A day for some Whooper Swans

Thanks to some early warnings from BS and MM, Whooper Swans on local reservoirs first thing. 

March is usually a good time for them as they start their return to Iceland

I headed up to Mixenden Res'r 23 there, at the far end - they stayed till at least 15:30.

Next stop Ogden with 18, again distant, being enjoyed by several people doing the circuit

Later in the day JM found 19 at Withens Clough res'r off Cragg Vale 

They sometimes stay a day or two though being a clear night they may well move off overnight ?

Cunnery Wood

Mallard female. 

Also 2 males

Soil Hill & Ogden

  I’m back home for the week so wasted no time heading up to Soil Hill this morning hoping for some Whooper Swan migration. I didn’t manage to pick up any flocks flying past, but from the vantage point of Soil Hill I was able to distantly spot a group on Mixenden Reservoir. From the photos I have I was able to count 22, but being so distant it could easily be more.

  However this Whooper Swan action was thoroughly trumped when I reached the bottom of the North Slope. I was just scanning the area of The Shay for Wheater (no joy there) when I turned around to see the bright white crescent of a male Ring Ouzel looking back at me! This is my first March record here, and caught me completely off guard. I was able to approach the bird but it was then flushed by a patrolling police helicopter. It remained in the area after, but was quite mobile. Sadly JJL was not able to re-find the bird late morning, so it may have moved off.

  In addition to these two highlights, there was a nice supporting cast. A single Raven flew over heading SE. Lots of wader activity with two Oystercatchers on The Shay and another three flying north, plus at least two Snipe in full display. Two male Stonechats were at the bottom of the North Slope and a female Bullfinch was on Ned Hill Track. A mobile flock of 30+ Fieldfare was still present on Taylor Lane.

  Late morning I made a short trip to Ogden to see the flock of 18 Whooper Swans that had landed there. In very peaceful conditions it was great to watch the birds taking a break on their journey home. The only other birds of note were four Tufted Ducks and a flyover Lesser Redpoll. 

-Ring Ouzel

-Whooper Swans on Mixenden

In total managed 43 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S310528580

Whiteholme

Carrion Crow

Raven

Round and about !

 A very good find this morning for BS, thanks for the call Bri, with a drake Common Scoter on Fly Flats so I made a move for it. Can be quite scarce now on Calderdale reservoirs but from a distant it was showing well. A couple of Redshank were skulking along the shoreline along with Oystercatchers and Lapwings.

Also had a check at a few spots just in case an early Wheatear might be about. PB was on the same mission but we failed on that score. Maybe just a little patience needed before we spot one but they will be on their way anytime!

On the way back I called at Mixenden to check for any other Scoters or Whoopers but there was nothing doing. Good to see NK doing the rounds too. A couple of Siskin in the bushes by the top gate took flight into the pines.

Whiteholme

Oystercatcher 2

Blackstone Edge

Stonechat male. Female also present.

Lighthazzles

Mallard pair: first sightings here this year.

Also, Raven 2 NW

Fog bound this morning !

The fog took an age to clear today though it did lift enough to have a look at Stodfold, Carrs Beck and lower end of Hunter Hill this afternoon.

1 Dipper in the stream at Stodfold and on the edge of the fields adjacent the Calderdale Way a pair of Pied Wagtails and c 22 Fieldfares were wary to and from the safety of the tree line. One Curlew calling as was a Green Woodpecker on the slopes of Hunter Hill where a single Buzzard was sitting it out on a fence post. 20 or so Meadow Pipits went overhead, not for stopping. One Grey Wagtail on the edge of Mixenden Res'r.

Blackstone Edge

Blackbird 1 male.  (Also, a Peacock butterfly)

Shibden Park

Coot nestbuilding

Hag Lane

Looking over into Shibden Valley this afternoon we walked the hillside along Hag Lane towards Claremount and return via the hillsides towards Bradford Old Road. Nice bit of sunshine !

2 Green Woodpeckers were 'yaffling' it out from different areas of the valley and a distant Buzzard. Still no sign of winter thrushes up there, or Skylarks but a Little Owl, viewed on a post along Bradford Old Road was nice to see.

Latest news from around the country of Wheatears arriving mostly reported from 'the south'. Though one just marginally outside our recording area by 20m, just north of Portsmouth today from SB.

Mixenden Reservoir

Call from JJL during the morning with 13 Whooper Swans on Mixenden. Thankfully they were still there early afternoon. This was the best I could do with my camera and the bright sunshine. They are always a bit special and we can probably expect a few more in the next few weeks as they head back to Iceland...

Still no Goldeneye at this site. It used to be a good spot for a small number in winter. Nice to see there was a pair reported from BS at Fly Flats this morning.

Byron Edge

Golden Plover 2. I think this is a southern pair, with the male (top 2 photos) having a dark lower face.

The female shows well the diagnostic rear of Eurasian Golden Plover: wing tips about level with tail tip, and tip of tertials well short of tail tip.

Blackstone Edge

Skylark 3 (1 singing)

Lee Mount and Fly Flats area

Blackbird pair in the garden - the female was gathering moss and dead grass ! They'll be lucky with all the magpies about here. Also a surprise was a Stock Dove on the lawn - thats a new one for the garden list though I do see them at times through the scope, towards Swales Moor.

A couple of bonus birds on the way up near Nolstar - 2 Grey Partridge feeding in among the remnants of hay left for the sheep. No luck with either Golden Plover or Skylarks. Just got to Fly Flats mid afternoon and the fog rolled in and sideways rain. I just managed to see 4 Oystercatchers and hear some Canada Geese, Curlews and Red Grouse !

Hebden Bridge

Dipper

Castle Carr Road

A nice walk on there this afternoon cool westerly wind in some sunshine ! 

Highlight was of 9 Stonechats along the length - 1 pair near Wainstalls end, then 1 male with 2 females running a fence line half way along and lastly 2 pairs together in gorse and heather. Same count on return avoided duplication.

Also 18 species in total including 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 2 Meadow Pipits, 4 Curlew and just 1 Lapwing.

There don't seem to have been many Redwings or Fieldfare about up there all winter !