught sight of it on the far side of the water so I headed back round for a closer look. I managed reasonable views down to about 100 yards, just enough for my compact camera to record a few plumage details before it went back in it's case before short circuiting.

I've been birding now for 36 years without EVER seeing a GND so I've finally unblocked this bogey bird once and for all - maybe we should have a trophy for the longest standing (commonish) bogey bird!

Thanks to the finder and all those who've kept this blog updated with it's presence.

Mixenden Res'r .....

G N Diver still there at 11:00 but nothing else.

Fly Flatts - I had a look up there in the hope of Brian's Snow Bunting but nothing doing other than sleet and snow and drifting fog!

Today's news

Great Northern Diver still at Mixenden Res'r till at least 11:30.

Also another great find for the new year by Steve L with a Green Sandpiper at Jay House Lane late morning though it soon headed off high towards Bradford direction - maybe return to the pond up the hill from the ford.

Also we have received several reports of large Golden Plover flocks from Jay House Lane area recently so it's well worth a check with a scope if anyone gets up there in next few days.

And the winner is ?

At the start of the year three of us took up Gordon Denison’s challenge to see how many species we could see in 2014. The record held by Darrel Prest stood at 147, a high number to beat. This years winner unsurprisingly was Dave Franz with a score of 149, yours truly ended the year on 142 and Dave Sutcliffe on 139. 2014 also saw the highest number of species recorded, so far 163 beating 1996s total by one. The year will mainly be remembered by the number of rare and scarce species which turned up, namely Eider, Hoopoe, Montagus Harrier, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Wryneck, Woodlark, Richard’s Pipit, 2 Great Northern Divers, Rough-legged Buzzard, Iceland Gull etc. If 2015 is half as good it will be considered a good year.

Fly Flatts

Met DF up there following a report from BS about a Snow Bunting along the top road. We couldn't relocate it though we suspected it might have moved on after the fog lifted - which was when Brian found it. Well done Bri.
See the link to Brian's blog West Yorkshire Birding to view his photo's. Great start to the New Year Bri.
Diver still at Mixenden (BS)

Mixenden Res'r

Back to routine this morning to see if the diver was still on mixi after all those fireworks last night. Yes, it's still there but a bit too distant for photo's
Pair if Goosander
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Off to peel some spuds now!