10th October

A rare visit to Ogden produced 10 Goldcrests and a Cormorant + the usual gulls. On to Roils Head where a Wheatear was present along side a pair of Stonechats.

Fly Flats etc

Went up there to try for yesterday's possible Ring Ouzel, without success.
2 Wheatear there - along the road between the wind farm car park and the reservoir - just past Slade.
2 distant Raven
15+ Grey Partridge including juveniles
2 Canada Geese
Just 1 Meadow Pipit !
Red Grouse

Cold Edge
1 Cormorant
2 B H gull
10 Canada Geese
11 Mallard

Fly Flats and Withens Head

An hour or so up there this afternoon - a Blackbird type - almost certainly a Ring Ouzel - disturbed by a dog from the moorland as I drove along. It flew away from me along the road and I only got a less than 100% view through the 'bins' and through the windscreen - it looked to have pale panels on the wings but I lost it as it went around towards 'The Nab'. Despite a search among the piles of rocks and the small quarries up there I couldn't relocate it. One that got away unfortunately - as I just didn't get enough to be sure to confirm the identification.

8 Greylag Geese on the reservoir along with 11 Mallard.
Lots of mipits - maybe 100+ blogging in fields along the top road, with another 80+ or so near Withens Head opposite the wind-farm car park.

Edge Lane, Colden to Lower Gorple

An afternoon walk produced the following:

EDGE LANE

- a marsh harrier flew south along the ridge of what I think is called Heptonstall Moor, putting up clouds of meadow pipits as it flew low over the moorland.
- 2 reed bunting
- 60+ redwing
- 3 red grouse
- 2 goldcrest
- 2 kestrel

LOWER GORPLE
- common buzzard gave great view, and was harassed by a kestrel
- 2 reed bunting
- a flock of 15 siskin
- 7 lapwing on the shoreline
- raven (h)
- this red grouse in photo below. It was basically stuck in a boggy ditch, and allowed me to pick it up. I examined it, and although it looked a bit ruffled, there was no wounds or punctures, so I placed it down further onto the moor. I suspect a walkers dog had had hold of it

Plenty of shoreline at Lower Gorple, as they water level has been seriously lowered.

Ogden Garden

A male brambling with the chaffinches yesterday afternoon. A flock of redwings landed on a tree this morning.

Other news

From BS - 12 Brambling with Chaffinches at Ogden water yesterday - see Brian's blog -West Yorkshire Birding

From NK 1 - Jack Snipe on Soil hill this morning and from AC - a group of 45 small Geese heading >E this morning around 09:45 - (possible Brent's ?? maybe!)

Swales Moor - Ringby Lane

Vis mig first thing this morning till 09:30
3 Swallows >NE
and the rest were mainly >W and >SW including...
1 Lapwing very high
2 Snipe
289 Redwing
3 Blackbirds
1 Song Thrush
3 Mistle Thrush
13 Chaffinch
1 Goldfinch
+ 18 other unidentified finch sp.
+ a few others with 12 Long-tailed Tits opposite the ski-slope

Wheatley Valley

Spent an hour or so this morning on the former landfill site checking the scrub areas and tree belts. Drizzle did not make viewing very easy but I still managed  a few species
8+ Bullfinch feeding in Silver Birch
1 Chiff-chaff
2+ Goldcrest
Blue, Great and Coal Tits etc..
8+ Jays collecting and burying acorns in the grassy areas and making a racket !
2 Song Thrush
3 Blackbirds
1 Grey Wagtail and one alba Wagtail flyovers >SE

Ripponden

From last night (3rd October) - still at least 2 pairs of House Martins near Silk Mill Chase (but not sure where the nest site is) - wonder if they are still feeding young there (?)

Anyone else still getting any House Martins ?

Hunter Hill

Very misty first thing so slightly delayed for vis mig from the watch-point. Gradual improvement as the mist cleared but I suspect birds were moving over quite high and out of range. Most birds >S or SW to >W unless stated otherwise
125 Redwings and another 23 >N
1 Song Thrush
11 Mistle Thrush
1 Redshank with a flock of 30 Redwings was unusual
11 Teal
5 Swallows
2 Jay
1 Peregrine
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
24 Lapwings
23 Meadow Pipits
1 Collared Dove >NE
+ a few other 'bits and pieces'

Jay

Also nearby
2 Little Owls
23 Canada Geese
1 Stock Dove

Walshaw Dean

3 Brambling feeding with Siskin in the wood at Walshaw this afternoon - also 30 Redwing there - thanks to  Martyn H

Lee Mount

This morning first thing
1 Green Woodpecker calling in Shroggs Park
1 Song Thrush >S

Luddenden Dean and Castle Carr Road

More or less the same route as yesterday afternoon with different birds....
5 Stonechats together on Castle Carr Road c200m after Bridge Terrace
5 Little Owls in different areas
1 Dipper in the stream by the 'catty'
15 Starlings (wow)!!
No sign of yesterdays 5 Chiff-chaffs or the tit flock

Redwings..

Redwing flocks reported this morning from nearby at Oxenhope just out of our recording area. HC via BS

Luddenden Dean

This afternoon - some interesting 'stuff' especially finding 5 Chiff-chaff's with at least 3 at the bottom of the hill just before the 'catty' pub and another 2 in the copse near Mr Schofield's farm. I did wonder if they had turned up after that wind turned easterly this afternoon and I was on the prowl for anything else interesting with them - but just found L T Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Goldcrests and Bullfinch with them. Might give the same spots a try tomorrow depending on the weather (and time)!.

9 Mistle Thrushes ( after a lean spell with them ) - maybe incomers from the continent as I heard of a few Redwings inland as well in the last day or two at migration watch-points including Oxenhope and Winter Hill.
1 Green Woodpecker also heard in the dean
3 Little Owls in the usual spots

Jumble Hole

Plenty of siskins about today. Hard to count as they were back & forth, but a couple of dozen. 2 ravens over the house. 4 chiff chaffs still about. Tonight, the leisler's bat re-appeared after a long break.

Bird report

The 2015 bird report is now also available at Flying Saucers, Hebden Bridge, price £5. Last night 21 Pinkies flew west at Walshaw Dean, nothing much else but a Peregrine and Buzzard.

Blackbirds

Where do all the Blackbirds go at this time of year?

I have a lot in the garden during Spring & Summer when they are feeding young and in the Winter when they are moving about looking for food but at this time of year I rarely seen any in my garden.  What happens to them?  I assume they are still about but I dont see them as there is a lot of their natural food available and they dont need to visit the gardens for the seed I put down?

Lumbutts

Lee Dam:
c45 Canada Geese in fields to E.
c20 Starling around the chapel.
3 (poss 4) Mistle Thrush, very noisy in keeping the Starlings away from their berries.
No waterfowl visible, although a Moorhen heard from the lower dam.
Usual woodland stuff in small numbers.
Good number of House Sparrows heard calling from the farm just to the W.

Longfield Dam:
3M, 1F Tufted Duck, but unusually no Mallard here either.
1 Lapwing feeding in fields to E.
15+ Meadow Pipit feeding in field just E of dam, most flew off S.
Several Carrion Crows feeding, one of which was seen mobbing a Kestrel as I drove off.

Cold Edge/Ogden

Tried for vis mig again this morning for nearly 2 hrs but light drizzle in among and a strong gusting wind on the tops made it difficult to pick birds up so tried at a lower elevation with a little improvement - all birds >W or SW
85 Meadow Pipit
28 Swallow
18 Goldfinch
5 Chaffinch
1 Lesser Redpoll
5 House Martin
8 unidentified finches

I gather from BS and AH that there was much better signs of movement looking to the east, probably with birds taking a more sheltered route >S (??)

Luddenden Foot to Mytholmroyd

Late morning - 2 Kingfisher sightings along the River Calder - one by the bridge at Luddenden foot and 1 at Brearley.
1 Dipper in full song also on the river
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Chiff-chaff along the canal
c20 House Martins feeding high above the bridge at Luddenden Foot

Swales Moor

Swales and Ringby Lane - tried for some vis mig first thing but the low cloud and intermittent drizzle didn't help !
83 Meadow Pipits, 9 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Chaffinch all >SW

Apart from that c30 Linnet and c30 Goldfinch around the site and in the 'wagtail' field were 32 alba Wagtails
Also nearby 2 Red-legged Partridge, the usual corvids and c20 L B B Gulls

Red Kites

A reliable friend of mine saw three flying over Mill Bank last week.

Ovenden area

Vis mig from AH 07:35 to 08:20
213 Meadow Pipits >SW
17 Swallows >SW
2 Goosander >W

Ogden

This morning doing a woodland search....
Plenty Blue, Great and Coal Tits along with..
1 Treecreeper
2 Nuthatch
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Great spotted Woodpecker
5 Siskin
c10 Goldfinch
7+ Goldcrest
1 Chiff-chaff calling then with very brief song
1 Willow Warbler
20+ Chaffinch
1 Jay
27 Canada's over the plantation towards Cold Edge
2 Cormorants
Black-headed, Common and 2 L B B Gulls
1 Swallow >S

Burning at Walshaw

New Durham University study finds ANY burning on Walshaw Moor Estate increases flood risk in Hebden Bridge | Upper Calder Valley Plain Speaker.

http://www.energyroyd.org.uk/archives/15838

Castle Carr Road and Luddenden Dean (upper)

Pretty windy today with a strong >SW increasing in strength - thought maybe an odd raptor might be moving through !
1 Common Buzzard heading down the dean but not a Kestrel anywhere !
1 Sparrowhawk showing an interest in the flocks of Goldfinch and hirundines
c35 House Martins and 30+ Swallows feeding in the sheltered area of the upper dean
1 Green Woodpecker
2 Nuthatch
2 Jays
c100 Goldfinch feeding on thistle heads along Castle Carr Road
2 Little Owls in different locations
2 Common Hawkers over the pond by the 'catty' pub

Listen out for one of these over the weekend..there must be one about....

http://www.xeno-canto.org/335732

Ogden

Gave BS's 'passerine alley' a chance for some 'goodies' early on this morning. Plenty of birds in the bushes around the circuit including a Blue, Great and Coal Tits and 2  Long-tailed Tits, 3 Tree Creeper together, c10 Goldcrest all in one bush, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, 1 female Blackcap, 1 Chiff-chaff, 3+ Nuthatch, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker , and 8+ Goldfinch.
Also nearby
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Cormorant
2 Kestrels

From the 'Giant's Tooth' watch-point (09:45 to 11:30) almost everything going >SW including - 329 Meadow Pipits, 75 Swallows, 3 Skylarks, 16 Chaffinch
1 Great-spotted Woodpecker >E
2 House Martins >N
1 Stonechat, 10+ Red Grouse on the moor with a flock of around 60 Goldfinch feeding on thistles
An interesting morning!

Our Garden

Weds. 21st 

09.15-09.40 one male and one female kestrel preening on top of electricity pole.  I'm not very familiar with plumage of young birds so don't know if these were siblings or adults but it was obviously a male and a female.  Eventually a carrion crow saw them off.

19.10 Little owl calling but I didn't see it.

BIRD REPORT 2015

The 2015 bird report has just been dropped off today. It will be available from the usual shop at Woodlesford News, Go Local store at Pellon in the next few days price £5.00. It contains a full species account and 16 photos in the centre plus a few more articles in the back. I also have several back copies available at £1.00 each if anybody needs one.

Ring-necked Parakeets.

Two flying north over Bolton Brow yesterday morning judging by their very vocal calls and long pointed tails.

Fly Flats

4 Common Scoter there this morning and still there around 12:00 - 1 drake and 3 female/immatures types
Also, 1Raven, 3 Wheatear and a few Swallows >N !!
One Golden Plover flyover >NE

 Common Scoter

 Raven

Pen-y-ghent in the distance from Fly Flats

Jumble Hole

A single buzzard was soaring over Erringden this afternoon, being mobbed by a peregrine. A great sight to see from the garden. Another large raptor was in the background at the same time, but very distant and very high.
A chiffchaff was in the garden. Swallows and martins noticeably less apparent this weekend.

Rishworth Moor and Parrock Nook

Unsurprisingly quiet on the tops, but I did encounter:

plenty of meadow pipits,
two wheatears,
plenty of swallows still,
a lone skylark,
a snipe, near Dog Hill and a
chiffchaff in the churchyard sycamores of Parrock Nook Independent Union Chapel.

Regards, Chris

Hunter Hill watchpoint

I went to check for any visible migration for a couple of hours or so this morning though things were pretty quiet. Not had a full count up yet but around 60+ Meadow Pipits, 3 Skylark and a few Swallows - all >SW.

Also around the hill and along Cold Edge Road
Flock of around 120 mixed Goldfinch and Linnet on thistles
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Little Owl
1 Kestrel
1 distant Common Buzzard
1 Wheatear

Green Woodpecker - rather distant shot !

Fly Flats

Late morning with moving birds high and >W including a number of Meadow Pipits and Swallows in small groups. Also 13 Golden Plover, 17 Lapwings again high >W
14 thrushes looking Mistle Thrush types were also heading high >NE
1 Black-headed Gull >S
6 Canadas and a Barnacle Goose left towards Comd Edge.
Best of all - a group of at least 9 Grey Partridge including juveniles at the north end sitting on a wall and very vocal.

Ogden and Mixenden

The Teal, male Gadwall and female Shoveler had moved on from yesterday.
Just 2 Little Grebe, 6 Cormorant and 2 female Goosander along with the usual Mallard this morning. BS's passerine alley was quite productive at the top end with at least 10 Goldcrests and 6 Siskin in and around the pines along with a Nuthatch and Blue, Great and Coal Tits in the bushes.

Mixenden was dead apart from a group of around 35 Swallows high overhead and drifting >SW

Whinchat

Gave it a couple of hours at Mount Tabor watch point but very little happening due to hazy conditions, just 3 Sparrowhawks and 40 Linnets. Moved on to Roils Head and found just one Whinchat.

Ogden

A very nice combination of duck at Ogden Water from NK this morning with female Shoveler, Teal and drake Gadwall.

Ogden golf course

I checked the lower end of the course this morning but it was fairly quiet for birds
1 Stonechat
1 Little Owl
Just a few Swallows feeding as they moved >S
1 phyllosc' dived into thick cover but I couldn't get enough on it to determine Willow Warbler or Chiff-chaff

Mount Tabor Marsh Harrier

After last weeks Red Kite and a possible Gos on Sunday I gave it another couple of hours today at the Mount Tabor watch point. First 90 minutes was very quiet with just 2 Ravens and 2 or 3 Common Buzzards one of which is very pale (so look out for it). Was just about to give up the ghost when I picked out 2 raptors over Castle Carr, one was a Buzzard the other a cream crown Marsh Harrier. The Harrier slowly gained height and was joined by two Kestrels before drifting over Cold Edge towards Fly Flats.

Our Garden

Heard buzzard calling whilst gardening 11.55am.  Shortly afterwards, two flew leisurely overhead fairly low.  This is the first year we are regularly seeing and hearing buzzards. 

Cold Edge, Withens Head and Fly Flats

Yesterday it was really hard work finding anything it was so quiet birdwise !! It was a lovely day for a good walk though.
1 distant Raven
1 distant Common Buzzard
1 Kestrel
Hardly any Swallows, Linnet, Goldfinch or Meadow Pipits
3 Wheatear at Fly Flats
2 Little Owls at Withens Head
15 Red- legged Partridge at Fly Flats

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane this afternoon - very quiet.
1 Green Woodpecker
2 Stock Dove
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Swallows
7 L B B Gulls and the usual corvids
No sign of the Linnet or Goldfinch flock

Cold Edge area

This morning
1 Little Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck and 19 Mallard were the only waterfowl and not a wader anywhere !
3 Wheatears near Withens Head
2 Little Owls near Moorlands Farm
2 Skylark
A good number of Linnet and Goldfinch feeding on thistle heads
Loads of Swallows and Meadow Pipits moving high >W  as well as lots of grounded mipits after overnight rain - both species impossible to count but probably 300+ of each species then as the morning went on they mostly disappeared having moved off as the day improved.
Not a raptor in sight and no other migrants other than 1 House Martin
Red Grouse on the moor

Ogden - Back Lane area

A couple of hours on the moor this morning - target - migrating Osprey - nothing doing on that score !
3 Cormorant >W
1 Common Buzzard >SW
A constant trickle through the Col (towards Foreside/Denholme Clough) of Swallows (c100) and Meadow Pipits (c80) all >W along with 2 House Martins.
2 Skylark
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Kestrel

 Cormorants

 

Stoat

 

I heard some faint squeaking from the wall and a small Stoat ran across the track in front of me which I guess was a 'kit' of the above adult female. There may have been others but she alarmed and all went quiet till she peeped through the wall in front of me !

Lee Mount and Swales Moor

Top marks to Nick for picking out the Red Kite this afternoon. Direction of the bird spot on as a few minutes later high over Lee Mount - a spec in the sky.... Red Kite - fantastic.

Red Kite - silhouette the best I could do at that height

 

Prompted me to go up Swales Moor for an hour or so along Ringby Lane. Worthwhile for a few 'bits and pieces' !

1 Grey Wagtail >NE

c40 Meadow Pipits on the 'wagtail' field along with 2 Pied Wagtails and the corvids

1 Skylark

30+ Linnet and 20+ Goldfinch feeding on thistle heads

1 Little Owl

2 Common Gulls, 6 B H Gulls and 3 L B B Gulls

20+ Swallows and 2 House Martins >SE

1 Stock Dove

 

Mount Tabor watch point

Had 2 and half hours at Mount Tabor watch point this pm. A few Common Buzzards about + 2 Curlew/Whimbrel mobbing one Buzzard, they moved off towards Ogden. Then at 14.00 I picked up a large raptor over Cold Edge Dams, scope strait on it, a superb Red Kite. Phoned it in to Dave and followed it right over head and then towards Lee Mount where DJS saw it from his garden. Also had 2 Ravens, 2 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks and 9 sightings of Common Buzzards. On to Roils Head where I found a male Redstart in the shelter belt.

Lee Mount etc

Heard Curlew flying over in the dark last night probably >SW while checking the moth trap around 10:30. Also Tawny Owls very vocal both from Shroggs Park and in the Wheatley Valley.

Mytholmroyd evening

sitting out researching my next trip to spain in october raven 2 sparrowhawk 1 grey wagtail 2 chiffchaff 1 house martin 26 swallow 6

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane late morning - hot and humid even up there with a >W F3 blowing on the top. An interesting hour or so....
Painted Lady butterfly along with 1 Red Admiral along the lane
1 Wheatear
1 Raven >N
1 Sparrowhawk - chased a goldfinch but failed !
1 Kestrel
2 Stock Doves
45+ Swallows and 1 House Martin all >SW
c40 Linnet and 20+ Goldfinch on thistles
5 alba Wagtails in the ploughed field along with loads of corvids and 4 L B B Gulls also in the field

 Painted Lady

 

 Raven

 

Wheatear

Buzzards

3 buzzards (1ad and 2 juvs) near to Jumble Hole - looked very much like the juvs were on training flights. They were in and out of one patch of trees, which is why I've withheld the location, as I strongly suspect breeding is likely.

Earlier in the week, 4 raven were over the house.

Lee Mount

As the rain got heavier across mid-day both a Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler appeared in the bushes in the back garden

Fly Flats

Gave it a try late morning though the rain arrived the same time as I did so I stuck to the top road !
Not  a lot doing in the conditions. This unfortunate Stoat looked like it had been dragging a dead Rabbit across the road and got hit.
Body length around 12" + 5" tail

Stoat - unfortunate road-kill

 

6 Red Grouse

5 Wheatears together

2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls looking for road-kills the same as 2 Carrion Crows !

1 Tufted Duck

7 Mallard

No Canadas !!!!

 

Lee Mount

One Swift over >SE this afternoon - that might be our last one over here for this year ! Spotted by KS our eagle-eyed daughter and avid Swift watcher !

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane - fairly quiet up there this afternoon with a c30 Swallows, 3 House Martins and a Grey Wagtail all >SW
15 or so alba Wagtails in the ploughed field with loads of corvids
Distant Common Buzzard
1 Kestrel
5 Linnets

Kirklees Hall & Sunny Vale

Kirklees Hall 100+ House Martins over the fields. 2 Little Owls on the usual barn. A single Yellowhammer calling. A Buzzard calling in the distance. Sunny Vale A Little Grebe on a nest in the middle of the lake, and another adult coming to the nest. 2 Herons. 8 Moorhens including juvs. The lake area is now a 'Fishery & Activity Centre'. Let's hope they don't start water ski-ing as well...

Lee Mount

Earlier this morning - 9 Cormorants high >SE

Hag Lane and Pepper Hill (above Claremount)

31st August afternoon - pretty windy from >W though bright and warm. Not a lot doing with distant Buzzards to the east.
1 Wheatear
1 Jay
c20 Starlings
2 Bullfinch
Plenty of Swallows around the hillside fields
House Martins, maybe 30+, feeding in the shelter of Shibden Valley
A few Goldfinch's feeding on creeping thistle heads

Green Withens

Green Sandpiper on Green Withens culvert (Blackwood Edge section) from KM on 26th August - thanks Keith

Todmorden

Yesterday, early afternoon, a large raptor flew north over Centre Vale Park, Todmorden heading purposefully towards Blackshaw Head / Colden. I had no optics with me, but possible kite.

A buzzard was soaring above the woods at the edge of the park shortly after, giving a good comparison. A flock of around 30 house martins were feeding.

27th August

Another Redstart at Roils Head this PM with 3 Willow Warblers still present. Last night 19 male Common Scoters flew over Walshaw Dean with 6 Stonechats also there.

Cromwell Bottom etc

A Spotted Flycatcher  today around the cabins at Cromwell Bottom - nice record from Mike H

Also reported from Whiteholme Reservoir earlier today from Rochdale birders via Andy H - 1 Whimbrel, 2 Redshank, 1 Ringed Plover.

Lee Mount

1 Swift over this morning
2 Sparrowhawk's together this afternoon
A few Swallows through today high >SE
c8 House Martins late afternoon
1 Stock Dove flythrough - don't often see those over Lee Mount though there are plenty nearby !
2 Nuthatches back on the garden feeder

Ogden area

I tried yeserday afternoon at the lower end of the golf course and the wooded gully called Slaughter Gap on Hunter Hill in search of migrants - none at all.
Just 1 Willow Warbler scolding from its usual nest site area
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
1 Little Owl
2 Meadow Pipits
c40 Swallows

Wagtail Mecca

An impressive flock of over 100 Pied Wagtails were going to roost on top of the Mecca Bingo (old Odeon cinema) in Halifax last night. Perhaps they were responding to the caller ?

Our Garden

Today we had two casualties, one flying into our door and the other into a window.  Both recovered naturally and flew off.

Roils Head migrants

Arrived at Roils Head today to find the place buzzing with migrants. The Northern tree shelter belt held at least 9 Spotted Fly catchers, 4 Redstarts, 5 Willow Warblers and a couple of Goldcrests. Also had 3 Cormorants fly west. 70 Linnets, 30 Goldfinch and a Willow Warbler at Tower Hill.

Lee Mount

Not a lot doing over the garden these last few weeks other than occasional Swifts.
1 adult Peregrine circling over this afternoon after a Sparrowhawk earlier
3 House Martins, c20 Swallows over all > SE this afternoon.
1 juv Willow Warbler in the garden first thing this morning.

Withens Clough

Earlier today from Pete G - 2 Whinchat and 1 Common Whitethroat by Withens Clough Reservoir , off Cragg Vale.

On the following day at the same location from PG - 3 Whinchat, 4 Stonechat and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Our Garden

Two buzzards circling at high level while we were having lunch outside.  They disappeared in north easterly direction towards Midgley area.  Grey heron flew over 15 minutes later.

Redstarts

At last my first 2 Redstarts of August in poor conditions today at Roils Head, not much else but a couple of Willow Warblers.

More Buzzard pics.

Our Garden

Buzzard watched yesterday while we were having lunch in garden.  Saw it on and off all afternoon and it was still there when we were having tea.  Last we saw was it sitting in a tree at about 18.00 and it stayed there for at least an hour.  The fields have been cut over the past few days which attracts certain birds.
House sparrows have gone from being a rare visitor to our garden to a thriving group of about 12.  Has anyone else noticed them in places where they are not normally seen?  

Ogden Golf Course

A common buzzard soaring over the course yesterday morning before drifting away in the direction of the Luddenden Valley

Broadhead Clough, Sunderland Pasture and Stoodley Pike

Broadhead Clough was dead ! Apart from 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Siskin flyover and a Jay. 25+ Speckled Wood butterflies in the clough.

Not much better on the tops for birds but the weather was great, hot and sunny throughout.
1 Lesser Redpoll in Sunderland Pasture and a single Wheatear nearby. Small mixed flock of c25 Meadow Pipits and c30 Linnets.
A few Swallows
1 Weasel
4 Common Hawkers buzzing around the plantation.
Not a raptor anywhere - seems like Kestrels have taken a plunge !

First Siskin

My first Siskin of the autumn in the garden today at Skircoat. Did anybody note breeding this year, or probable breeding?

Red kite

A red kite flew past Jumble Hole this afternoon, from Todmorden towards Hebden Bridge. A flock of 45+ swifts were feeding over Erringden yesterday.

Withens Clough

Spotted Flycatcher near the reservoir earlier today from PG

Ogden golf course area and Swales Moor

Ogden golf course from late yesterday afternoon (Saturday 13th) - male Redstart still showing in the hedge near the bottom of the golf course and looking very much in molt and being quiet and secretive just showing once then hiding away. Looks like the same bird as the one there on 18th July.
Also on Hunter Hill yesterday - a Green Woodpecker headed off towards Mixenden plantation.

This afternoon on Ringby Lane - not a lot doing
1 Kestrel
10+ Linnet and c20 Pied Wagtails in 'the wagtail' field but no sign of the Yellow Wagtails now. Possibly one White Wagtail in the field today but they are tricky with so many juvenile 'pieds' about and adults in stages of moult. !
2 House Martins above Lee Lane
9 Starlings
2 Stock Doves
2 juvenile Little Owls nearby

 One of 2 juvenile Little Owls just a bit distant

 

Juvenile Pied Wagtail

Lee Mount
8 Swifts over this morning

13th august

Adult Whitethroat with at least 2 fledged young at Roils Head this pm, also 2 common Buzzards south at nearby High Road Well Moor. Still a few Swifts kicking around.

Lee Mount

A group of around 30 Swifts went through together this morning, feeding high above the park as they went >SE at around 08:45.
Also a female Blackcap eating honeysuckle berries later in the day

12th August

Swift still entering the eaves of a house at Rye Lane, Pellon,1 Willow Warbler at Roils Head then bingo, at last, my first Hobby of the year flew right over my head at Moor End Road and headed east towards Roils Head. Its been a poor year for Hobby in Calderdale with just 4 reports so far.

Lee Mount

Just 3 Swifts over >SW today and 1 House Martin

Swales Moor

On the top at Ringby lane late morning - pretty cool in the strong westerly wind though it did stay dry. The farmer was ploughing the field so all the good chickweed areas will be gone later today - these were the best areas for the wagtails ! With turning the soil over the site will probably stay good for the birds for a few weeks yet.
I went to check 'the wagtail' field with maybe up to 50 Pied Wagtails, predominantly juvenile birds so it is possible maybe unidentified alba's in amongst them. Not a sign of any 'flava's (Yellow Wagtails).
c10 Linnet and 6 or more Goldfinch in the field along with 10+ Meadow Pipits as well as a lot of corvids and a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls following the plough.
10 Stock Dove
9 Starlings
1 Swift high >S
1 Red Admiral sheltering behind a wall

Lee Mount

Still some Swifts about early evening just prior to the drizzle, with around 16 feeding over the trees above Shroggs Park.

Protests in Hebden this weekend

Early start Nick ;)

Hebden Bridge people will gather in St Georges Square at 9am on 12th and 13th August to protest the not-so-glorious 12th August, traditionally the start of the grouse shooting season.

It is widely accepted that mismanagement of the Walshaw Moor blanket bogs for intensive grouse rearing has contributed to three severe floods in Hebden Bridge over the last four years, and downstream in the Calder Valley.

Some households and businesses have still not recovered from the terrible Boxing Day flood last year, when the town centre was under up to five feet of filthy water.

Protesters are calling for Richard Bannister, the owner of Walshaw Moor Estate, to urgently take ecological conservation and restoration measures that will significantly reduce peak flow in Hebden Water.

Although as an EU Natura 2000 site Walshaw Moor has the highest possible level of environmental protection, the landowner’s agreement with Natural England permits so-called “cool burning of heather, as well as extensive track building and draining within 50 metres of the many grouse shooting butts gouged out of the peat.

Supported by £2.5m of taxpayer subsidies via Environmental Stewardship payments for “restoring” the moors,  the owner of Walshaw Moor, Richard Bannister leaves vast swathes of precious peatland scarred with vehicle tracks  and drained and burnt dry – although the permitted “cool burning’ is supposed not to damage the sphagnum moss that grows on moorland peat and is vital for the survival of the blanket bog.

This is all so that unnaturally large populations of red grouse can be nurtured as live targets for ‘guns’.

Leeds University research, led by Dr Lee Brown and published in 2014, confirms Ban the Burn campaigners’ criticisms of the Walshaw Moor Estate burning.

In all areas that the Leeds University researchers looked at over a period of five years, permitted cool burning destroyed the sphagnum moss and left bare peat.

It also lowered the water table so the peat dried out, oxidised and became a source of net carbon loss – rather than a net carbon uptake through taking CO2 out of the atmosphere and sinking it into the peat. This worsens climate change.

Dr Joseph Holden’s 2015 update to this research confirmed that the destruction of the sphagnum by permitted burning on blanket bog also increases the amount and speed of water runoff during the worst 20% of storms, so worsening the risk of flooding in areas below the moors.

In response to a complaint from local residents’ group Ban the Burn, the European Commission has started a legal process against the UK government for:

• the failure to carry out appropriate assessments on the Walshaw Moor  Estate in the South Pennines Natura 2000 site, and other Natura 2000 sites, as required under the EU Habitats Directive in relation to a number of management agreements
• allowing burning of blanket bogs within the Natura 2000 sites
• the failure to avoid deterioration of blanket bog habitats within those sites in England

The UK government had two months to respond to the EU Commission letter, which was sent on 29th April 2016. This is the first step in a legal process. But with the UK vote to leave the EU, Yorkshire and Humberside MEP Linda McAvan has said it is unclear whether the European Commission is following up the process.

Hebden Bridge residents are determined to keep up the pressure to protect and restore the rare and valuable blanket bog and in doing so, to reduce the flood risk to the town and the downstream Calder Valley.

Link to Mark Avery's site

Ogden and Hunter Hill

I came across this very obliging Brown Hare this afternoon along Hunter Hill. I think I was just lucky as I looked over a wall and managed to get the camera on it before it realised I was there !

Below - this Whinchat was down on the fence at the lower end of the golf course. I thought at first it was an adult male but from the photo's, the plumage, despite the bold eye-stripe, looks more like a juvenile or maybe it's the adult male in moult. A scarce bird in Calderdale nowadays though I expect there will be some autumn migrants coming through in the next few weeks from more northern areas.

Not a lot else about other than a few Swallows >W
7 Swifts >NW - they have really thinned out in the last few days with many now on their way back to Africa.
Meadow Pipits - a pair still feeding young
2 Willow Warblers
c30 Linnets feeding on thistles near Stodfold
Lots of Woodpigeons on the billberies !

One from the note book

Ringstone  September 1996 ...for those who do not remember 1 Curlew Sandpiper  , 11  Little Stints , 3 Ruff , 2 Wood Sandpipers  , Yellow legged Gull and plenty of common waders ..20 years since the last Wood Sand.......

Withens Head and Ovenden Moor

This morning doing a Butterfly Survey but tied in a bit of birding as well - of course.
1 Curlew high >W
3 Willow Warblers and 3 Wheatear in and around Moorlands Farm buildings and garden
40+ Swallows
4 House Martin >W
30+ Swifts >W
1 Reed Bunting
Pair of Blackbirds still feeding young
1 Little Owl but no other raptors
40+ Linnet and 30+ Goldfinch in the fields by the former Withens Pub

 2 of 3 Wheatears at Moorlands Farm

Soil Hill and Lost Lens Hood

        Went up Soil Hill after dinner but nothing to much to see,
        8 Meadow Pipits, 6 Wood Pigeon and lots of Crows,  I then
        lost my lens cap and adaptor so if any one finds it please give
        it to Dave Sutcliffe, Taylor lane had House Martins and House
        Sparrows at the bottom of the road. Pics are from Taylor Lane and
        Claremount Hill last week.

     

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane late morning. I went looking for the Yellow Wagtail but I couldn't find it. Just a few Pied/alba Wagtails today so it  looks like most of them have moved on overnight maybe (?)

A really nice surprise was and adult Hobby at around 12:35. All the corvids went up and I caught this smart falcon passing me low down about 30 meters away. Immaculate plumage detail but I had just put the camera lens-cap on so just viewed it in the bin's going at speed it went straight past me and shot down the hillside >W and I lost it somewhere over the top end of Boothtown. Always a great bird to see though we have had very few confirmed reports this year.

Just a few Linnets, Goldfinch and Swallows about + 1 House Martin, loads of corvids, a few L B B Gulls and a 'trickle' of passing Swifts - mostly very high >W

Swales Moor area

Ringby Lane late morning - 1 Yellow Wagtail juvenile still in 'the wagtail' field along with 30+ Pied Wagtails, mainly juveniles, plus c20 Meadow Pipits and a Skylark.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/PbDYowcccWg

Driven Grouse Shooting

A bit more on the campaign against driven grouse shooting.

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/calder-valley-campaigners-leading-nationwide-11698076

Ploughcroft and Pepper Hill

I headed up towards Ringby to check on the wagtail field but heavy plant was using Ringby Lane so I changed course and went on Hag Lane instead. Good move as it happened in the shelter of the west side of Shibden Valley as the westerly wind was very strong and gusting.
Loads of House Martins were feeding in the shelter of the valley either side of Lee Lane. Maybe 70+ with just a few Swallows. Not had so many House Martins locally for ages though they are really scarce breeding birds in Calderdale nowadays. I guess these were maybe migrants including juveniles and non breeders (?)
30+ Swifts were heading very high >W along with a few L B B Gulls
1 Peregrine high over Claremount spooked the corvids in the fields at Pepper Hill, above Claremount.
Not a lot else other than a few Linnet and Goldfinch with a pair of Meadow Pipits still feeding young.

Swales Moor

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail - at least one still present today late afternoon with around 30 Pied/alba wagtails

Redstart

Redstart still in shelter belt at Roils Head with several Willow Warblers. Chiffchaff yesterday.

Baitings Reservoir

From Pete G this morning - a Sedge Warbler. A scarce bird nowadays in Calderdale.