Ogden

This afternoon
1 Grey Heron
13 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
15 Black-headed Gulls
6+ Siskin ('Giants Tooth' area)
Several young Coal Tits
Several Willow Warblers singing, 1 Blackcap and 1 Chiff-chaff

Swifts and Twite

Spent dinner time watching c.50 swift feeding above hay meadows near Warley as the grass was being cut. Had a short walk after work and found a couple of family groups of twite below Green Withens, 8 took off and (I think) a couple more were left behind.

On another note, are there any plans to put up more nextboxes before next year?

Birdlife Malta recognition

Sorry to be mentioning Malta again, I know some people are probably sick of hearing about it but thought those who contributed to the Optics Fund would like to know that our presentation to the ALE has been given coverage in Birdlife Malta's magazine "Bird's Eye View". The coverage includes a photo of the presentation and acknowledgement of our efforts, if anyone wants to see a copy let me know.

Callis Bridge

Common sandpiper at Callis Bridge, around a week ago. Photo courtesy of Craig Shaw.

undisclosed site

got brians text and went straight there
only 1 lrp and no juveniles
1 lapwing nest although exact location not known
blowing gale force 10-wind speed 200mph
2 wheatear
2 mipits
2 lapwing-protecting nest

Fly Flats

530 Canada Geese this afternoon
4 Common Sandpipers including 1 large chick
No Twite
100+ Swifts feeding over the moor

Ogden

1 pair of Siskin at Back Lane plantation this afternoon flew off into Ogden plantation.

swifts

just had about 20 swifts about 2m from the ground
this could be the signs of bad wether that nick carter promissed

Undisclosed Site

Sorry I couldn't get a better shot of this Redstart heading into the nest box to feed it's young this afternoon!
Well done to those who put nest-boxes up last year in the hope of Redstart or Pied Flycatcher - at least we got one success.

Cromwell Bottom

Grey Wagtail, Mallard with 9 young, and Kingfisher on the river
Around the lagoons -
6 Chiffchaff
4 Reed Buntings
2 Willow Warblers
Female Blackcap
3 Reed Warblers singing from different areas of the reeds
3, possibly 4 very young Little Grebes in amongst the reeds-look as if they're recently out of the nest

Garden birds

Coal Tit


Young Blue Tit


Bullfinch - a new bird for me on the garden feeder!

Orchid?

Can someone identify this for me please - several found in the Shibden Valley.

Ringstone Edge Res'r

Report from JB at 7.25 pm of 19 Common Scoter on the res'r. All still there till at least 9.15 pm.

undisclosed Site

3 different long eared Owls
2 Short eared owl
1 adult and 3 juv Tawny owls
1 Little Owl
1 Buzzard
1 male peregrine
Oytercatcher and Common Sands

ogden

look round this morning
goldcrests
not much else

Callis sewage works

Feeding during the first shower of rain at 12:45. Minimum counts of:
- 275 swifts
- 180 house martins
- 20 swallows

Also, woodcock still roding on dry evenings this week at Jumble Hole.

Twite feeding stations

I spent yesterday afternoon with Nick Wilkinson who is working with the RSPB as a full time fieldworker for the Twite Recovery Project, he has asked if it would be possible for us to supply him with details of where and when we have operated feeding stations for Twite both currently and in the past. I have info on my own feeding station but would welcome input from those others who have or are currently operating feeding stations. I know Nick D, Andy H, Gordon D, Brian L. Sean G, Dave S. etc have all fed twite at one time or another but am uncertain as to when and how often.

Now the big Twite survey is around half way through Amy Crowther (RSPB) has agreed to supply a summary of volunteers results to date, watch this space!

Thanks

Undisclosed sites

A cracking day, started with torrential rain and 5 Ring Ouzel; M, F and 3 juv finished with blazing sun, 3 Twite and some peregrines.

In between SEO, Male Merlin, Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Stonechat, etc Loads of 'usual stuff' with young.

new email

if anybody cares ive got a new email account:
ilikebirds138@googlemail.com

Undisclosed Sites

Thurday 6:30-9:30pm
3 SEO
1 LEO
Young LEO heard calling at 2 sites (NickD : heard young for the first time at the site from Monday calling at 9:15pm).

Some photos - short eared owl resting and hunting in the strong wind.




Long eared owl at the same spot as the short eared. Came towards me and hovered 2 metres above my head with its claws dangling while it checked me out. After a few seconds it carried on up the track. I didn't have time to change to the wide angle lens I'd have needed to get a photo!


More of the owls here under recent images