Shibden Valley

Singing Nuthatch

Shibden Park

Mallard female with 8 young

Soil Hill

  The very handsome male Ring Ouzel that has been at the bottom of the North Slope continued into its third day today, although the second bird from yesterday seems to have moved on. It is not an especially cooperative bird, always mobile and far more often heard than seen early in the morning. 

  Other goodies in recent days have been more limited. A scattering of Wheatear have been around, although there were none that I could find this morning. Willow Warblers are now up to five individuals and the first Whitethroat was seen by JJL yesterday morning, but I have not yet laid eyes or ears upon it. 

  In addition to the Ouzel, it was nice to have a flock of four Crossbills fly north this morning. It seems to have been a lively April for finches, with Siskin and Redpoll recorded on most days on Soil Hill. A Golden Plover also flew over this morning, and the resident Grey Partridge have put in a couple of appearances in recent days. Two male Stonechats have taken up territories at the bottom of the North Slope. This species does not usually breed on Soil Hill, my last recorded attempt was back in 2020, so watching these birds with interest. I have not been looking for Jack Snipe every day, but on my last check two days ago there was still at least one individual present. 

-Ring Ouzel

-Jack Snipe

In total managed 38 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S321455344

Whiteholme

Reed Bunting male

Little Ringed Plover

White Wagtail. Its upperparts and flanks are silver grey. There is a sharp contrast between black nape and silver grey mantle, and when the neck is flexed the border between these looks diffuse - suggesting a female.

(The upperparts and flank of female Pied are sooty grey, and the Pied's rump is black.)

It is not easy to say where the rump ends and the tail begins. 'Europe's Birds' by Hume et al point to the rump being between the inner tertials. My 3rd photo when enlarged (even though not fully sharp) does show mid grey - not black - between the inner tertials.

Blackstone Edge

Kestrel male with prey

Whiteholme

                                         Adult winter Kittiwake , Whiteholme stayed for an hour on the water...

                                                                                   

                                        Whiteholme has done well with 3 Ospreys so far this spring but Calderdale is now in double figures...with 11 sightings of 10 birds...plenty time for some more........

Blackstone Edge

Wheatear pair

It's awful: most of our side of Rishworth Moor is black after the fire yesterday - south of Baitings to the summit, and west to Blackstone Edge.

Whiteholme

Wheatear 6

Byron Edge

Twite

Whiteholme

Wheatear female

Wheatear 2cy male. Black mask gives the sex; brownish-black wings, and brown in the upperparts, give the age

Soil Hill

   After only arriving at Leeds/Bradford Airport late last night, it was a bit of a struggle to motivate myself to get up early and out to Soil Hill this morning, but it was well worth the effort. It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning in superb birding conditions.

  The highlight of the morning was a distant Osprey that flew north at 07:55 up the Ogden valley, before continuing over Thornton Moor Reservoir. This is my 7^th Osprey on Soil Hill, and my 5^th in the Spring. With the additional two birds reported across Calderdale later today, as well as the numerous birds last week, this must already rank as one of the best springs ever for the species locally?

  There was not a huge number of migrants around, with the last few Fieldfares still lingering in the fields on Taylor Lane representing the winter species still hanging on. Another winter species still present is Jack Snipe, with two individuals seen today. This included a rather conspicuous individual that I was able to spot before it got away, without using the thermal! Common Snipes were also present, with a scan from the bottom of the North Slope revealing at least four displaying birds. A Jay on Taylor Lane is always a good species to record for Soil Hill.

-Osprey

-Jack Snipe

In total managed 40 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S317680828

Whiteholme

Wheatear male

 

Blackstone Edge

 Reed Bunting male

Linnet. I think this is a male because of the pink breast, although it is not (yet?) in full breeding plumage

Recent news

Fly Flats was well fogged off above 'The Withens' this morning, so I headed down to check Mixenden Res'r. Thought I had an Osprey high and distant - it was a Grey Heron!

It was really blustery though plenty of activity in the sky. On the water just 9 Mallard (1 female)!

2 Buzzards were high and distant, seemed to be enjoying the conditions. 

2 Swallows came though >S at a pace, getting blown all over the place as they travelled

1 Pied Wagtail and the usual corvids around the site

Several adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were heading >W

Last 3 days - a hat-trick of Ospreys reported travelling through on 1st/2nd/3rd April from Whiteholme, Luddenden Dean and Walshaw. That is a record and well done to MH, PB, PL and GW. Another one tomorrow would be nice!

4th April - and another Osprey this morning  >N over Whiteholme (AC)

Whiteholme

Wheatear male

Blackstone Edge

5 of 10 Linnets

Whiteholme

April 1:  Raven 1 north, calling