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

Shibden Valley

Kestrel male

Cromwell Bottom

From Brookfoot end this afternoon. As soon as I arrived, scanned over towards the avocet building to see what turned out to be at least 3 Sand Martins high over the river. A good start to an hour or so down there along with a Dipper and a pair of Goosander on the river just west of the building.

I was hoping for a Water Rail, photographed superbly on the lagoon in the last couple of days from (MSh), but there was no show while I was there. 6 Teal, 3 Moorhens and 2 Coot showed well at times. A Little Grebe was heard though viewing on the main ski-lake was not good at all. 2 adult Common Gulls, 1 Black-headed Gull, 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and around 20 immature Herring Gulls with a few noisy adults flying around, all viewed through the trees. Not a lot else other than a showy singing Chiffchaff and a Great Spotted Woodpecker 'drumming'.

3 Sand Martins were still showing on my return towards Brookfoot.

Soil Hill

   Last night there were a few reports of Common Scoter migrating over Lancashire, with reports indicating it was quite the movement of birds. Most of the reports came at around 20:00 but I was not aware of them until already 21:30 by which time those flocks would have had ample time to reach Calderdale and continue towards the North Sea.

  However, from Bradshaw, I did some listening and at 21:40 a clear flock of Scoter was heard passing over. Buoyed by this I grabbed my thermal imager, jumped in the car and set off for Soil Hill. There was not much activity however, and during the hour I stayed on the Hill I only recorded one clear flock of six Common Scoter flying over, with just a few calls heard. A very distant large flock of birds flying in formation were probably also Scoter but without calls it's impossible to be sure. A few solitary birds I picked up in the thermal could have been anything! 

  This morning was once again very pleasant, but with little in the way of standout species. I managed to locate two Jack Snipe this morning but sadly one of these was deceased. A Jay was a nice surprise, initially in the North Slope Tree-Line before flying north. It, or another individual, was spotted flying SW a little time later. A late Common Gull flew north. 

-Common Scoter

-Living Jack Snipe

-Expired Jack Snipe

In total managed 42 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S312292864

Soil Hill

   No standout species from recent visits to Soil Hill, but a steady trickle of interesting birds. This mornings highlight was a pair of Grey Partridge on Perseverance Road, my first sighting of these reclusive birds in 2026. It was nice to find a Jack Snipe in the thermal, before it was unfortunately flushed by another Jack Snipe taking off next to it, which I had not seen. A flock of 35+ Fieldfare continues to enjoy the delights of the fields along Taylor Lane, although presumably they will soon be on their way. A scattering of finch movement recently as well, with four Siskin this morning and a single Lesser Redpoll.

  Yesterday I could only find a single Jack Snipe, but had a nice bonus snipe when I flushed a Woodcock from the North Slope Tree-Line. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew SW, briefly stopping on the North Slope and two Greylag Geese flew NE. The day before that my visit was during the early afternoon once the morning fog had cleared. A Redwing at the bottom of the North Slope was the highlight. 

-Jack Snipe

-Grey Partridge

-Meadow Pipit

In total managed 46 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S311775466

Around and about

 Three nice shots thanks to Paul B today at Cold Edge.

2 Pink-footed Geese - Cold Edge this afternoon

Male Sparrowhawk

Also nearby - 1 Wheatear and 2 Grey Partridge along Castle Carr Road. (PB)

We also had a walk along the road in the afternoon. Failed to find the Wheatear though amongst the usual species were 4 Stonechats showing, along with a distant Little Owl, c40 Meadow Pipits, Skylarks singing and 3 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls passed over >N.

3 Whooper Swans were also reported on Fly Flats res'r this afternoon (Mark B)

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