Crow Hill near Sowerby late am, early pm.
2 curlew.
2 lapwing.
4 golden plover flew in. Flighty.
9 skylarks seen.
35 meadow pipits. 30 in a flock.
32 redwing.
6 fieldfare.
1 pied wagtail.
Plus usual species.
1 weasel.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tester !!
A little tester from David Crawshaw at Orford Ness this last weekend - anyone like to have a go?
Other news today
All from Steve L - Ringstone Res'r this afternoon
1 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew
c300 Redwings in surrounding fields
Cromwell Bottom
Drake Scaup still showing on the ski-lake (but it can be difficult to find)
1 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew
c300 Redwings in surrounding fields
Cromwell Bottom
Drake Scaup still showing on the ski-lake (but it can be difficult to find)
Hardcastle Crags/Crimsworth Dean
Had a few hours up there this afternoon with Nick D mainly in Crimsworth Dean but it was pretty quiet.
1 Kestrel
2 Sparrowhawk sightings
1 Jay - mimicking a very convincing buzzard call! that was a new one on me.
2 Treecreepers
c20 Lapwings high over >W
2 Nuthatch
2+ Grey Heron
70+ Jackdaws
A few finch sp.. mainly Chaffs and Goldfinch but no Brambling found
And in the crags 300+ Woodpigeons
1 Kestrel
2 Sparrowhawk sightings
1 Jay - mimicking a very convincing buzzard call! that was a new one on me.
2 Treecreepers
c20 Lapwings high over >W
2 Nuthatch
2+ Grey Heron
70+ Jackdaws
A few finch sp.. mainly Chaffs and Goldfinch but no Brambling found
And in the crags 300+ Woodpigeons
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Yesterday
No news on the adult Kittiwake at Shibden Park yesterday but it could still be there?
200 or more Bramblings in Crimsworth Dean - the have been there several weeks now in the beech woodland. Also a Woodcock nearby. (Ncd and DF)
Red Kite over Cromwell Bottom early afternoon >N (JU)
No further news on the Waxwings around Skircoat Green , but they could still be there?
200 or more Bramblings in Crimsworth Dean - the have been there several weeks now in the beech woodland. Also a Woodcock nearby. (Ncd and DF)
Red Kite over Cromwell Bottom early afternoon >N (JU)
No further news on the Waxwings around Skircoat Green , but they could still be there?
Friday, February 21, 2014
Other news today
Adult Kittiwake still present today at Shibden Park boating lake.
c70 Pink-footed Geese over Lightcliffe area >NW around 11.20 from M St probably went over towards Queensbury as I couldn't pick them out over Lee Mount or Swales Moor. (AC and PG)
c70 Pink-footed Geese over Lightcliffe area >NW around 11.20 from M St probably went over towards Queensbury as I couldn't pick them out over Lee Mount or Swales Moor. (AC and PG)
Skircoat Green
We got a report across lunchtime from Jeff C to say Gus R had seen some Waxwings in the same general area as yesterday behind the hospital. We had a trip down and drive round in the pouring rain trying to find them. We eventually did, 9 Waxwings in the top of a berrying sorbus right at the bottom end of St Albans Road. They were all having a good preen after the downpour.
Many thanks for the message passed on. I gather Nigel and others saw them later on in the same spot.
Many thanks for the message passed on. I gather Nigel and others saw them later on in the same spot.
Ogden Garden
A male brambling in part breeding plumage on a cotoneaster bush with two chaffinches this afternoon
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Shibden Park & Elland GP
Kittiwake still at Shibden Park this afternoon.
Drake Scaup still on the ski lake at Elland GP-Ncd/DF
Ogden Water
Wednesday afternoon. A number of black headed gulls some in breeding plumage and a few common gulls. One male goldeneye.
WAXWINGS.
At least
eight, very vocal birds in a large Ash tree in the upper corner of the hospital
grounds on Godfrey Road at 11.00am today - next to the allotments.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Other news today
Another Curlew this morning over Stainland (Nick Dawson) so looks like they are filtering back now after one yesterday over Soil Hill (NK)
Shibden Park
An interesting message via the BS hub at Queensbury this afternoon of a possible Kittiwake on Shibden Park lake. PS confirmed the birds identity shortly afterwards and we managed to get down late afternoon along with Ian S - his local patch!
The bird is an adult coming out of winter plumage and was very confiding as it paddled around on the lake next to the footpath. It was not seen to feed though it was alert but we were not sure whether or not it was exhausted though it showed no apparent damage to plumage. It was not seen to fly but did flap its wings a couple of times. See what tomorrow brings!
Some photos later.
A very good find for our local area. Well done to the person who passed the info on to Brian.
.JPG)
The bird is an adult coming out of winter plumage and was very confiding as it paddled around on the lake next to the footpath. It was not seen to feed though it was alert but we were not sure whether or not it was exhausted though it showed no apparent damage to plumage. It was not seen to fly but did flap its wings a couple of times. See what tomorrow brings!
Some photos later.
A very good find for our local area. Well done to the person who passed the info on to Brian.
Yesterday!
No time for blogging last night so it's a catch up from yesterday!
c20 Redwings were in Shroggs Park yesterday morning still feeding on holly berries and last night, just on dark, a Tawny Owl was singing from the same holly bushes!
Checked some Calderdale Heronries yesterday for the BTO long running census and found 3 occupied nests each at 2 colonies. A lot of activity and squabbling at the nest sites which I guess is a very good sign.
I paid a visit to Hardcastle Crags later on in the afternoon but it was very quiet other than 1 Dipper and 70+ Jackdaws. Also Nuthatches and a Song Thrush singing near Midgehole car park and a few small tit flocks.
Crimsworth Dean was quiet as well with just 2 Kestrels, 2 Treecreepers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Stock Doves. I couldn't find any sign of the recent Brambling flocks in the beech woodland but I guess there is a possibility they are still around with so much beech woodland to go at between there and the crags.
Elsewhere a Red Kite was over the former gravel pits at Elland/ Cromwell Bottom early afternoon briefly but drifted of >SW. A nice surprise for DF.
Oops nearly forgot! - an early Curlew over Soil Hill for NK yesterday.
c20 Redwings were in Shroggs Park yesterday morning still feeding on holly berries and last night, just on dark, a Tawny Owl was singing from the same holly bushes!
Checked some Calderdale Heronries yesterday for the BTO long running census and found 3 occupied nests each at 2 colonies. A lot of activity and squabbling at the nest sites which I guess is a very good sign.
I paid a visit to Hardcastle Crags later on in the afternoon but it was very quiet other than 1 Dipper and 70+ Jackdaws. Also Nuthatches and a Song Thrush singing near Midgehole car park and a few small tit flocks.
Crimsworth Dean was quiet as well with just 2 Kestrels, 2 Treecreepers, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Stock Doves. I couldn't find any sign of the recent Brambling flocks in the beech woodland but I guess there is a possibility they are still around with so much beech woodland to go at between there and the crags.
Elsewhere a Red Kite was over the former gravel pits at Elland/ Cromwell Bottom early afternoon briefly but drifted of >SW. A nice surprise for DF.
Oops nearly forgot! - an early Curlew over Soil Hill for NK yesterday.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
Jumble Hole area - 16 Feb
A pair of goosander were on the canal right by the sewage works. On the filter beds there was around 20 smart looking pied wagtails. A dipper was on the usual spot on the Calder nearby.
In Jumble Hole, nuthatch are as vocal as ever, as are green woodpecker. A single fieldfare was squaring up to a mistle thrush defending a berry bush. A raven flew over very low, cronking away.
In Jumble Hole, nuthatch are as vocal as ever, as are green woodpecker. A single fieldfare was squaring up to a mistle thrush defending a berry bush. A raven flew over very low, cronking away.
Ringstone and Scammonden
Ringstone with Nick D this afternoon but not a sign of the Med Gull from yesterday though there were a decent number of smaller gulls in the fields plus around c40 Lapwings and 9 Goosander (7 drakes) displaying later on in the afternoon in the middleof the res'r..
Scammonden
1 Kestrel
9 Grey Herons
1 Cormorant
2 Pink-footed Geese with the Canada Goose flock of c65 birds
Scammonden
1 Kestrel
9 Grey Herons
1 Cormorant
2 Pink-footed Geese with the Canada Goose flock of c65 birds
Sunday, February 16, 2014
What a day !
Some fine weather and a few birders doing the rounds turned up some very good birds today.
Ringstone Res'r - c40 Snipe and 2 Jack Snipe on the north shore late morning (GS) and later in the afternoon an adult Mediterranean Gull (black hood almost complete) with a large gull flock feeding in the fields near the res'r followed by a winter Dunlin with the Lapwing flock (NCD and DF)
Whiteholme Res'r turned up an early Ringed Plover this afternoon (PGr)
Soil Hill produced a Woodcock this afternoon (BS)
Elsewhere I found 5 Little Owls (2 and 2 and 1) in the upper Ludenden Dean area. Also 9 Stock Doves and 2 Kestrels but no sign of the recent Stonechat.
It's really good to get some good local birds after all the bad weather in recent weeks didn't seem to turn up much!
Ringstone Res'r - c40 Snipe and 2 Jack Snipe on the north shore late morning (GS) and later in the afternoon an adult Mediterranean Gull (black hood almost complete) with a large gull flock feeding in the fields near the res'r followed by a winter Dunlin with the Lapwing flock (NCD and DF)
Whiteholme Res'r turned up an early Ringed Plover this afternoon (PGr)
Soil Hill produced a Woodcock this afternoon (BS)
Elsewhere I found 5 Little Owls (2 and 2 and 1) in the upper Ludenden Dean area. Also 9 Stock Doves and 2 Kestrels but no sign of the recent Stonechat.
It's really good to get some good local birds after all the bad weather in recent weeks didn't seem to turn up much!
