Cromwell Bottom Goosanders

 I had a lovely couple of hours at Cromwell Bottom yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Half an hour of that time was spent watching a family group of Goosander - a female and 8 ducklings - trying to negotiate the weir on the river. Even if there had been water flowing over the weir I doubt they'd have been successful.

The adult would fly onto the top, call for her brood to follow, then jump back down to join them when they failed to follow her. She did this 4 times at different parts of the weir before giving up and going off back downstream.

Any chance of getting some funding for a Goosander Ladder on the river? 😂😂😂

Whiteholme

 There is one Dunlin here, but what about the other two? It looks as if one bird has a white rump.

Whiteholme

 Any thoughts on this pipit? The bill and posture do not seem right for Meadow.

Blackstone Edge

 Male Reed Bunting

2 Common Sandpipers. Also 4 at Whiteholme, and 1 in Byron Edge drain

Whiteholme

 Little Ringed Plover

Greylag Goose pair with 3 young

Blackstone Edge

 Can anyone see enough on these photos to identify these 2 waders? They were taken at the limit of my 30x zoom pocket camera. Sanderling?

Great White Egret, Ringstone Res

Thanks Dave, photo of it leaving yesterday evening

Ringstone Res'r

Mid afternoon PD located a  Great White Egret along the shoreline. Several of us got up there to see it and for some of us a first for Calderdale. Thanks Phil.

Latest news was the bird left heading in a westerly direction around 19:45.

Ogden

Several local birders have spent  time in recent weeks looking for summer migrants. I spent some time, as did NK, this morning doing the same thing mainly checking the woods and heath-land areas in search of migrants  which used to frequent this site on occasions. These included Tree Pipit, Redstart, Pied and Spotted  Flycatchers - but no show this summer, so far ! Sadly, not a sign this morning of a Swallow or a Swift.......

On a positive note, a Cuckoo was in good voice most of late morning, singing from somewhere on the edge of Ovenden Moor. Willow Warblers and Chaffinch were well in evidence as well as couple of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. A Dipper was in the Hebble Brook and a Grey Heron on the res'r.

Ringstone Edge

 Moulting Buzzard

Ringstone Edge

 2 Coots present

Ringstone Edge

 1 Little Grebe

Also, singing warblers: Blackcap 1, Whitethroat 2, Willow Warbler 5

Bradshaw

Absolutely bonkers scenes this morning!

Due to the thick fog, I postponed my morning visit to Soil Hill until visibility improved. However, I kept an eye on things from my window. As the fog began to lift at around 09:20, a casual scan with the scope picked out a large white bird on the newly constructed pond just south of Bradshaw village. Although it had its back to me, it helpfully turned revealing its great big snout, clear even through the poor visibility.

Spoonbill! 

After putting the news out I kept an eye on the bird until AC arrived, after which it stayed probably another 10 minutes after before it took off. It never looked settled, with the bird preening constantly, and as the fog continued to lift, it clearly reached a point the bird felt was sufficient for it to continue on its way. Although it initially looked like it might head off towards Ogden, it looped around, and headed off northeast towards Bradford, directly over our heads, providing the best views of Spoonbill I have ever had! 

An absolutely bonkers record! It is a shame that it did not linger for other observers, or for the fog to clear enough for it to be visible from my Soil Hill area. 

-Spoonbill

Ringstone Edge

 2 Oystercatchers

1 Common Sandpiper. I had forgotten how far the tail projects beyond the wingtips

Soil Hill

 The bright conditions produced an excellent morning birding on Soil Hill today. There was a short period between 06:35 - 06:55 when a bank of fog rolled through, but otherwise clear and still conditions all morning.

• At 07:18 a Yellow Wagtail flew south over the North Slope. Initially I only heard the bird and I thought it would get away, but eventually spotted it just before it passed out of sight. It may have been feeding on the bottom Cattle Fields before, but I did not spot it there.

• Two Grasshopper Warblers reeling this morning, including one individual that showed extremely well!

• All other migrants had an increase in numbers from yesterday; nine Wheatear, eight Willow Warbler & eight Whitethroat.

In total managed 42 species this morning, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S135897480

-Yellow Wagtail

-Grasshopper Warbler

Soil Hill

Despite the dull conditions today, was a lively and enjoyable morning on the Hill, with a few notable highlights.

• At 07:45 a Common Tern laboured west over Keelham, attracting significant attention from the local crows, which harrased the bird frequently. It eventually dropped down below the houses on Cragg Lane, near Denholme Velvets, and not reappear, so probably came to its end there, but the crows did not persue to finish it off. Although it is difficult to judge the injures inflicted by the crows from the distance observed, its slow and struggling flight could mean it had been already stricken by bird flu, although I have no actual evidence to back up this theory.

• On a happier note, a splendid male Whinchat was my first of the year.

• Across the site, there were six Wheatear today, down from 14 yesterday. 

• Other migrant totals; one Grasshopper Warbler (Two on the 30th April), six Willow Warbler and five Whitethroat.

In total managed 41 species this morning, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S135774758

-Whinchat

-Common Tern

Shibden Park

 2 Common Sandpipers

Ringstone Pochard

 Not a rare bird but a single Pochard at Ringstone Edge res this aft was a Calderdale tick for me 

Ogden

 Grey Wagtail

Hebden Bridge

 Singing Nuthatch and nest hole

Ogden

 This is my first Willow Warbler this year

Ogden

 Tufted Duck pair

Ogden

 Chiffchaff

Fly Flats

A stormy, blustery afternoon with heavy showers forecast tempted a look for any terns moving through this upland site. Nothing moving at all though from the top road I did manage to scope a Ringed Plover and my first for the year with two male Wheatears trying to hide behind a wall from an oncoming downpour.

Similar forecast for tomorrow might be worth checking local reservoirs for passing terns / gulls (?)

Cromwell Bottom

I paid an early visit to the east end of the site this morning. Mainly to check the ski-lake and lagoon for signs of migrants.

Lots of hirundines feeding both low down over the ski-lake and at times going high en-mass, obviously after a movement of insects. Really difficult to get anywhere near an accurate count with such mobile movements. I estimated 80+ probably with ratio somewhere around 30+ Sand Martins, 30+ Swallows and 20+ House Martins. The only other sign of movement were 2 B H Gulls and a single L B b Gull all >W.

One Willow Warbler singing as well as two Blackcaps and another pair together near the lagoon. Chiffchaff seemed to be all over the place.

Withens Clough Res'r - 6th April

Still pretty cool breeze up there this morning. Not a lot about.

2 drake Goldeneye and 6 Goosander (all red-heads) 

A few Reed Buntings, Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits, 2 Skylarks along with a passing Oystercatcher and 2 Curlew.

High Royd - 5th April

Dismal drizzly weather today. I tried High Royd S T W. It's about a mile west along the canal from Sowerby Bridge though viewing is restricted. Thought the weather might have been favourable for a few hirundines above the filter beds. Lots of construction work going on at the site so it was a bit disappointing. Not a sign of any Swallows or Martins. Carrion Crows - got to 72 they all spooked. 4 Grey Wagtails and 20+ Pied Wagtails along with a single Moorhen was the best I could do.

Several Chiffchaff singing out, was the only warbler.

Flyovers heading west 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant and an adult Herring Gull

That was about it along with some of the usual species..

Lee Mount - 3rd April

Swan species

Three flew high over the house >NW at  15:50 in bright sunlight, they looked fantastic. No call heard though I suspect they were Whoopers, but could not be sure. They were moving pretty quickly and I just managed to get the bins on them but still unsure of 100% identification. Someone else might have picked them out further north or north west. They were heading generally in the direction of Mixenden or Ogden maybe or they may have just gone straight through given the favourable conditions.

Earlier in a day a Red Kite passed over, even giving a call, which drew my attention to it around 10:50. It disappeared very quickly behind the houses looking as if heading maybe towards Beacon Hill ?

Soil Hill & Whiteholme Reservoir

 Nice to be out on such a beautiful morning, feels like the first real day of spring. First called up at Soil Hill during the morning, before checking in Whiteholme Reservoir around lunchtime.

• The Soil Hill highlight came during the mid-afternoon when driving back over the Hill. Nice White Wagtail on the Perseverance Road manure pile. The strong light did not help, but the contrast between the nape and back was still striking. The rump also good, although I only got one proper look at it. The pattern on the face is certainly odd, with the apparent black line running along the lores.

• Just two Teal on the NK Pond. Wonder if birds have started to move off to their breeding grounds.

• Steady gull passage this morning, with 19 Herring Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed and a single Common Gull heading northeast. A single Black-headed Gull flew south. 

In total managed 43 species this morning, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S132454561

-White Wagtail

Whiteholme was enjoyable, with a few different species on offer, although mostly common species for the site. 

• A drake Common Scoter was dozing in the centre of the reservoir. It did not wake up for the entire time I was there.

-Common Scoter

In total managed 16 species this morning, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S132461008

Halifax 1st April

Another Osprey sighting for Calderdale . One flew over Well Head mid -morning soon after 10 am heading in the direction of King Cross. Well done and many thanks to PL - right place right time !