An interesting walk on a lovely afternoon.
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Castle Carr Road
Soil Hill
The forecast of early morning fog was fortunately incorrect, and although VizMig was quite slow there was decent variety of birds moving over the three and a half hours spent watching. The highlight on passage was six Brambling, with a flock of four and then two singles.
It has been a good autumn so far for Jack Snipe on Soil Hill, with the first individual recorded on the 24th September and then being seen on four dates before today, although many days I have not checked for them to reduce disturbance. Today was the first day I used my thermal imager to try to find them, and it was also the first day with two individuals.
In total managed 43 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S200673369
Trektellen count here; https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/767/20241029
Monday, October 28, 2024
1st winter Caspian Gulls.....
Cromwell Bottom & Ringstone Edge
With heavy rain in upland north Calderdale I headed to Cromwell Bottom for the morning, and struck lucky with a Little Egret on the River Calder near the Avocet works. It then flew off, heading upstream and appeared to land, but I could not refind it.
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Cromwell Bottom
A quick visit this morning to check the ski-lake, though viewing is still frustratingly limited, I did mange to pick out a drake Common Scoter, a first for the year for me !
A Little Egret was present in the woodland overlooking Brearley wetlands this afternoon (MartynH)
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Fly Flats
I went up to see if the 3 Twite were still present from the last couple of days. No show unfortunately. Looks like they have moved on. I did go armed with some Nyger seed which I scattered about in an attempt to encourage them to stay awhile if they do return. A Wren was in and out of the juncus there !
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Fly Flats
Prompted by a sighting from AC and NCD last evening of 3 Twite at the north end of the reservoir I headed up there this morning. Poor conditions with fog/ low cloud and visibility not good at all. Fortunately all three birds were still there feeding on the 'weedy' embankment. Quite approachable, given stealth, I managed a few shots in the poor light. These are the best I could do of 2 of the three.
Not a lot else in the conditions other than 3 Stonechats, 2 Meadow Pipits, 12 Carrion Crows, 1 Jackdaw, 1 Red Grouse. Visible migration was also evident with 650+ Woodpigeons passing through in several groups via 'The Nab' - they seemed to know the direction they were heading.... but who knows in that fog !!!
Friday, October 18, 2024
Lee Mount and Hardcastle Crags
Just an hour of VisMig in reasonable conditions between 8:30 and 9:30 this morning over Swales Moor. Mainly on the watch for more Redwings. A trickle of them >S with one larger group of 80 and ended up with a total of 170 and not a lot else.
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Soil Hill
After two days of solid fog, it was nice to actually get back up the Hill and see more than 100 metres! In the preceding days, quite a few Redwing seemed to have arrived with myself and JJL hearing plenty passing over us on the night of the 15th.
So, I was hoping for a good passage of Redwings over Soil Hill today, with 1866 going south between 07:30 and 11:00, although DJS comfortably bested this total just over the Hill. There were a few other species on the move as well, notably my latest-ever Swallows at this site, with six going south during the morning.
A few notable totals from this morning, all south;
1866 |
Redwing |
263 |
Woodpigeon |
208 |
Starling |
33 |
Chaffinch |
22 |
Siskin |
8 |
Lesser
Redpoll |
6 |
Swallow |
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Friday, October 11, 2024
Cromwell Bottom
The day started off with interest....Whooper Swans on the move being reported passing over Calderdale in small groups as well as skeins of Pink-footed Geese (DJB, SiB, AR et al) and a Little Egret over Northowram (AC).
I met up with AT at Cromwell Bottom. had a good catch up and a good look round to see what we could find around the reserve. The site was really quiet for small birds other than a few Robins, Great Tits and a Wren etc. A Little Grebe and Moorhen were just above the weir along with a Grey Heron, a Cormorant flyover and later Jays were calling. A Dipper on the river and Mute Swan on the canal.
The ski-lake was a nightmare to get any sort of view at all but we did find an early returner with a female Goldeneye along with a pair of Tufted Duck. Just a few gulls including 1 adult Herring Gull and adult LBBG.
Later on in the day we had a report of a single Whooper Swan on the ski-lake (MSh) - another good find.