Ogden - Carrs Beck

 A nice early returning migrant surprise this afternoon with a male Common Redstart working the fence line hedge. It's usually a spot for autumn migrants where they often stay for a few days. I'm pretty sure this is my earliest ever in Calderdale.

Nearby 22 Curlew, Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Swallows around Stodfold Barn. 

First Common Sandpipers reported today from Walshaw Dean, Gorple and Widdop.

Pair of Teal also reported on Mixenden Res'r (NK)

Whiteholme

1 of 3 Wheatears: this bird has a mostly black mask, with a brownish-grey back and brown wings - making it a 2cy male.

Also, a male Blackbird flew NE.

And I had 2 Ravens circling overhead, with one of them calling: one of those moments which are the reason we go birding. (And one that did not have to follow many wasted hours looking at tarmac).

40 years ago Phil Cunningham told me the First Law of Thermo--, no - sorry, of BIRDING: "The more you get out, the more you see".

Whiteholme

Partly albino Raven

Whooper surprise !

The last thing I expected  this morning as I walked up to Carrs Beck at the lower end of Ogden golf course was to hear, then see a flock of 27 Whoooper Swans. They were quite high, approaching from above the golf club house and heading in the direction of The Withens / Fly Flats. They were gone before I got an accurate count, (quick text to BS at Fly Flats but before I sent the message they returned so aborted that idea) it was a real surprise as they appeared a few minutes later and this time went towards Mixenden.

I managed a short video into the sun but from it I managed an  accurate count of 27. I 'dashed' ! on to Mixenden , suspecting they might have come down there but no sign, so suspect they just headed straight over >W. 

Perhaps the last to be seen locally until the autumn now as they spend the summer months in Iceland and maybe beyond.

Recent news ......

Cold Edge 24th March

Tried over the last couple of weeks to find an early Wheatear. Jen managed to find our first, in a field just opposite the top dam, a nice male showing well. Nice to see a good mix in the same fields including Graylag and Canada Geese, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew, Moorhen, Starling, Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipits.

29 species for the afternoon.

I had chance to head up to Lower Gorple on 25th March. Don't often manage to get up there but it was, as usual, well worthwhile. Just about the first bird I saw was a Chiffchaff - feeding continuously in the small conifer plantation near Blake Dean on the track up to Gorple. Highlight thereafter was 5 Crossbills, including 2 red males around the edge of the plantation by the cottages, always a special bird in Calderdale. 

Plenty waders in the area including Curlew, Lapwing, Redshank and in excess of 70 Oystercatchers. Also 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Tufted Duck, Canada and Greylag Geese and a few Mallard,

On return I was surprised to find around a dozen House Sparrows near the cottages along with Siskin, Chaffinch's and Stock Doves and a singing Mistle Thrush.

1 Skylark as I returned down the track and a single Red Grouse calling.

All in all 36 species was a decent total.

Ringstone Edge

Oystercatchers and Crow

Also, 50 Fieldfares

Undisclosed location

Twite

Also, a female Wheatear

Beacon Hill

2 singing Song Thrushes

Various....

10 Whooper Swans on Mixenden res'r this morning thanks to a message from BS. They were still there mid afternoon but suspect they will have gone in the morning.

I checked Swales Moor this morning, looking for those early Wheatears, no joy there but managed a vociferous Green Woodpecker in the Shibden Valley. In fields at the top at least 4 pairs of Skylarks and a good deal of song. Several Meadow Pipits displaying by showing off their parachute descents. Not a lot else other than a single male  Kestrel and as usual, a good number of corvids. 

Ringstone Edge

Little Egret

Ringstone Edge

14 of 19 Common Gulls (5 - 2cy)

Oystercatcher 2