Kestrel

Got great close up views of a juvenile Kestrel catching beetles at Walshaw Dean yesterday. Even trying to take insects off a vertical wall.

Leos and Shorties

Top young Leos, M Mail, middle Adult Leo and bottom juvenile Shortie, NCD. Leos First of all thanks to all bird club members who helped with the Leo survey this year. The preliminary results are the best on record, at least as far as I can remember. We found 13 territorial pairs, 11 of these successfully raised a minimum of at least 34 young, probably many more. One pair is thought to have failed due to natural causes and another the outcome is unknown. One other site held at least one adult in the early spring but breeding was not thought to have taken place. Two new sites were found this year and both were successful. Not all areas were covered due to man power and a large wood on our western border was not checked so other pairs may have bred un-noticed. Two males were singing at one site from 15.00PM in the afternoon in early April indicating that it was likely to be an outstanding year, which it has proved to be. Shorties It soon became obvious early in the year with all the voles running around that shorties should have a good breeding season, they didn’t disappoint. We found 11 nesting pairs, two of which raised second broods. Its difficult to asses the number of young raised, at least 20 but its probably double this number. 1 pair fledged 6 young another pair fledged 4 and then had a second brood of two. There were some casualties as well with an adult male and a fledged juvenile knocked down and killed at one site leaving the female to raise a second brood of two herself, how this ended is unknown. Its likely that other pairs bred un-noticed, as not all moorland areas were checked. Once again thanks to all who helped out and thanks for all the voles ! Ps at the time of writing a pair of Shortie’s are still feeding young and young leo’s are still hunger calling at one site, so there may yet be time to find more.

Jumble Hole

18 swift flew over > E today.

The whitethroat are still around, but much quieter, generally restricting any noise to alarm calls. The green woodpecker is still tending its single young bird.

Little Egret

Thanks to a call from Mike Sharp, DJS and me took a lucky guess as to where the egret might be, and found it strait away on the river close to Ganny Lock at Elland Gravel Pits. Unfortunatly after 5 minutes it flew down stream towards Brighouse out of sight.

Barn Owl site witheld

Went with Roy to check out a potential Barn Owl site and found the above sat on a wall. Digi scoped shots however shows the bird with a blue ring on its leg, as far as I know not a BTO ring so probably of captive origin. However the bird showed no sign of wear on its tail and flight feathers a feature captive birds sometimes show. Because of the possibility of breeding the site is withheld. If no one has objections I will post results of the Leo and Shortie survey soon, no sites will be given, all comments welcome.

Parakeet-Sowerby Bridge

Very colourful morning in the garden at Bolton Brow.Bullfinch,Goldfinch,Greenfinch,Jay and this Ring Necked Parakeet.Heard parrot like squarwking for a few days now and got a glimse of this bird on the feeders this morning.Hopefully it will return so i can get a better photo.

Yesterday

Juvenile Bullfinch in the garden yesterday with the adult male in the feeder

 Bullfinch

 

 

Male Stonechat with at least one juvenile nearby at Cold Edge earlier this week

Male Stonechat

 

Other news from yesterday evening an adult Black-tailed Godwit at Ringstone on the shoreline early evening but it soon moved on (JB). 1 Curlew and c20 Sand Martins also there along with Swallows and a few Swifts.

Fly Flatts and Cold Edge

Rained and fogged off this morning at Fly Flatts so tried Cold Edge where things improved bird wise but not the weather - other than the fog lifted lower down
Cold Edge
4+ Reed Buntings
1 m Stonechat with a juvenile
1 S E O distant
1 Curlew
1 Snipe
Little Grebe pair +1 juv
45 Lapwing
1 Tufted Duck
Plenty Swifts and Swallows over the dams

Fly Flatts later on - fog lifted but still heavy rain
2 Wheatear
30+ Swifts >N
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Barnacle Goose + the usuals !
Not a sign of any terns moving

Fly Flatts

I tried up there earlier on thinking maybe something would turn up after/during the rain and mist - not much doing though.
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Lapwing
1 Barnacle Goose with 4 Greylags and the usual Canadas
1 f Tufted Duck
c50 Swifts
5 Swallows >NW
No Wheatears
Still no Twite - I have a bit of seed left so will carry on another week or two to use it up then give it up as a bad job same as BS is thinking.! No Twite recorded there for 2 years now.

Soil Hill

Did not expect much on the hill given the weather but was pleasantly surprised when a Common Tern drifted over going north. Thats my 70th species on the hill, quickly followed by number 71 when an Oystercatcher flew past me going south.

Species List: Linnet (9), Feral Pigeon (2), Common Tern (1), Lesser Black-Backed Gull (~20 Blogging), Blackbird (1), Swift (7), Meadow Pipit (~20-30), Skylark (9), Black-Headed Gull (1), Lapwing (~40), Mistle Thrush (2), Stock Dove (1), Carrion Crow (5), Wheatear (1 Juv), Woodpigeon (3), Swallow (2), Oystercatcher (1), Common Gull (1), Starling (~60), Pheasant (3), Kestrel (1), Dunnock (1),

Claremount Buzzard

             Buzzard soaring around Claremount on Saturday.
             2 Kestrel hovering same area later on and 2 Bullfinch,
             Green, Gold and Chaffinch in garden.

Birdfair?

Any Calderdale birders going to the Birdfair this year? Be good to catch up with old friends.

Ogden and Bradshaw areas

I had a check around in the rain for feeding gull flocks which were taking advantage of the worms coming to the surface in the various wet fields
No med Gulls !
200+ B H Gulls
50+ L B B Gulls
60+ Common Gulls
All gulls mostly full adults with just a very small number of juveniles or sub adults. Early returners from the breeding grounds I guess.

High Royd

Sewage works upstream from Sowerby Bridge early afternoon in the heavy rain
10+ Carrion Crows on the filter beds
c50 House Martins
c60 Swallows
A few Pied Wagtails and 1 Grey Wagtail
The rest of the site is impossible to check !

Fly Flatts

Nothing new at all this morning. the whole area was pretty dead apart from 2 Common Sandpipers, 48 Lapwings and c10 Kestrels.
Not a Swift in sight either !

Blackbirds feeding young at Withens Head and met Dave B up there having taken some very good photo's.

Fly Flatts

Yesterday morning before the drizzle and mist crept in.
Thank's to Nick from last night the Green Sandpiper was still there until at least 10:00 at the NW end but kept hiding away !
At least 8 Common Sandpipers
100+ Swifts
2 Swallows
1 Sand Martin
Barnacle Goose with 4 Greylags and 200+ Canadas
6 Kestrels
1 distant SEO
3 B H Gulls and 15 L B B Gulls >W

Green Sandpiper

On the way to Walshaw Dean last night we stoped off at Fly Flats, viewing from the road when a Green Sand flew in to the north east corner. No time to go and look for it but its still there today.

Upland burning

An interesting article on RSPB.org.uk media centre.
10 year RSPB lead study reveals the extent of Upland burning across Britain !
Link is
 http://t.co/zMrOCTpEd9

Fly Flatts

Still blustery and drizzle up there this morning.
Distant SEO and C Buzzard
3 Common Sands, one left high >NE
1 Sand Martin and a few Swifts >SW
1 Wheatear
12+ Kestrels
Barnacle Goose still with the Canada's and 4 Greylag Geese
1 Little Owl at Withens Head

Fly Flatts

An hour there this afternoon didn't produce a lot with drizzle in the air
3+ Kestrels
4 Lapwings
2 Common Sandpipers
2 Redshank
Barnacle Goose still with the Canada's
1 Wheatear

Jumble Hole

An adult and juvenile  green woodpecker have been around a lot the last few days, and this morning sat on the garden wall for a while. Picture quality is poor as it was taken on a camera phone.

The two whitethroat are still singing like mad, and appear incredibly tame, giving views sometimes down to 5 feet. A buzzard drifted over at the weekend with crows in attendance.

Wainstalls

This afternoon a pair of Little Owls with at least 3 juvs just flying maybe some photos later if they are any good ! Another pair nearby but no juvs found.
Not a lot else other than a few mipits and 2 Skylark
Plenty Kestrels around, 1 Willow Warbler and a few Linnets, Swallows and Swifts though just 1 House Martin.

Juvenile Little Owl

Shelducks

13 Shelducks Over Walshaw Dean at Dusk on Friday night were followed by 24 at dusk on Saturday. 1 juv Wheatear at High Road Well Moor today.

New to Calderdale/SEO

Hello
Just moved to calderdale(sowerby bridge/friendly) to be precise.I am a keen birder and cant wait to get exploring the area.Would be greatful if anybody could suggest areas for me to go out birding? My first trip out was up to wainstalls last night,was lucky enough to see this Short Eared Owl perched on a post the hunting for a good 20 minutes.Pretty good first evening out so ive high hopes for my birding in calderdale.Cant wait to get posting.Thanks Matt

Fly Flatts

Late morning with a strong >SW checking the northern end with just 2 Common Sandpipers and 1 Redshank present though still plenty shoreline
c10 Kestrels
10 Swifts >NE

Movers  >SW
5 Sand Martins
1 Raven
13 L B B Gulls
1 Common Gull
3 Black Headed Gulls
Good to meet up with NK and DW doing the rounds !

Fly Flatts

A check of the north end yesterday aftenoon produced - not much - even  less than usual!
1 Common Sandpiper was the only wader
1 juv Wheatear
5 Stock Doves >NE
1 Swallow and just a few Swifts all high >NE
8 Kestrels

Withens Head
1 Little Owl

Fly Flatts

Very quiet last two mornings up there. Poor weather yesterday and some mist and light drizzle today with plenty of shoreline for waders but still no migrants.
A few Swifts 40+ feeding over the res'r
Barnacle Goose still with the Canadas (now nearly with the juvs 400 !!!) and a pair of Greylags with juvs
Plenty of Kestrels 10+ with fledged juveniles and 1 distant SEO this morning

Juvenile Heron out of nest.

A young heron had come out of it's nest in Triangle over the weekend. Apparently it survived overnight but died the next evening.

Whimbrel.

One flew north over the house at Skircoat Green this morning at 6.20. It called several times recalling a Little Grebe. A new "garden" tick for me!!

short eared owls

A pair of short eared owls were hunting over the moor above Cragg Vale on Turvin Road today at about 7:30 pm

Leo chicks

Out checking on long eared owl nest last night. 1-2 fledged young hunger calling from a site that's known about but new this year. If you go out looking (listening) for them, this is what to listen out for. Nick D is co-ordinating a survey to try determine how many nesting pairs we have in Calderdale (no owls to be seen on the video by the way, just there for the audio!).

Cold Edge etc

1 male Stonechat near the top dam
Little Grebe adult + 1 on the top pond
1 Kestrel
Hardly any waders about other than a few Lapwings
2 Tufted Duck
A  few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits still feeding young
1 pair Little Owls

Juvenile Swallows at 'The Withens'

We were doing the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey in fairly good and improving conditions and found 2 Common Blues near Moorlands Farm. A few Small Heaths and Small Tortoiseshells scattered about, 1 Red Admiral and just one White and 1 Meadow Brown. Just out of the survey area there were quite a few Ringlets near the plantation just below the lower dam

Fly Flatts

Stoodley Pike from Fly Flatts

A similar day to yesterday with heavy showers rushing through.
Not a lot different up there this morning, about the same as yesterday, though Swifts were even morel in evidence with c80 mainly feeding over the res'r and not deterred even in the heavy showers
1 Reed Bunting singing in the juncas
4 Raven >S
3 L B B Gulls >NW
2 Kestrels

No sign of yesterdays Golden Plover flock at 'Nolstar'
c25 Black Headed Gulls resting on Cold Edge dams

Fly Flatts etc

Late morning check with very heavy showers coming through thick and fast...
8+ Common Sandpipers
2+ Redshank
2+ Curlew
35 Lapwing on the shoreline
100+ Canadas and the Barnacle Goose still with them
Blackbird feeding young !
2 Kestrels
Meadow Pipits still feeding young
c40 Swifts

Withens Head
1 juv Curlew with an adult
1 Snipe 'drumming'
Pair of Linnet

'Nolstar'
17 Golden Plover
38 Lapwings including fledged juveniles

Soil Hill

Couple of bits and pieces from Soil Hill late morning/early afternoon. Highlights included:

-3 Twite that flew round from the East, banked and then flew back that way. I could not see if they went down at all, as I was in a dell when they came over.

-One Goldcrest in the small patch of trees at the base of the main track, calling frequently but only seen once

-One Red Kite which drifted down from the north, over the top of the hill high up, before looping off NE direction. 

-Red Kite

Other species included 2 Juvenile Blue Tits, Blackbird, Magpie, Linnet, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Carrion Crow, Meadow Pipit, Swift (18 in total), Whitethroat (3 including a singing male), Goldfinch, Swallow,

Osprey

Hi, first post and pretty good! Yesterday June 30th at around 9.30 am an Osprey flew over my house in Triangle. I watched it for a couple of minutes as it headed SW. Thought it was a seagull at first, then a buzzard but in binoculars it was clearly an Osprey (I've seen dozens in the US).
Is this a regular migration route or have I just been incredibly lucky?

Pied flycatcher

Over two weeks ago a female pied flycatcher was seen around a nest box in a large Calderdale woodland. I went down to see it at the time, and the bird was returning to the box every 10-15 minutes, but only for seconds at a time. The box is not one of CBCG's and the hole is at the bottom of the front of the box, rather than the top. As a result you could see straight in. A quick look revealed 6 eggs. Tonight, I checked again, and the same 6 eggs are still there, with no sign of the female. I'm hoping she maybe found a better more secure box to start a new nest in? Though that may be wishful thinking.

In better news, a pair of blackcap were feeding well grown young.

Back at Jumble Hole, there are two singing whitethroat in close proximity, with one taking up residence in the garden. Notable by their absence this year are woodcock, for the first year in the last 12 I've been up here.

Ogden Garden

A lesser redpoll was on the garden feeder this evening

Thursday AM

Cormorant at Hardcastle Craggs on the dam at Gibson Mill and on Hebden Water.

Fly Flatts

Nothing extra last 2 days other than usual waders with plenty Snipe 'drumming' this morning and Dunlin and Golden Plover on the moor.
1 Barnacle Goose still with 290+ Canada's and 1 Greylag Goose with 4 chicks

A bit of  a shock came when 11 large corvids went >SE - Rooks - they are a surprise bird up there, looking more like Ravens than Carrion Crows do - but when you see birds out of the usual context it's always worth a double check !
Alsoa surprise bird Blackbirds nesting up there !

Lapwing behaviour

Hartshead area - in the same field, two pairs of Lapwings have nested.
Today one adult was guarding one wandering youngster, and three adults were
keeping an eye on four more.
A fox got to within a few yards of the larger group, but was eventually driven
off by the adult birds. Lets hope the Buzzards get the same treatment.
Sad news about another long-serving birder; Les Midgley died recently - many
people will have come across him walking the stretch of towpath between Brighouse
and Cromwell Bottom over the years. He was extremely knowledgable, but very
modest about anything rare or unusual that he'd found. He was a real gent.

Ploughcroft and Pepper Hill

Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pair of Kestrels with the male doing his display flight
Male Sparrowhawk
1 Black-headed Gull >N
2 L B B Gulls
3 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
Plenty Swifts and Swallows and 2 House Martins

Lee Mount

Half hour gems !
Sun warming up and thermals rising across dinner time - garden watch time..
1 Common Buzzard high over >W at 12:30
Male Sparrowhawk over >SE carrying prey towards Shroggs Road around 12:45
Adult Hobby over just before 13:00 catching insects then drifted off high >NE
That's what I call a good lunch!!

Soil Hill

Nice to be back home and back on Soil Hill, and what better way to mark the return than with an absolute patch Mega! Nuthatch! Caught about 30 seconds with it in the group of small trees just opposite the main track, before it vanished back into the trees!

Also on Site were 

-Carrion Crow (8)

-Meadow Pipit

-Linnet (10)

-Blackbird (5)

-Dunnock (2)

-Chaffinch (3)

-Goldcrest (2)

-Coal Tit (2)

-Swallow (1)

-Woodpigeon

-Feral Pigeon

-Skylark

-Starling 

-Swift (14)

-Lesser Black-Backed Gull (2)

-Moorhen (2)

-Kestrel (1)

-Magpie (1)

-Great Tit (1)

-Pied Wagtail (1)

Fly Flatts

2 hrs or so there this morning in very calm condition though overcast.
Not a lot to add to yesterday as bird were much the same except the Ringed Plover had definately  moved on.
10 Black- headed Gulls went through high >NW
Still plenty of Swifts about up there.
Niger seed put down for any lurking Twite but the outluck for any up there is not looking good.
1 Pair of Grey Wagtails nesting nearby

Fly Flatts

Late morning and a pretty cold > NW for mid-summer!
1 Ringed Plover near the boathouse was probably encouraged by a bit of shoreline appearing!
Several Common Sandpiper
Several Snipe drumming
1 Dunlin
Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank
1 Barnacle Goose still with the Canada's
Greylag Goose pair + 6
Meadow Pipits and 3+ Skylark
A few L B B Gulls patrolling the moor
It was also good to meet up with Andy and catch up with a few things.

Luddenden Dean

Went to check for Pied Flycatcher and Redstart but drew a blank on both. Heavy rain probably didn't help !
1 Cuckoo still in good voice
1 Blackcap
A few Willow Warblers in song
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker at Jerusalem Farm
2 Nuthatches
Mistle Thrush still feeding young
1 Song Thrush

Ringstone

Called up there late evening
1 L R Plover
2 Common Sandpipers with one adult having 2 juvs tucked under her wings. Looks like the third juv is missing?
1 Redshank
2 Oystercatchers

Malta Documentary In Green Unplugged Film Festival

The full length film of Calderdale Bird Conservation Group members in Malta that I shot in 2007 and 2008 is now showing live in the Green Unplugged online film festival

To watch the full length version of Birds, Bins and Bullets just paste the link into your browser

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/53363?fb_ref=Default

Claremount Buzzards

           2 Buzzards circling above  Claremount & Shibden, stayed for
           quite a while even though one was being pestered by Gulls.

                   
                        Greenfinch & Goldfinch in garden and a couple of Chaffinch

Cuckoos

2 still calling at jumble hole today along with: All the usual species, a juvenile grey wagtail, whitethroat, garden warbler, blackcaps, willow warblers, chiffchaffs, a kestrel, tawny owl heard but not seen, about 5 young robins, lots of wrens, 4 green woodpeckers, 3 jays.

High Royd

A difficult site to check nowadays since the sludge beds were discontinued. The habitat is still very good even though it's overgrown including marsh and a phragmites bed - you just can't see anything. !
A big plus was the filter beds with anything up to 400 (impossible to count)!! House Martins and 100+ Swallows and c50 Swifts. They were all massing around the beds, an amazing site which was probably due to the overcast and muggy conditions and mist and drizzle on higher ground and loads of insects hatching. No Sand Martins found.
Chiff-chaff and Blackcap around and 100+ Carrion Crows on and around the filter beds and 1 Grey Heron and a pair of Grey Wagtails on the river.

Woodcock

                A Woodcock showing well at Walshaw Dean tonight.

Ogden

Hi, I'm Matthew, a fourteen year old who's very keen on birding.
On a walk around Ogden and up to Ogden Moor:
Moor
2 kestrels
2 jays
lots of skylarks and meadow pipits
3 wheatears 2m 1f
a few linnets

Woods and around the reservoir
at least 2 goldcrests
2 spotted flycatchers
willow warbler
a few blackcaps
pair of whitethroat
sparrowhawk
buzzard
about 6 grey wagtails
tufted duck with the mallards
green woodpecker yaffling

Sparrowhawk above Brearley Wood too

Scammonden and Ringstone

Early afternoon at Scammonden a Grasshopper Warbler showing briefly and singing from a bramble bush. A very ragged looking Common Buzzard over but not a lot else.

2 G C Grebes at Ringstone
A few Linnet and Goldfinch about
2 Sand Martins
4 House Martins and a few local Swallows

Luddenden Dean

Yesterday morning a female Pied Flycatcher but when I called back at the spot late morning I wasn't able to relocate it !
c10 pairs of Linnets
1 Skylark
c12 pairs Meadow Pipits feeding young
A few Willow Warblers, a Chiff-Chaff and 2 Blackcap
Cuckoo still calling in the upper dean
Plenty Kestrels on the moor so maybe juveniles have fledged?

Red Kite at Soil Hill

            Got a nice surprise after an uneventful day up at Soil Hill
            when a Red Kite went flying past, couldn't get a good shot of
            it though, which was a shame. Plenty of birdsong down at
            Cromwell Bottom but not a lot showing.

Stoodley Pike.

Lots of activity up there this morning including a reeling Grasshopper Warbler (not seen and never have!) and these two little Owls.

 



Pied Flycatcher

Female Pied Flycatcher - this afternoon in a local woodland - these are the best I could get without disturbing it too much. It wouldn't go side on for the camera to see the white wing markings though.
Also male Redstart nearby and one Spotted Flycatcher but no sign of any Wood Warblers or Tree Pipits. On a positive note a good number of Cuckoo's still being reported. It's been a good year for them in our area though the adults will be heading back to Africa soon !!

Cuckoo

Walked from Back lane Ogden to Mixi res this morning. There was a Cuckoo calling at Ogden when I was walking on back lane, 1 calling from the Golf course and one in Mixi res plantation, Either it was following me around or there were 3 different birds.?? One juv little Owl , Oystercatcher , Lapwing ,Curlew and Snipe on the Golf course. Loads of Linnets and Reed Bunts and a couple of pairs of Lapwing with 1 flying juv (just) and a couple of young grey Wags at Mixi res. Lots of House Martins , Swifts and Swallows . Two  Great crested Grebes flying over the golf Course towards Ogden  were superb in the sunlight.
 Had 2 adults + 2 Juv Wheatear and another agitated male Wheatear (different site) from an upland site on Monday.

Ringstone

This evening
1 Little Ringed Plover
Pair Common Sandpiper + 3 juvs
Grey Heron lurking near the Common sands!
Pair of Goosander flew in - female and a juvenile
2 G C Grebe
At least 4 Sand Martins and a few Swallows

Wheatley Valley

A check on the former landfill site this morning thinking there might be a few butterfly's about - just 2 Sm T T S and a  male Orange Tip
3 Blackcap
2 Chiff-chaff
2 Willow Warbler
1 Garden Warbler
No Whitethroats
1 Jay

Fly Flatts

Yesterday afternoon for a short while - pretty windy from the >E
Usual sp + the Barnacle Goose is still with the Canada's
c50 Swifts feeding over the res'r looking fantastic charging around at speed
Lapwings and Culrew with quite well grown chicks

What's this??

This flew over the house last evening high up heading towards hebden cannot work out what it is, sparrowhawk maybe 

Dipper Update

Been away from work for bit and now returned,  and yes  good news  - Juveniles in the brook,  other colleagues have seen both parents out, but today a little buzzing Juve flew upstream!
Good news for a Town centre Location!

Raven flyover

           9.30 last night 7 Ravens flew over Claremount, never seen
           as many Ravens, they were flying low as well. I found it a
           bit strange to be honest but boy are they  BIG.
           Deffo not crows

Withens Clough

Withens Clough this afternoon.
1 Whinchat
2 Stonechat
1 Grasshopper Warbler

Shibden Park

A quick walk through the park this afternoon to see the mute swan cygnets (a total of 5):

Gorple/Walshaw area

Just had a stroll either side of the Widdop road, did not  even make it far as the reservoirs!. Lovely day, sun warm wind - well windy ! but birds all over

Skylark,

Mippits,

Pheasant and many chicks,

Swallows,

Swifts,

2 grey partridge

2-3 pair Lapwing

Pied Wagtails

Female Ring Ouzel

Chaffinches

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Willow warbler

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

4-5 curlew

Spotted flycatcher

2-3 Siskin

LBB Gull

H Gull

Oystercatcher

Wood pigeon

Song Thrush

Mistle Thrush

(missed a golden plover someone else saw)

oh and a nice roe buck with horns out of velvet!

Dead Jay

Found this Jay in Shroggs Road last evening which looked like it had been hit by a passing car?

Cold Edge

A struggle today in the gusting westerly wind though the sunshine was warm and pleasant. Nearly got blown away at The Withens. !
Several Lapwings with well grown chicks
4 Curlew
1 Snipe
6 Reed Buntings, a few Meadow Pipits, 3 Skylark and a few Linnets
9 Golden Plover still in fields near Nolstar

Jumble Hole

Up to two cuckoos, 2 pairs of whitethroat, 2 pairs of garden warbler and several blackcap all in good song at the moment.

Cragg Vale and Withens Clough

We tried up there this morning in the hope of either Wood Warbler (heard near the Hinchcliffe Arms last week from BL), along with Tree Pipit and Grasshopper Warbler but drew blanks on all 3 !
A lovely day all the same we headed up the clough and around the res'r (no shoreline)
2 Stonechat
6+ House Martins at a nest site
2 Blackcap
1 Chiff-chaff
4+ Willow Warblers
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Kestrel
1 Green Woodpecker
c10 Reed Buntings
73 Canada's
1 Common Sandpiper

Back home this afternoon and had a great surprise with a Humming Bird Hawkmoth feeding around the garden planters - dashed for camera but it was off - as they do, at a sprint !

Ringstone Res'r

This evening
1 L R Plover on the little bit of shoreline near the road headed off  >W at 20:40
2 Common Sandpiper
1 Grey Heron
4 G C Grebe
c25 Mallard
c30 Swallow
c5 Sand Martin
2 Willow Warblers
Pair of Linnet

Swifts

Lots of swifts over the garden this evening about 40

Managed to get a photos 

Great birds 

Ogden

We went looking at a traditional site for Tree Pipit without success. Not a sniff!
c3 Blackcap singing
1 Chiff-chaff
3 Willow Warblers
1 Goldcrest singing
1 Kestrel
1 Grey Heron
1 Treecreeper
2 Jays
1 drake Tufted Duck
A few L B B Gulls  high >SW

CBNR

              Today's visit to CBNR produced -:

             10+ Willow Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers
             1 GS Woodpecker, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Kestrel, 4 Wren
             8 Goldfinch, 6 Bullfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 8 Wood Pigeon
             6 LTT, 10+ Blue Tits & Great Tits, 6 Coal Tits
             2 Nuthatch, 3 Jay, 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiff Chaff with more singing
             4 Whitethroat, 4 Canada's with 8 Goslings, 2 Grey Wagtail

Fly Flatts

A strong >SW gale blowing and gusting with drizzle kept everything down other than a steady stream of larger gulls - 18 mainly adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 11 Herring Gulls (mostly sub adults) >SW
1 Barnacle Goose with the Canada's but not much else other than usual waders mainly keeping out of sight.

19 Golden Plover are still feeding spaced out in several fields near 'Nolstar' along the east side of Cold Edge Road

At last I've been able to upload a photo after several weeks of not being able to do so !!!? even if it is a poor shot of a Golden Plover

Shibden Valley and Ringby Lane

Yesterday - Sunday afternoon at top end of Shibden Valley
A few warblers singing with Blackcap, Willow Warblers and Chiff-chaff present
Blue tits feeding young in a dry stone wall and similar with a pair of Great Tits
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker at a nest site
A few Swallows, Swifts and 2 House Martins
Pair of Long-tailed Tit
2 Bullfinch
1 Kestrel
Carrion Crows with 4 just out of the nest

Ringby Lane
2 Grey Partridge
1 Skylark
Pair of Meadow Pipits
4 Linnet