Whiteholme

 Oystercatcher

1 of 2 male Red Grouse

This is a nice patch of 2 different Cladonia lichens. I think the one with red (spore filled) fruiting bodies is C. floerkeana, while the one with cup shaped fruiting bodies is C. fimbriata.

Byron Edge

There is a single early flowering Coltsfoot by Byron Edge drain: altitude 385m (1263 ft)

 

Hebden Bridge

 Pair of Dippers

This shot shows feather tracts and eyelid quite nicely

Jay House  11-03-2023

The two Curlews (M & F) arrived last week. I think these are the same pair which have been returning for the past six years. As far as I'm aware they have never bred successfully.

 

 Cromwell Bottom Reserve 7-03-2023

The very elusive Water Rail finally appeared briefly this morning until a barking dog came charging by and scared the living daylights out of the poor bird.

Whiteholme

 Teal pair

Shibden Valley

Pair of Stock Doves

Also, on New Bank, my first flowering Blackthorn of the year.

The earliest widespread tree blossoms in spring in Calderdale are Blackthorn (white) and Cherry Plum (commonly pale pink).

 

Around and about...

Curlews, Lapwings and Oystercatchers are being reported on a regular basis during the last week or so. It's likely that some of these birds will be moving on though others will soon be following, as many use Calderdale as a stopping off point though a few others will stay for the summer.

A 50+ flock of Brambling were reported today (PGr) from woodland above Cragg Vale near Withens Clough today. Skylarks have started singing at times on the moorland fringes when conditions have suited them.

Skeins of Pink-footed Geese are sill occasionally being seen passing over as they start to return towards there summer quarters. Iceland will be a favoured destination as the daylight lengthens. Whooper Swans will be following in the not too distant future and into March. Always worth listening for as well as watching for them. They will occasionally pass over during the night.

It's worth listening out for Tawny Owls after dark too with a few reports recently from woodland areas.

Stonechats have also been reported regularly, in suitable habit, over the winter period. Amazing how these, mainly insect eating birds, survive throughout our winter weather.

Withens Clough

Two drake Goldeneye in various stages of display to a single female on 21st Feb. In Calderdale we seem to be getting fewer of these superb ducks that come to winter on some of our upland reservoirs. 

It seems like both drakes had moved on today though the female was still there, thanks to an update from NG.

Ogden - late afternon

Message from JJL of a Great Crested Grebe this afternoon prompted a walk up Hebble Brook Clough and around the reservoir as the light was fading. The grebe was still there, appearing fast asleep on the water. Two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also on the water. A Buzzard also went over and a very distant Barn Owl was briefly seen over the moor. 

Great Spotted Woodpecker in the woodland along with a few Siskin in the alders with Coal/Blue and Great Tits, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and a single Treecreeper. Song Thrush singing. On last light 22 Canada Geese went off in the direction of Mixenden

Mixenden Reservoir etc

A check at Mixenden res'r this morning first thing. It's been really quiet at this site over the winter apart from the gulls. Mainly Black-headed and Common Gull with an occasional L B B Gull, though a few Herring Gulls, both adults and juveniles appear there most days to bathe and preen then move on. This morning was no exception with 50+ each Black-headed and Commons along with 8 Herring Gulls. 

Just about to head off around 09:15 when a distant flock of geese appeared over Bradshaw / Soil Hill area just at the same time as a text from DJB (yes, back on his Soil Hill patch) with a skein of c50 Pink-footed Geese. Fortunately they came high over the res'r heading in the direction of Mount Tabor. Always a great sight to see these skeins over Calderdale.

Just got home, and a Buzzard went over the house >S calling as it went. Always good to see.

Byron Edge

 Mallard pair

Beacon Hill

 2 Stock Doves flew west.

The photo is of a female Hazel flower bud, in front of male catkins.

Hazel is monoecious: that is, male and female flowers occur on the same tree. But the females can only be fertilised by pollen from a different tree. Each bud consists of several flowers, each of which has 4 red stigmas to catch wind-blown pollen. One fertilised flower can produce one nut, and  the original bud will form a bunch of 1 to 4 nuts.

A recent episode of University Challenge had a team that had not heard of Hazel catkins: 4 brainboxes sadly divorced from the Natural World.

Blackstone Edge

 Stonechat pair

Blackstone Edge

 Mallard are back

Whiteholme

 Oystercatcher

Blackstone Edge

 Male Stonechat

Cold Edge

Male Goldeneye

 

Cromwell Bottom etc.

Spent some time there from mid morning. It's such a good place for a mix of species with a range of habitats. Thirty-nine species was a decent return and it was good to have a nice cuppa in the visitors center and a chat with one or two friends there.

Nothing out of the ordinary. A Kingfisher by the weir, always good to see, along with a single drake Teal. Just one female Goldeneye showing on the ski-lake and 6 Tufted Duck with a pair of Goosander and two Cormorant fly-by's.

A mixed flock of tits with a few Siskins and Lesser Redpolls with 3 Goldcrests, Bullfinch and Goldfinches on the mound woodland Alder and Birch areas being preferred. Five Redwings flew overhead.

On the way over towards Southowram, a single adult Great-black-backed Gull was taking a rest in a field. Such large impressive gulls not all that common over Calderdale.

Tawny Owls have been singing in the Wheatley Valley this week.

Ogden Water and Withens Clough

Four Whooper Swans, adults with two juveniles, on the res'r this morning (from CS) seem to have stayed most of the day - at least until 14:30 as far as we know. The mist may keep them there overnight (?)

Several skeins of Pink-footed Geese also reported from this morning - mostly >W.

Withens Clough this afternoon turned out not too bad with the mist persisting. Noted 25 species including a Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, pair Goosander, pair of Stonechats, 3 Mistle Thrush and at least 15 Reed Buntings near the res'r cottage.

Late report of a male Blackcap in a Wheatley garden on Sunday along with a regular Grey Wagtail under fat-ball garden feeders.

Castle Carr Road and Saltonstall

Weather still very cold with a light snow covering and frozen ground. 

It was a welcome surprise to find 2 Lapwings in the fields just near  Upper Green Edge Farm. Both in the same spot as a few weeks ago. We don't usually get them in this area until spring. Also a pair of Stonechats near the farm seem to be overwintering around the same spot.

Around 40 Fieldfare in fields near 'The Catty' with 8 Mistle Thrush and 16 Rooks foraging in the fields just past the big rocks. No sign of any Little Owls but a pair of Kestrels hunting from the top of telegraph poles. A single Greenfinch near feeders at the top of Kell Lane was a first for the year. 

Lots of Pink-footed Geese on the move heading >W through Calderdale this morning with a good number of skeins reported from those who were fortunate enough to be birding out of the fog !!

Cromwell Bottom

 Always worth a check here, any time of year. Thirty species today.

The ski-lake produced the best I could find this morning - and the weather stayed dry !

6 Goldeneye - included just one male.

12 Tufted Duck - included one female

7 Goosander - included one female

19 Cormorants.

Plenty of activity in the woodland area around the bird feeding area and 6 Lesser Redpoll feeding in the top of a Silver Birch were a bit special though I failed to find any Siskin this time.

Well done to the group down there with plenty of restoration work to improve the habitat especially in and around the lagoon.

January 2023 update to 12th.....

 Plenty of wet weather so far this month has definitely curtailed activities on the birding front. Not for some, the lack of getting out there. It just makes finding things a lot trickier !

1st Jan - A Shelduck at Ringstone  Res'r (AC PD). A Goldeneye on Dean Head in the Scammonden valley (PD). Flock of c170 Fieldfare in Walshaw Dean (MB). Kingfisher at Salterhebble (WG).

2nd Jan - Pair of Stonechats on Castle Carr Road near Wainstalls and c180 Fieldfare nearby. Shelduck and Barn Owl at Gorple (AC Ncd et al) and a Kingfisher on the canal at Mytholmroyd (DW)

3rd Jan - A Woodcock was flying low over Todmorden station car park (CMS)

4th Jan - male and female Goosander on Withens Clough res'r (NG)

5th Jan - Pink-footed Geese went over Ogden in the mist unseen with 30 over Todmorden shortly after (JR) and c180 over Lee Mount across mid-day with possibly the latter over Todmorden half-hour later (SB). Another 88 'pinks' >W over Green Withens at 13:20, 40 over Northowram at 15:09 then over and Lee Mount at 15:15. Another 218 >W over Jumble Hole at 16:20. Two Goldeneye were on Cromwell Bottom ski-lake with 7 Tufted Duck and 5 Mute Swan, 10 Cormorant,6 Goosander and a Kingfisher in that area (JJL)

6th Jan - 44 Pink-footed Geese >W over Swales Moor at 09:45 (DJS) were also seen over Wainstalls at 09:50 (MM) and probably the same lot over Hebden Bridge shortly after (SD).

7th Jan - 5 Shelduck on Ringstone (PD). Kingfisher on Shibden Park lake (IS). Dipper, 2 Teal and 16 Moorhens at Sunny Vale (MSt). Barn Owl near Heptonstall (NG). Cromwell ski-lake held 24 Goosander, 8 Tufted and 4 Goldeneye (MH). A Water rail was photographed at Cromwell Bottom (AW).

8th Jan - 3 Whooper Swans briefly on Fly Flats (BS) had moved on by early afternoon. 60+ Redwing on the moor just above Manor Heath (S).  Flocks of 60 'pinks' went >W over Slack Top at 13:20 (SiB) and another flock over Pellon at 14:30.

A real bonus bird for Calderdale was a Hawfinch in Withens Clough feeding on beech-mast at around 09:40 - thanks to WG and JG for reporting this sighting and promptly sending in a description of the birds location and circumstances. Further checks at the site have drawn blanks though there is always a possibility it's still in the area.

9th Jan - 55 'pinks <W over Lightcliffe at 10:45 (WG) and 3 Shelduck on Ringstone (AC). 

12th Jan- 32 'pinks' >W over Northowram at 11:55 (AC). Withens Clough produced a male Brambling in with the Chaffinch flock in beech trees at the top of Withens Lane with a Green Woodpecker and Reed Buntings near the reservoir outfall (DJS). 

Catch up with a few things from December 2022...!!!

1st Dec - adult male Black Redstart in Withens Clough (JM) - 25 Golden Plover on Standing Stone Hill (SiB).

3rd Dec - a new bird for Calderdale with a single Brent Goose in with a flock of Pink-footed  Geese  over Ringstone (JB DF). Plenty of 'pinks' passing over Calderdale early December.

4th Dec - a colour ringed Tree Sparrow at Jay House Lane = 3years and six months old (JM SD)

8th Dec - 2 Crossbills in Walshaw plantation (SiB). Barn Owls near Withens Clough (JM) and another near Ogden (DJS). 16 Goosander on the River Calder between Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd (AK)

10th Dec - Little Egret Cromwell Bottom and a flock of c 30 Siskin (MH)

11th Dec - Stonechat at Cromwell Bottom also Goldeneye on the ski-lake (BA). Up to 4 Treecreepers in Akroyd park, Boothtown (RH)

12th Dec - up to 12 Yellow-hammers in the Clifton / Kirklees area (MSt JM et al). Snow Bunting along Cold Edge Road near Wainstalls (AC). 7 Grey Partridge near Bradshaw (JJL)

13th Dec - 12 Lesser Redpoll along the canal between Todmorden and Shaw-wood (S). 34 Teal on Ogden (BS) and a Woodcock in Withens Clough (JM)

15th Dec - A single Waxwing on berries outside Kwik-Fit Pellon Lane (AC). Woodcock at Fly Flats (AC). Small dark wader, white rump flushed Jay House Lane - suspect Green Sandpiper  (JM)

16th Dec - the recent Waxwing still in trees by Watson Ironmongers in Pellon Lane (RH). Jack Snipe on pond near the viaduct at lower end of Jay House Lane (AC). 2 Woodcock came in high and dropped into fields near Norton Tower / Roils Head (NcD)

18th Dec - Red Kite over Mytholm steeps (AZ MF). A big move of Lapwings over Moselden in flocks of 40+ totals c 3/400 (PD)

20th Dec - Brambling in garden at Slack Top (SiB)

21st Dec - 2 Chiffchaff at High Royd sewage farm (PGr)

22nd Dec - 18 Golden Plover and 1 Grey Plover >SE over Hebden Bridge (MBr)

27th Dec - Chiffchaff along canal towpath   Hebden Bridge (MBr). 2 Short-eared Owls near Scammonden (DR)

With apologies for any errors / omissions. I couldn't fit everything in .! Lots of Redwings and Fieldfares reported throughout the month, as well as the trans-pennine commutes of Pink-footed Geese.  Generally a very good month with some exceptional reports and thanks to all.

Shibden Valley

Unusual sighting this morning! - white Zebra Finches. The male has a red bill, while the female's is orange. And the male has a black line running down from the eye (as also seen on coloured Zebras), and a black patch on the breast.

Shibden Valley

An early singing Song Thrush

2 of 4 Stock Doves

5 of 7 Greenfinches

 

Ogden

Coal tit

I made an error yesterday. One of my 'female' Teal is a young male: as shown by this shot with a different angle

Ogden

 Teal 6m 1f

Ogden

 Nuthatch

Also, Teal 1 pair

Beacon Hill

 Treecreeper

Beacon Hill

 Little Owl

Closed Hazel catkins. Each catkin consists of 240 male flowers. They will ripen and release pollen in February.

Beacon Hill

 Adult male Kestrel

Todmorden Town Centre

 Yesterday I saw the first Kingfisher I've ever seen on the Calder in the centre of Todmorden. It flew upstream past the bus station as I was passing on the adjacent footpath. Thinking it might perch in one of the trees overlooking the river just N of Stansfield Road I retraced my steps but to no avail. The river is culverted at Wellington Road just N of here, so where it went is a bit puzzling.

However, while looking for it, a small brown bird shot off the concrete bank, which my wife confirmed as a Dipper when it flew past her - she'd sensibly stayed downstream near the market. 

Today, another Dipper sighting at the Wellington Road bridge over the Calder - it had been perched on the river level monitoring equipment case, and rather oddly flew off high over the adjacent houses.

 Kirklees Estate just inside the recording area 13-12-2022.

Great to see a flock of at least 12 Yellowhammers in the Kirklees Estate. M, F and juveniles.

Cold Edge

 Another photo of the Wigeon