Soil Hill

Been trying hard all year for Black Redstart but this mornings visit to Soil Hill paid off with two. Both first spotted at a distance catching insects on the walls along Ned Hill Road. Very mobile throughout though BS and NK turned up there at the right time ! BS got a few decent shots off with one on a roof to confirm identification. 

Both birds were very mobile ending up on walls near the turbines, then on the muddy summit and I left them around the mast around 11:45. I tried hard for some decent shots with the small camera and a 'dud' screen ! These are the best I could do of the juv? male. the other female type was more elusive though  more photos to check later.

Nothing else up there - but no matter as these were good enough. 

As far as I can recall only one (?) previous record in Calderdale this year at the end of July, from AC at Blackstone Edge/ Turvin Road.

Whiteholme res'r etc...

Pair of Pintail reported this morning from Whiteholme - dropped in mid-morning (MH)

Also earlier today a Little Egret flew up Colden Clough (SiB)

Cromwell Bottom etc

Checked the ski-lake as best we could this afternoon despite the limited viewing. A drake Goldeneye was a nice surprise towards the east end of the ski-lake. Also 3 drake Tufted Duck, 2 adult Herring Gulls, 20+ Black-headed Gulls,7 Common Gulls, 16+ Cormorants, Grey Heron, a Moorhen as well as usual Mallard. Failed to locate yesterdays Great-crested Grebe or Wigeon.

A Kingfisher was showing well catching fish and flying to and fro along the canal. Also a few Siskin high up in the Alders

Elsewhere JJL reported the Whooper Swan still present at Mixenden res'r this morning. Also 7 Whoopers arrived at Whiteholme mid morning consisting of the pair with 5 juveniles (MH). 2 more Whoopers present at Ringstone (LD, PD).

Mixenden res'r etc and Ogden

A small group of Whooper Swans were reported yesterday morning flying over Cold Edge (AR) around 10:30. Later in the day what appear as the same Whooper Swans had arrived at Mixenden res'r and photographed by NK. I called up at Mixenden this morning on the off chance they might have stayed overnight. Still there, 2 adults and 3 juveniles. Probably fresh in from their breeding grounds in Iceland. I felt encouraged that juveniles had survived the journey and made it safely to the UK.

Little else at Mixenden other than a few Black-headed Gulls and 2 Common Gulls.

I also checked Fly Flats - fantastic views in good light from the top road but very few birds - singles of Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Red Grouse and a passing immature Common Gull.

Ogden this afternoon - managed to locate 1 Brambling in flight in a small Chaffinch flock though a larger Chaffinch flock, maybe 40+ birds got flushed by a male Sparrowhawk with the Chaffs disappearing over the trees so no chance to check for Bramblings. Plenty Mallard, a few Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 female Wigeon, 1 female Goosander and 3 Canada Geese. All seemed to be feeding in the weedy shoreline.

Whiteholme

Whooper Swan 10. Flew off ESE

8 of 15 Golden Plover

Shibden Valley

Grey Wagtail

Whiteholme

Redshank 2

10 of 25 Golden Plover

Walshaw Dean

 A pleasant afternoon, overcast with no breeze, and the sunshine was limited to about half-a-minute.

A flock of 20+ Long-tailed Tits moved apace through the conifer plantation. Also a couple of Blackbirds in there as well as a Robin. 

Our main aim was to check out the spot,photo below, where the recent Siberian Stonechat had been seen, Plenty of Stonechats about along with a few Reed Buntings in one area of rock, stone walls and grass/heather on the east side of the lower reservoir. At one point 8 Stonechats were on a fence line with others in and out of the vegetation, all obviously feeding well. Difficult to get an accurate count though 15+ (maybe nearing 20 !). No sign of the Siberian bird. Could it still be nearby ?

Little else other than at least 3 Kestrels and 2 Buzzards en-route and a flock of around 40 Redwings passed >W. Also from Steve B were 15 noisy Fieldfares in the Sycamore trees.

Whiteholme

Raven 1. Flew off south

Also: 2 Ravens north at Blackstone Edge

Whiteholme Sunday morning

 A great morning to be out with fog in the valley's and swirling fog on the tops.

Pink-footed geese 525 all WSW in 6 skeins

Jackdaw 217 in one large noisy flock WSW

Whooper Swans 5 WSW

Also about Hen Harrier , Merlin, Buzzard , Kes , Mipits 86, Reed Bunting 16 , Widgeon 4 , Teal 1 and 1 Golden Plover on the shoreline

,

Siberian Stonechat (Maurus) Lower Walshaw Dean

 

Ryburn

 Mandarin 2 females (grey bills)