Mixenden Reservoir - Herring Gull type ?

Any thoughts on this large Herring Gull type at Mixenden this morning.?
I took these this morning with a view to having a look at the shots this evening....

At times it looked nearly goose like, a large bird compared with the nearby B H Gulls and larger than a L B B Gull that was close by though couldn't get them both together for closer comparison. - maybe just a Herring Gull but the head was so clean and white with a dark eye with no speckling on the head or neck, long legs (colour flesh like from a distance) and long neck though only marginal primary projection. Bill was quite long, yellow with what looked like the red spot on the lower bill.
I had a thought of Caspian Gull but it's a good while since I saw one - just wondered if anyone has any thoughts ????

Soil Hill etc

First thing in a very cold blast up there W F6 - thinking Snow Bunting (what else)!! a light covering of snow and keen frost with distant views of some Dales peaks.
Just 1 Skylark and a solitary Red Grouse and that was it.

 Ingleborough from Soil Hill

Penyghent

Lower down at Stodfold, below Ogden golf course, a pair of Dippers were in the stream.
1 Reed Bunting, 10 Fieldfare and c55 Starlings in the nearby fields and a Little Owl near the golf course.

Mixenden Res'r - 1 Goosander and a female Goldeneye

Landfill Tax Under threat?

I'm not sure how many people are aware of "landfill tax" but this scheme has benefited many conservation projects since its inception. Basically waste operators have to pay a levy each time they add to landfill but can offset this levy against tax if they "fund" environmental projects within certain distances of a landfill site. Sadly there has now been a proposal to amend the scheme which could see it collapse through an ill-advised 'tweak'. The implications for funding of the projects of many organisations (including for example CBCG) are very serious. A "Save the LCF" scheme was started just last Friday, by the Wildlife Trusts, for further details and how to raise any concerns you may have please visit
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/SupportTheLCF
‪#‎theLCF‬
Thanks

Sunny Vale

No muddy areas to be seen by the lake (now private), so no Green Sandpipers about.

But 3 Little Grebes was a nice surprise.
And 3 Teal, 8 Mallard, 7 Moorhen, 2 Coots,
plus a Kingfisher and a Nuthatch calling

Cold Edge

We didn't find a lot at Cold Edge this morning with intermittent snow showers keeping most things down.
A nice pair of Stonechats were the highlight
2 Kestrels
Still no sign of any winter thrushes up there other than a few Blackbirds
A group of 5 Herring Gulls with a Great Black-backed Gull went over >W
A few Red Grouse calling on the moor.

 Male Stonechat above with the female below

Soil Hill

Two visits this morning. One with two gloves then another to retrieve one I lost on the first visit. !
Not a bird first time round then at 11:15 a Common Buzzard over high >S and a solitary Skylark on the flat area near the mast and that was it.

Coach road, Hove Edge and Jay House Lane

Coach Road - foggy on the tops so I went where there was a chance of seeing something !
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers - with 2 males drumming and a Carrion Crow mimicking the drumming !! that was odd.
Not a lot else there other than Blue, Great, Coal and L T Tits and 1 Goldcrest, 10 Goldfinch, 4 Redwings and a Jay.

Thornhills Beck Lane - Green Sandpiper still showing well till it took off at 11:15 heading towards some nearby fields where I lost it.

Jay House Lane
55 Golden Plover came in high from the east and landed in nearby fields but just out  of sight
At least 25 Tree Sparrows
1 Little Owl
6 Stock Doves
100+ B H Gulls and 40+ Common Gulls and an adult L B B Gull flyover >NW

 Tree Sparrow

Golden Plover - arriving

Luddenden Dean

Took a walk in the upper dean today from Wainstalls, down to the 'catty' and on to the Lower Lodge then back up the fields and along Castle Carr Road. A walk for the exercise more than anything. A dull overcast day with thick cloud and damp conditions, but it didn't rain !.
Not a lot to report  though a solitary Raven high flyover >E was nice to hear and see.
c4 Kestrels over Midgley Moor
1 Treecreeper in Hayes Wood
1 Little Owl near Bridge Terrace, Wainstalls
A few Chaff's, Blue and Great Tits going to roost towards Castle Carr
c50 Jackdaws near Saltonstall
No winter thrushes in the dean was unusual for this time of year !
Other than that a shoot was going on over Castle Carr - probably Pheasants and maybe Woodpigeons - so just hope they left anything else alone.

Fly Flats etc

Terrible conditions at Fly Flats late morning snow/hail/rain >W F5 to F  6- just 1 Kestrel and c40 Mallard on the res'r.

Less windy at Nolstar down Withens Road where 35 Pink-footed Geese were high heading >W up the Calder Valley around 12:00
Also 2 Kestrels there.

Mixenden Reservoir - just 1 female Goldeneye

Other news...
From JL at Ogden - Kingfisher still in the culvert
c200 Lapwings at Raggalds Flood from Dave B

Birdwatch Magazine Feb

Dear All,

Happy New Year to everyone first of all and I trust you've had a good Christmas too.

Before Christmas I nominated our good friend Nick Carter as Local Hero of the Year in the Birders' Choice Awards for his tireless volunteer work over the years be that back here in West Yorks or over in his adopted homeland of East Yorks. From group Chairman of Calderdale Bird Conservation Group for many years to BTO breeding surveys, Auk plot surveys, Species Protection work and habitat improvement be it with a pen, his bins or a shovel Nick has always been willing to do what he can to help Birds and other wildlife.

I'm delighted to say that my nomination has been accepted and next month in Birdwatch magazine they are planning on running an article on all the nominees.

Can I ask that you either buy a copy or look online,  there maybe an article on Birdguides as well to see when voting will commence and take the time to vote for Nick as I'm sure you'll agree his efforts over many many many years (he is old now! lol) deserve the recognition.

Please pass this on as I'm sure there are many others out there that I have missed that would be keen to support Nick.

Happy Birding 

Andrew

High Royd

Still raining !! but I thought I would give this site near Sowerby Bridge a go for an hour or so this morning with the thought of Water Rail in mind ! No such luck on that score but the habitat looks perfect - it's just a big problem seeing anything through the trees (even worse in summer)!
4 Grey Heron
15+ Teal
30+ Mallard
c20 B H Gull
Not a sign of any Moorhen or Coot which traditionally used to use this site when the sludge lagoons wer kept clear of vegetation
1 male Sparrowhawk looking wet through and miserable in the top of  a tree
1 Treecreeper and a few Blue and Great Tits
30+ Carrion Crows on the filter beds
40+ Jackdaws in the woodland

 Filter beds

  Overgrown Sludge Lagoons

 Rochdale Canal >E

Rochdale Canal >W

Fly Flats

Slight improvement from this morning with a hint (just a hint)! of sunshine before the mist came in. I did a bit better for birds including a few calls from some Golden Plover +   >NW unseen in the mist.
Nothing on the water
1 Kestrel
30 + Red Grouse
1 Mistle Thrush >SW
7 Greylag Geese together from the south split up over the reservoir with 4 >NW and 3 >N over my head towards Oxenhope
2 distant Ravens making a lot of noise high >NE
2 Carrion Crows

Fly Flats looking SW

3 Greylag Geese

Swales, Soul Hill and Mixenden

Gave all three sites a go this morning even though the current weather pattern persists with mist and drizzle.
Swales - 5 Goldfinch on the top and a Blackbird. Hardly any corvids which was unusual.

Swales Moor - along Ringby Lane on the top >N

Soil Hill - 2 Carrion Crow flyovers and nothing else for 1 hr + on the top. Not even any gull fly throughs!
Mixenden - 3 f Goldeneye still there.
Wonder if this afternoon will improve (?)

Year list winner

For the second year running Dave Franz has won the year listing challenge, with a score of 138.DJS came second with 137 and yours truly third with 136. Looks like they are both off to a good start for 2016 with Green Sandpiper already. Its that time of year again when I am asking for bird records, if you could get them in by the end of January that would be a great help.

Jay House Lane area

I called to see if I could pick up DF's Green Sandpiper late morning at the pond near the viaduct in Thornhills Beck Lane. Mike and Pete were also of the same mind. Yes, it was there showing well once we locked on to it ! Feeding well then times of rest when it was easy to lose it as it stood still on then mud. Nice bird - thank's Dave. Misty and drizzle was not good for photographs though I just got a couple of record shots.
Also nearby - a Jay, Grey Wagtail and a couple of Redwings and a Song Thrush singing as I made my way up to Jay House Lane.
Productive hour up there with 45 Rooks, c600 Starlings ,c30 Meadow Pipits mixed in with 12+ Reed Buntings in the field opposite the cottages. Around 23 Tree Sparrows was good as they seem to be holding their own up there, thankfully.
Also c70 Black-headed Gulls and 35+ Common Gulls in the nearby fields.

Walshaw Dean

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/oct/15/rspb-eu-moor-controversy

Mixenden Res'r and Ogden

Had a couple of hours out this morning doing the rounds at Mixenden and Ogden in the drizzle !!
Mixenden
3 f Goldeneye
55 Jackdaws
70 Black-headed Gulls
25 Common Gulls
2 adult L B B Gulls
Woodland very quiet

Ogden
A Kingfisher and a Dipper again in pump house ponds below the embankment - 2 nice birds to start they year !
A few Black-headed Gulls and Common Gulls and 1 adult L B B Gull on the reservoir but not much else other than the usual Mallard

New Years Day at CBNR

       Cromwell Bottom New Years Day was a treat after the battering
       it took from the floods, plenty of birdlife about which I wasn't
       expecting and nicely surprised by it-:

       6 Jay
       8 LTT
       2 Treecreepers
       1 Cormorant
       4 Goosander
       1 GSW
       4 Nuthatch
       1 Siskin
       plenty of Great, Blue, Coal Tits, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Robin about.

Green Sandpiper

A good start to the new year with a Green Sandpiper on the pond at Jayhouse lane.

Soil Hill

Happy new year birders

Entered Soil Hill into Patchwork Challenge this year for the first time just to see how it goes. I'm fairly confident last place will be mine. Given that four species seems to have been the maximum number I've seen since per trip since I've been back for Christmas I did not have high hopes for today, but there was a few more species around.

The highlight was a nice flock of around 40 Golden Plover which flew south over the hill, a species I have not seen up there for a few years now. Also nice to see 4 Roe Deer up there.

-Golden Plover

Species List

Soil Hill: Common Gull, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Golden Plover, Jackdaw, Black-headed Gull, Canada Goose, Skylark, Goldfinch, Starling

Also of note from other visits are a Common Snipe on the 20th, 40 Fieldfare on the 27th and a Stock Dove yesterday

First Birds Of The Year

What were your first birds of the year?

Mytholmroyd
First seen was a jackdaw.
Many visits from a  nuthatch to a bird feeder.
Also bullfinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch,blue tit, great tit & longtailed tit, great sp woodpecker, dunnock & robin.
Cormorant flying up the valley at 9.30AM.
Raven over.

New Year Pinkies

Happy New Year! Just got up and 3 skeins of Pinkies moving W and SW was a good start to the year.  Really vocal which the kids liked.  Managed to get a couple of record shots through bleary eyes. The second photo is where 2 skeins merged into 1  and so about 2/3 rds of the total.  I will count later.

Mytholmroyd

After the devastation in Mytholmroyd, I automatically stopped on the bridge on way to work yesterday morning, looking towards Brierley. There, in its usual place, was a dipper! On the same stones as I see it most mornings! Where on earth had it been sheltering from the floods, I wonder? Looking further downstream were 2 pairs of mallards & a pair of goosander. I see 2 dipper regularly but on a couple of occasions a some months ago there were 3 - one very vocal juvenile.

East of Brighouse

Usually it's pretty quiet at Clifton Lagoon - apart from the noise from the M62 !
But today there was a cracking male Goldeneye, a male Goosander, 14 Mallards and 2 Coot.
On the river was a female Goosander, 12 Mallards, 3 Cormorants and a Kingfisher.
Not a bad finish to the year.

Fly Flats and Mixenden etc

Nothing other than a solitary Kestrel at Fly Flats late afternoon - couldn't stand up, but surprisingly the 3 peaks were all visible despite the weather conditions with a strong blustery wind and intermittent heavy showers.

Nothing at Mixenden Res'r either, other than a c50 B H Gulls

Cold Edge - c60 Mallard, c80 B H Gulls and 1 Lapwing flyover

Apologies all this is not about birds but an appeal for anyone who is in the Elland/Cromwell Bottom area to keep an eye out for Robin who is currently missing.  He was in his home on a barge moored in Elland but has been missing for the past few days so may have got spooked during the recent floods and ran away.

If anyone does come across him please post on the blog or let the grapevine know.  Owner is desperately missing her beloved pet.

https://t.co/ZiP9fD3ClW

Woodcock at Baitings

Thanks to Jan G for these photos of a dead Woodcock found at Baitings on 27th December.
It looks like the bird had either been hit by a car or flown into the railings on the bridge. A very sad end to a beautiful (and not often seen) bird.

Shibden Head

I couldn't find many birds up there this morning - just a few small tit flocks about with Bullfinch and Chaffinch, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel and 1 Sparrowhawk - though plenty of corvids especially when I got back and up to Swales Moor/Ringby Lane.
No reports yet of any Pink-footed Geese on the move today though it did look the sort of day for them !

Also at Swales Moor this morning - just up Ringby Lane - 7 Linnets on the weedy banking at the top of the lane.

Out and about

We walked on Castle Carr Road late morning but didn't find a lot other than a flyover of 22 'pinkies' >W over  Wainstalls at 11:55 - dead quiet, not a sound from them  !

I checked Fly Flatts briefly this afternoon - just a female Goldeneye.

Luddenden Dean - I went down to see if the Chaffinch roost flight was doing anything as it's usually quite good in winter but only managed 25 heading up to Castle Carr with 1 Brambling with them. In cold weather this roost can go on for over an hour before sunset with  a lot of birds heading up the valley in small groups.

Mount Tabor

Nothing spectacular but interesting walk produced Sparrowhawk (M), Little Owl, Green Woodpecker, Lapwings x 12, c 50 Gulls (BHG and Common) and corvids including 7 Rooks.  Also 1 x Roe Deer.
1 of the BHG nearly had full summer plumage.  There are midges in the garden and yesterday I had 11 Meadow Pipits which is unseasonal for up here.
(p.s. I know the pics aren't great!)

Pinks on the move again

40ish going W over Tabor at 09.45.

Mixenden and Fly Flats

This afternoon - at long last something on Mixenden Res'r with 3 female type Goldeneye and a f Goosander.

Fly Flats
I didn't get out of the car !
Wild with heavy blustery showers though there was a great sky.
Just a few Red Grouse, a distant Buzzard and 1 adult Herring Gull >W.
I heard via a passing bush telegraph cyclist that Dishfish was doing Soil Hill this afternoon. I bet that was pleasant - wonder if you got blown away Daniel ?!! Well done.

Have a great Christmas everyone.

Pinkies - Mount tabor

About 40 Pinkies in nice formation WSW over Mount Tabor at 15.30.  Small flock of Lapwing still around, c 20 BHG and 12 Rooks.

Jumble Hole

Been a bit quiet round here recently. A raven flew over cronking at lunchtime. The GS woodpecker has arrived back at the feeders for the first time this winter (but the nuthatches have come and gone again).
A tawny owl can be seen in the woods now and again.
And it looks highly likely that 2015 will be my first year in 13 years at Jumble Hole that I haven't encountered woodcock. That seems to reflect a local trend - is this a national problem?

Dipper

One was feeding in the Calder in Todmorden town centre this morning. It flew off upstream, but how it dealt with the culverted section at Wellington Road I don't know.

Short-eared Owls

I've been watching the Short-eared Owls for a few months, mostly from a distance. I was very fortunate the other week when one flew quite close then landed in the grass around 40yrds away.
An hour later I was watching a Kestrel hunting, it swooped down and perched on a fence post no more than 20yrds away.
I managed to get a few photos and thought I'd share a couple, thanks

Waystone Edge and Buckstones Moss

Several red grouse, two ravens, an unseasonal skylark and best bird, a woodcock.  I also flushed a beautiful white mountain hare.  This is the northernmost Pennine one I've even seen, several miles north of the Saddleworth Moor population.

Merry Christmas, Chris

Lee Mount

After a re-count from photographs in poor light it came to 54 Pink-feet over at 16:15 - they changed direction from >W to >N then eventually >WNW so it wasn't easy to tell which direction they were heading - Ogden or Wainstalls though as they went out of sight it was probably the latter.

This follows on from another skein heard over Ripponden last night (TW) at around 19:25.
These are probably movements of birds already in the country commuting perhaps between The Humber/Linconshire/Norfolk and Lancashire/Cumbria (?)

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane
I just had an hour or so on the top late morning - masses of corvids in the top fields (200+) - mainly Carrion Crows and Jackdaws with a few Rooks and Magpies mixed in and 40 + Common Gulls
3 Linnets feeding on the embankment
2 Pied Wagtails
1 Stock Dove
and a first for me along Ringby lane - a Goldcrest
2 Sparrowhawks high  >W
2 Meadow Pipits >W

Ploughcroft
There are a few shrubs at the lower end of Ringby Lane at the back of the cottage opposite the ski-slope and these were full of small birds mainly Blue and Great Tits, c30 Chaffinch, 11 Greenfinch, c10 House Sparrows and Bullfinch heard. I was on the lookout for Tree Sparrow as well as in former years I used to get them occasionally in Lee Lane! I wonder if your Northowram ones will turn up this winter Andy ?

Ogden and Soil Hill

Mid afternoon - and still drizzling !
Ogden
1 Kingfisher along with a Dipper in the pump house area below the embankment. I guess with the stream in full flow down the valley and the choppy water on the reservoir that the two of them found a relatively sheltered spot to feed. The Kingfisher finding several small fish down there even though the water was pretty murky.
1 Cormorant and c60 Mallard on the reservoir but not much else other than a few Robins around the edge and a single Goldcrest found in the shrubs. Other than that just a few Black-headed and Common Gulls moving through.

Distant Kingfisher

 

Soil Hill

I tramped round the top for an hour - glad I had the wellies on !

Just 6 Goldfinch and 1 Meadow Pipit was all I could find.

I am surprised by  the shortage of Snipe and Jack Snipe on the top, as in previous years it has been quite good for both species though 'Jacks' are less common of the two. Perhaps some really cold weather might fetch them in !?

Mixenden and Mount Tabor

Mixenden Res'r
Just one drake Goosander there this morning + c80 B H Gulls and c25 Common Gulls

Mount Tabor
I checked around the fields this morning where Nick's Woodlark and Richards Pipit turned up last year around the big manure heap. Also where he had a female Yellowhammer a few days ago.
Conditions were pretty atrocious with driving drizzle but did find 1 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Fieldfare and a Wren - all in the manure heap area but the birds soon hide away in the surrounding vegetation and are difficult to get to grips with.
12 Lapwings and c40 Starlings nearby along with corvids and some B H Gull moving through >W

Fogged off - again !

Nothing doing today in this murky stuff so I headed up to Coley Garden Centre for and hour - no need to take the camera of course but inside one of the greenhouses a small bird was flitting about - a female Siskin. I got my hand within 6"of it and it moved off before I could get hold of it. Unfortunately it flew into the roof space - looking tired !
I opened the door and asked the staff to leave it open if possible to allow it to escape - I certainly hope it gets away. Lovely bird but certainly not at home in a greenhouse.
There are plenty of Alders surrounding the nursery so it could soon be feeding if it gets out !

Cold Edge

This morning in a cold westerly F5 to F6 with intermittent wintry showers between dry spells.
A interesting visit and despite the conditions there were just a few birds about. The highlight was a female Merlin which shot across the top dam heading for 2 Stonechats which had been feeding from the fence line across the juncus field just above the top small pond. It chased one of them for 5 or more strikes with the outcome unknown as they were lost from sight below the top small pond with the Merlin still in pursuit.
Another pale looking Stonechat was by Moorlands Farm (just down the track from Withens Gap)
2 Kestrels
1 f Goldeneye on the lower dam
c20 Mallard
47 Fieldfare
1 Redwing
1 Mistle Thrush
c40 Starlings
2 Red Grouse
Usual corvids and small gulls

Fieldfare

Mixenden, Soil Hill, Fly Flats etc

Nothing on Mixenden this morning and I couldn't find anything at all on Soil Hill other than a perishing cold wind !

Fly Flats (sorry I missed you Alan)
32 Mallard
2 Kestrels
1 Red Grouse
11 Carrion Crows
1 Common Gull >N

When I got home I found this female Bullfinch by the feeder looking as if it was feeling the cold !! - (photo taken through the window)

Mixenden Res'r and Soil Hill

Nothing at all on Mixenden mid afternoon other than c60 B H Gulls.

Soil Hill fared marginally better but the wind up there was up to it's normal speed !!
1 Skylark
2 Goldfinch
2 Pheasant's
I just got back to the car and rounded the afternoon off nicely with 2 small flocks of 'pinkies' high over Bradshaw heading towards Ogden/Fly Flats around 15:15 - they were getting blown about but made good headway all the same.
From photo's the first group was 19 strong and the second group 16

Pink-footed Geese

Taylor Lane - Bradshaw
c35 Fieldfare
c25 Starlings

Cromwell Bottom

From Pete G today - 4 'cracking' drake Goldeneye on the ski-lake late morning and a good mixed flock of Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Goldfinch - all feeding in alders and on the ground near the car park/bird feeing area.

Swales Moor

I tried Ringby Lane on the top this afternoon but there was very little about other than the usual corvids. The sky was brilliant to the west!
2 Meadow Pipits
2 Stock Doves
1  Pied Wagtail dropped in briefly

Pied Wagtail

Whiteholme Res'r etc.

c90 Pink-footed Geese >W this morning (PG) soon after 11:00

Also it's time to look out for G N Divers with 2 near Manchester yesterday at Audenshaw Res'r. Last year the long staying Mixenden bird turned up on 14 December so local reservoirs are well worth a check. !

Recent News

Not much to report !!
BUT 3 Waxwings in the Woodhouse area near Brighouse/Rastrick on Thursday afternoon 3rd December is special enough ! (AC) Nice one Andy.

Roils Head tick

Sometime last week I came across some bird droppings in the heather at Roils Head, look just like Red Grouse I thought but not possible, so they must be Grey Partridge as there's been six birds present nearby at Tower Hill for a couple of months. Today however whilst walking over the same patch, what fly's out from cover but a Red Grouse, a very surprising bird for this site and as it happens a Roils Head tick.

Waxwings - maybe ??

Just a few reports today mostly along east and north east coast areas. Keep a watch and a listen out for them in the next few days near shrubs and trees with berries !! Let's hope we get a few this winter.

Bird photo of the week

Just got this from Nigel - ref the Birdguides web site for last week..

Not bad for ex Calderdale Birder !!
Just seen photo of the week on BirdGuides. Sean Gray won with a Sabine,s gull on the I of man . Dp

Mixenden and Soil Hill

Just 3 Goosander on Mixenden Res'r this morning along with c100 B H Gulls, c40 Common Gulls and 2 adult Lesser B B Gulls and a single adult flyover Herring Gull >SW.

I gave Soil Hill a check but climate conditions up there were pretty dire ! I stayed about an hour - and found absolutely nothing.

Mixenden and Fly Flats

First time out for a while and I was just fortunate to get an hour that was dry after all that wet stuff over recent weeks....when will we get some dry days ?

Mixenden Res'r was pretty dead with just 4 Mallard and, most unusual, not a single gull there this afternoon

Fly Flats was pretty dead as well especially with a continuous stream of heavy lorries trundling between the quarry and the wind farm along the top road. The dry spell turned up trumps just as I was about to leave with SEO,  1 Kestrel and  23 Mallard with 3 sub-adult Herring Gulls >SW

Calderdale Development Plan

The proposed LDP for Calderdale has possible major implications for important bird sites in the district, if the plan goes through next year.
The following places in the Green Belt are earmarked for housing developments -
Mount Tabor/Sentry Edge; Highroad Well Moor inc Tower Hill; Shelf inc Cockhill Moor; Jay House Lane to Wellholme Park, and lots of other small places.
These can be seen on the map at the following link -
http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/environment/planning/planning-policy/local-plan/index.html
Or in local libraries. Objections can be made for each individual site, but 18 Dec is the closing date !
I'm working my way through all the Brighouse/Hipperholme/Lightcliffe/ sites, but it's a very slow job.

Merlin, Cromwell Bottom

A male merlin shot through the car park on Wednesday the 25th seen by several people. Unfortunately no pictures - too fast.

Woodcock - Withens

For the second time in a week I have flushed a Woodcock off the bridleway above Ogden GC near the Withens.  I was within a metre before it flushed.  It made me jump as it was well after dusk.  I thought they would be sheltering in wooded cover now?

Cold Edge

From Pete G - just a female Goldeneye on the dams this morning with no other reports coming in today. Thanks Pete.

Bird Report Update

Half of the bird reports have already been sold, so if anyone needs one you can get them from the 2 outlets or send a cheque to me at 11 Mile Cross Road, Halifax HX1 4HN. Price with postage is £8.50 make payable to The Calderdale Bird Conservation Group. Thanks to DJS for selling them at the Raptor Conference at the weekend. I would also like some feedback on how to improve future reports, IE what to add or take out, weather people prefer the double two year report or an annual one, cheers Nick D. Ps had a quick look at Soil Hill today but no sign of the Snow Bunting.

Walshaw Dean

At last - some Goldeneye, with 2 females on top Walshaw Res'r on Sunday afternoon. Andy H

NERF Conference

A very big thank you to everyone who was involved in organising the venue and the programme - as well as the excellent catering arrangements.
I couldn't fault anything as the day was so informative and inspiring even though some of the news on illegal raptor persecution (particularly Hen Harriers) was depressing. It's good to hear of positive action all round and the patience to try to get to grips with what is happening especially on our uplands.
Well done for all the fieldwork and investigations as well as bringing everything together so well on the day.

Soil Hill

Snow Bunting still there this morning from BS - on the top NW slope so it could take some re-finding but with stealth and patience !!

Snow Bunting

Managed to get photos on to the phone so just a couple of poor shots in fading light.

Soil Hill

After a dismal wet and windy day I looked for a dry spell ( not much hope of that) but I decided to head up 'The Hill' just in case.
Bingo - a Snow Bunting on the top and with stealth got to within 4 metes.
If anyone goes up tomorrow then try the flat, low vegetation area just past the mast and to the right before the mounds. Wonder if this is an omen for the weekend with maybe snow forecast??!
I got some photos but no computer to get them on the blog yet.

NERF conference this weekend!

https://raptorforum.wordpress.com/raptor-conference-2015/

Mixenden and Soil Hill

Nothing doing at Mixenden Res'r this morning though there were a lot of Black- headed and Common Gulls all over the place in surrounding fields but I couldn't find anything different with them.

Then Soil Hill where I met up with Alan T on a search for NK's Ring Ouzel which he had found up there earlier in the day along with a single Dunlin. Weather was atrocious, driving rain and a strong gale making conditions impossible though we saw NK looking as if he'd taken a dip in Ogden Water!! Hope you are now dried out Nigel.
As we set off, a Turdus sp flew across the road from the mast towards the small copse and we lost it. It could have been a Blackbird but that area is well worth a check for the Ring Ouzel when the rain and wind eases !

Mixenden and Soil Hill

Nothing much on Mixi - just 2 Cormorants on the res and c80 Woodpigeons and c60 Starlings >SW

Soil Hill was a little bit more interesting with a S E Owl hunting the north slope staring me in the eyes as it went right in front of me ! Not much else on the top other than 6 Goldfinch and then a big flock of c100 Woodpigeons and c40 Redwings >W
Then the drizzle and mist came in and that was it !

Swales, Mixenden and Fly Flats etc

Tricky trying to find anything in the very strong wind this morning
Not much along Ringby Lane other than 3 Goldfinch, Sparrowhawk and the usual mass of corvids

Mixenden Res'r - 36 Canada's and a few gulls

Fly Flats - getting blown away 1 Kestrel and1 B H Gull

From Pete G at Withens Clough in Cragg Vale - another gem with a late Ring Ouzel (in addition to one last week on Soil Hill from NK) This is unusual to get them so late though they seem to arrive with Fieldfares as they come in from Scandinavia. I wonder if we have had  records previously for Ring Ouzel in November?
Also a Merlin through Withens Clough this morning for PG and 5 Stonechats in that area

Ringstone

Yesterday afternoon - but didn't have time to stay - with a lot of birds there though mostly a scope to to pick out any rarities !
I guess the glut of birds up there is due to the very wet ground and lots of earthworms on or near the surface
c230 Canada's and a lone Pink- footed Goose in the middle if the flock
200+ Golden Plover
50+ Lapwing
A lot of B H Gulls
c35 Feildfare
+ Starlings and corvids

Mixenden and Fly Flats

This morning I went on the look out for Goldeneye - none recorded yet this autumn locally as far as I know and they are usually here by late October and seem to be arriving later than ever in recent years.
Mixenden - just 5 Goosander and 4 Mallard
Cold Edge - 120 Canada's and 3 Tufted Duck. 34 Fieldfare
Fly Flats (down to 3c up there) - 35 Mallard and 1 Kestrel

Ringstone Reservoir

First post at last!
Had an hour at Ringstone this afternoon, very windy becoming fairly cold.
100+ Canadian Geese
30+ Lapwing
30+ Little Ringed Plover.......Apologises, these were Golden Plover, thanks Dave
Kestrel hunting on west side embankment
Plus one or two others I was unable to ID

Flock of  30+ Fieldfare at Scammonden on Tuesday

Ogden

An hour or so this afternoon, though there was not a lot out of the ordinary
1 Cormorant
c60 Mallard
100+ B H Gulls, c30 Common Gulls and 2 L B B Gulls
1 Siskin in  a mixed tit flock with around 10+ Goldcrests (carefully checked !)

Shibden Head and Swales Moor

This morning - plenty of Redwings feeding on Holly berries (Ilex aquifolium) though it was not possible to get a count - there were probably 50+
Also several small tit flocks with a few Goldcrests
1 Woodcock disturbed in a clump of heather/bracken took off at speed low into the valley
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Common Buzzard

Ringby Lane
Very quiet up there except for c25 Fieldfares >SW and a few L B B Gulls >W

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane - >WSW F6 or so up there this afternoon so it was difficult to find anything
8 Goldfinch
12 Linnet
1 Meadow Pipit
Lots of corvids as usual and a few L B B Gulls going over high >W

Ploughcroft
c35 Common Gulls in the fields facing towards Boothtown

Buzzards

3 Buzzards soaring and calling above Crimsworth Dean at 12.15 today (at the National Trust car park end).
A few minutes later one being mobbed by a Peregrine (or possibly a Merlin ? I'm not sure..)

Pink feet

A skein of c.40 pink footed geese flew over Jumble Hole at about 8:10 this morning headed SE. There also seems to be a lot of siskin movement at the moment.

Mixenden and Ogden

I gave both sites a go this afternoon just in case something had been brought in with the gale force winds and rain - nothing !!

Today's news

Nothing much reported yesterday but a few Fieldfares and Woodpigeons over here early on today mostly ->WSW
Also from RR at Ringstone more Woodpigeons over this morning and plenty of activity in the surrounding fields now the water level on the reservoir is up to the top. Mostly Canada's, Lapwings and Starlings.

Shot Peregrine

https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2015/11/07/peregrine-found-shot-dead-in-halifax-west-yorkshire/

Bird Report update

The 2013 - 2014 Bird Report is also now available at Flying Saucers at Hebden Bridge, we dropped off 10 copies this afternoon, then went up Walshaw Dean for all the usual birds before being rained off and then crashing the car into a wall at Blake Dean. A word of warning the leaves on the road at Blake Dean don't look armful but if you hit the brakes coming down the hill you may end up in the wall like us.

Mixenden, Fly Flats, Soil Hill

Lee Mount - a small flock of 'pinkies' heard over the Wheatley Valley probably >W but I only heard them as couldn't pick them out through the trees

Mixenden - nothing first thing !

Fly Flats
3 Tufted Duck
c30 Mallard
31 Golden Plover high >W

Soil Hill
NK and Dave B were of the same mind to check the summit and tree belt but conditions weren't good with a strong and wet >SW
1 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Common Snipe
2 Moorhen on the lower pond
No sign of the LEO's

Taylor Lane, Bradshaw
c 60 Fieldfare in the fields but mobile

Bird Report 2013 and 2014

The 2013 – 2014 Bird Report is now out. Its available at Woodlesford News Agent (go local store) at Mount Tabor Pellon price £6.50, or you can write to 11 Mile Cross Road HX1 4HN £8.50 including postage. Make cheques payable to the Calderdale Bird Conservation Group ( please don’t send cheques to Woodlesford News). There are only 60 copies so if you want one don’t delay. The report covers the years 2013 and the record braking 2014, photos in the middle and articles on the Woodlark and Richards Pipit and the race to record as many species in a year as possible. Will try get them in to Flying Saucers at Hebden Bridge asap. Many thanks to all who contributed by sending in records and apologies if Ive missed anyone out.

Mixenden and Swales Moor

Mixenden fogged off for me though PS did find a solitary Goosander.
Swales (Ringby Lane) produced a few birds as it was reasonably clear up there.
1 f Stonechat by the quarry
13 Meadow Pipits
1 Reed Bunting
8 Goldfinch
1 L B B Gull
1 Sparrowhawk
11 Mistle Thrush
1 Redwing
2 Stock Dove
2 Jays >W
5 Starlings >W
Usual corvids and mobbing a Fox

Ogden and Mixenden

From yesterday (2nd Nov) a drake Shoveler was on Ogden most of the day. NK et al

Also from yesterday at Mixenden, a female Tufted Duck gave rise to the possibility of a fem/juv Scaup but from photos taken (NK) before the fog descended it was confirmed as a Tufted Duck though the white blaze around the bill was quite pronounced. Also 6 goosander there yesterday and in the afternoon in thick fog a Grey Wagtail and several Goldcrests and a Redpoll. (NCD DJS)

Nothing on the water at Mixenden today though quite a few Goldcrests in a tit flock along with 1 Treecreeper in the waters edge shrubbery.
1 Grey Wagtail

And yesterday coming down from The Withens - glorious sunshine with thick fog in the valleys

Ogden

Four fieldfares on the holly bush yesterday eating the berries.

Goshawk mytholmroyd

Step out this morning at 07:10 and noticed a large bird flying south 

Despite only watched for a minute I noted the following 

Large buzzard/Raven size 

Very broad wings with bulging secondaries

Long tail 

The appearance of the bird was like a bateluer ! 

Seen a number of goshawks in Calderdale over the years 

Jumble Hole

The first fieldfare of the autumn at Jumble Hole went over today when 5 headed west. The noctule bat is still around. The bird feeders are getting busier, with 6 greenfinches making the biggest dent.

Fly Flats

Just a quick check early afternoon (checking for Whoopers!! ) with the mist rolling in and out and a strong >NW blowing so I just checked from the top road !!! getting soft...
3 Tufted Duck
38 Mallard
2 Lapwings
25 Canada Geese
2 Kestrel
6 Carrion Crows

A quick reminder..........

http://calderbirds.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/northern-england-raptor-conference.html

Fly Flats

Not a bad return for mid to late morning today. 9c and a cold >NW wind on the top didn't seem to put the birds off.
4 Common Snipe and 1 Lapwing on the mud
28 Mallard
3 Tufted Duck
4 Canada Geese
6 B H Gull
2 L B B Gulls >W
5 Kestrel
2 flocks of thrushes through high >NE. 1st flock c30 Redwing and c8 Fieldfare and the second flock c45 Redwing and c25 Fieldfare
Highlight was a female Merlin chasing a small flock of Meadow Pipits that went high and she drew a blank on them!

Lee Mount

First thing this morning over the house
c60 Redwings >E and 6 >W
5 Fieldfare >W
18 Woodpigeon >SW
c35 Chaffinch >W
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker >W
2 Nuthatch on the feeder
6 Blackbirds and a Song Thrush were probably overnight arrivals