Shroggs Park

Several Bramblings at various locations in the park last 4 days but mobile. Also occasional Siskin passsing over in last few days.

Cold Edge 31st October

1 Wigeon, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Greylag Geese, 2 Snipe, Red Grouse, 4 Stonechats, Song Thrush, 20+ Redwing and 20+ Fieldfare. Stonechat at Withens Hotel and Sparrowhawk hunting at Wainstalls.

Roils Head 30th October

3 Stonechats

Ringstone Feeders more visitors....

Ringstone Feeders 13:30 - 14:00

28th October Norton Tower - Roils Head

Wheatear(greenland?) and Stonechat at Norton Tower, another Stonechat at Roils Head.

Ringstone Feeder Station 181005

Your probably all looking at the Greenfinch ( and with good cause ) however the reason I've put this picture on is to see if anyone is aware that the peanut feeder is missing!! Picture taken on the 18th however feeder missing tonight at 18:00

Southerly over SH

As expected with such a wind on a sunny day, nothing much doing. 4 Mipit, 3 Skylark, 4 Mallard, pr Kestrel, grounded Song Thrush. A plus point however, the diggers have removed the old cars, freezers and wotsits by the Radio Mast.

Soil Hill

Calderdale Birds

taken from the bradford ornithological groups website tonight..

Soil Hill
raven, 80 pinkfeet east and jack snipe

Cold edge vis

08.00 - 10. 30
heavy showers and clear spells
254 Fieldfare s/w
162 Redwing s/w
2 Blackbirds s/w
42 Meadow Pipit s/w
6 Golden Plover south
27 Chaffinch s/w
2 Greenfinch s/w
1 Reed Bunting south
54 Starling south
Other birds present
2 Stonechat
4 goldfinch
4 Greylags
1 Raven
1 moorhen
14 mallard
17 Canada Geese
Cheers

Survey help wanted!

Below is an E mail I received today from Steve Atkins of the BTO with regard to pilot survey work for the BTO National Atlas. Several of us discussed this survey at one of our meetings but it would appear from Steve's E mail that perhaps there isn't quite the commitment required we first thought, anyone interested or wanting more info please contact me and I'll pass on Steve's details. perhaps a few of us could co-ordinate something between us?



Dear Nick,


Would you please circulate the following to any members of the Halifax Birdwatcher’s Club who might be interested in helping out with this pilot survey. At present we are looking for volunteers to do timed counts in the following tetrads: Blackstone Edge Reservoir, Soyland Moor, Green Withens Reservoir, Moss Moor and White Hill. If it will be of help I can provide you with a list of the 1km squares that fall within these tetrads, which are all either wholly or partly within the HBC’s recording area. We are also keen to find people willing to take on the roving recorder role anywhere within the 10 km square.

In the winter of 2005/2006 we will be undertaking pilot work for the forthcoming National Bird Atlas. The atlas will cover both breeding and wintering birds and between 1st November and the end of February this winter we will be testing two different methods for counting wintering species. Trials will take place in the 10km square SD91 which is the area East of Rochdale town centre, from Denshaw in the South to Light Hazzles/White Holme Reservoir in the North. This area contains a wide variety of habitats, from urban through to moorland, and will test our ability to survey the more remote parts of our region. Whilst there are some popular birdwatching sites here (Watergrove Reservoir, Hollingworth Lake and the Piethorne Valley) it is equally important to survey less attractive urban areas.

The two survey methods, "Roving Recorders" and "Timed Counts", will be trialled in the same area by two different groups of observers and Steve Atkins has agreed to assist with the co-ordination of this work, which will be more intensive than the actual survey work for the atlas. If you would like to help with these survey trials, you need to choose which one you would rather do - you can't do both! The survey period for both types is 1st Nov - 28th Feb.

"Timed Visits" involve making 2 visits to a chosen tetrad (2km by 2km square) and counting all the birds you see or hear using the area (not ones which just fly over). Each visit will take at least 1 hour 20 minutes and no more than 3 hours (depending on the number of birds there are - so moorland visits will probably be shorter).

The second type is called "Roving Recorder" where you can make as many visits as you like anywhere within the whole 10km by 10km square (SD91) and record all the species that you see or hear using the square. You don't need to count the birds but note down which tetrads they were in. I will provide maps for you as well as instructions and the recording forms.

Would anyone who is interested in taking part please contact either of us indicating which survey method they would prefer to help with. If Timed Visits, please indicate which tetrad (s) you would be willing to survey. If you would like any more information please get back to me or Steve Atkins.

Thanks

Steve Suttill

Steve Atkins

on behalf of the British Trust for Ornithology (Manchester Region)

Pellon area 23rd October

Reed Bunting at Roils Head, Siskin at Silverwood and a Merlin over Moor End Road followed by an injured blackbird.

Cold Edge Vis Mig

Just to say that I will have to stop the vis mig watch at CED due to my wife being taken to hospital after a stroke which looks like it could be a long job.If anyone wants to carry it on for the remaining few weekends it would be good. Brian.

Twite sighting

Of interest, a Twite ringed in Midgley in 2004 (as a pulli) and reported later that year at Lighthazzles (03/10/04) has been seen again, this time at Cant Clough (Burnley area) on 14/10/05. Colour combination is dark blue/bw orange/bto

1/2 PLACES LEFT

STILL 1 COMFORTABLE SPACE AND 2 @ A SQUEEZE FOR TOMORROWS TRIP TO SPURN, BIRDS IN THE AREA TODAY INCLUDE FIRECREST, YELLOW BROWED WARBLER AND NORTHERN LONG TAILED TIT. I'LL ALSO HAVE BIRDGUIDES TEXT ALERT SWITCHED ON IN CASE ANYTHING REALLY EXCITING TURNS UP. ANYONE WISHING TO JOIN ME AND IAIN G PLEASE LEAVE CONTACT NUMBER ON MY EMAIL ANDREWHUYTON@HOTMAIL.COM, THOSE OF YOU NOT COMING ALONG HAVE A GREAT DAY ON YOUR LOCAL PATCH.

Lower Gorple & Widdop - pm

Very little about today. 4 red grouse, goldcrest and tawny owl calling in plantation. Probable ring ouzel flushed from moor. Absolutely nothing on, or at the edge of, either res' despite loads of mud.

Cold Edge 19th October

5 Wigeon, Adult male Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, 2 Red Grouse, Kestrel and 6 Goldfinch.

TRIP TO SPURN

Does anyone fancy joining me for a day at Spurn this coming Saturday, sorry it's short notice but thats my life I'm afraid. I'm happy to drive and have room for 3 comfortably, 4 at a squeeze.
Leave your names and numbers to arrange, early start suggested; open to ideas on exact time. I've not checked high tides, weather reports etc as yet.

Underbank

Chiffchaff (still) in my garden.

Ringstone 11.00 - 12.00

220 Lapwing
21 Golden Plover
1 Dunlin
19 Widgeon(18 female types 1 male)
3 Skylark
2 Cormorant
30 Meadow pipit

Curlew chicks spring 2005

Hi all apologies for moth photos but it looks like ive sussed this photo thing at last.Andy 

Testing Photo

moth 

Ringstone 14:30 - 16:00

1 Wheatear North East shore, 1 Snipe > E, 8 Greenfinch on feeders, 2 Blue tits, 2 Great Tits, Dunnock, 7 Common Gulls on Res., c80 B H Gulls on Res and in surrounding Fields, 5 Golden Plover in Field to West before flying off SE. 17 Lapwing in same field.

Meeting at Cromwell bottom

Wenesday morning at 10.00 at car park.This meeting is about, what happens next at Cromwell.it would be good if a birder could be there,J beaumont,G,denison and myself canot attend.For futher details call me at home or on my mobile.There is talk of chopping down large areas of bramble and Fragmites.this would be a disaster for breeding warblers.
Thanks andy

Ringstone

Sean and andy
2500 + ( largest flock 120)s/e
54 Brambling ( 50 + 4)s/e
Siskin 35 ( 16 + 4 + 15)s/e
Woodpigeon 30 S/e
Chaffinch 100 +
Greenfinch 20 +
Redpoll 10 S/e
1 Collared Dove
220 Pinkfeet ( i40 + 80 ) west
20 Goldfinch s/w
30 meadow Pipit S/w
20 Fieldfwre s/w
60 Lapwing
1 Golden Plover
1 Song Thrush s/w
3 Blackbird s/w
1 Sparrowhawk (male following finches)
1 bullfinch
A great vis mig day

Hebden Bridge /top football pitch

3 Swallow south
200 Redwing s/w
80 Pinkfeet west
20 Fieldfare s/w

COLD EDGE DAMS

16/10/05 0715-1030 Vis Mig

254 MIPIT >SE
2 ALBA WAG >W
13 REED BUNT >W
148 STARLING >S
41 GOLDFINCH >W
192 REDWING >E 1 flock of 170

Other 1f Stonechat 1 Tufted 1 Wren 31 BH Gull + usual.
What should have been a mega morning spoilt by rolling fog and mist banks.
BS

Ringstone./Lapland Bunting

A second bite today!.total fog this morning. Almost on top of the fog at times with periods of good
vertical visibility through to open sky. Redwings constantly on the move with
biggest parties of 60 and 45 going south-west together with lots of smaller
groups. As usual with Redwings on the move, more
groups were heard than seen and counted. Small parties of Fieldfare the largest been 50.The bushes around the feeding station(east side )Held large numbers of Greenfich ,Chaffinch,Goldfinch and 1 Brambling called loudly as they all took to the sky.I then walked up the track next to the farm, large numbers of Meadow Pipit were streaming through and then i herd the call of Lapland Bunting above me moving south.I herd the call another time before seeing the bird dissapearing southward (brilliant).2 Skylarks, 1 jack snipe ,35 Snipe ,10 Twite near where Nick placed nijer seed and 65 Pinkfeet made for a great hour at Ringstone

Ringstone 4-5pm

Walked the eastern section of the new "Ringstone Recording Area". Pinkfeet now down across the road in the East fields. 90 Redwing over going Southeast.

Cold Edge 14th October

Wigeon, 2 Stonechats, Goldcrest, Red Grouse, Grey Partridge and 7 Linnets.

Roils Head
Stonechat, 3 Goldcrest and 40+ Redwings over.

Ringstone 11.00 - 11.45

1 Dunlin
1 Tufted Duck
1 Blackcap (male)
8 Snipe
9 Golden Plover
65 Pinkfeet
100 Canada Geese
Small parties of Redwing ,Chaffinch,greenfinch,redpoll and meadow pipit heading s/w

Ringstone

I think we can agree it was a Hobby.The latest record in calderdale by along way(16th Sept previous record)There have been a few october records from Paul Clough and the Bradford area,so its not that late.Today had a real winter feel with the wind turning northerly.
65 Pinkfeet in the north field
4 Whooper swans
35 redwing south
6 Teal
1 male Goosander
8 snipe
6 Reed Bunts
2 Jays

Cold Edge 12th October

Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck, Goosander, Red Grouse and a Short-eared Owl near the Withens Hotel.

Yellow-browed warbler

Early today briefly at Scammonden Dam (John Beaumont).
No sign later that morning.

Ringstone 14:45 - 17:30

5 Snipe over, 17 Lapwing, 8 Goosander, c50 BH Gulls, 4 Common Gulls, 3 Pied Wagtail.

On and around the feeding station on the South shore, 1 GS Woodpecker, 3 Bullfinch incl 1 female, 6 Blue tit, 1 Wren, 1 Robin, 1 Great tit and a Blackbird.

1 Adult Peregrine sat in the field above the North shore.

Down the road in the newly seeded field 7 Golden Plover.

COLD EDGE DAMS

Vis Mig 09/10/05 0715-1100hrs

805 MIPIT >S
3 SKYLARK >S
8 SNIPE >W
359 STARLING >S
27 ALBA WAG >SW
11 GREENFINCH >SW
66 CHAFFINCH >SW
4 SWALLOW >S
430 PF GEESE >E 250---150---30 to the far S of me.

Also 1m Stonechat 1 Heron 32 Mallard

MIXENDEN RESERVOIR 3 Swallows. BS

Roils Head 8th October

Ring Ouzel first winter bird, fourth record for the Pellon/Mount Tabor area. Also present Goldcrest, 4 Skylarks and 28 Lapwings in nearby fields.
Anybody with any photographs of birds taken in Calderdale in 2004 should send them to me as soon as possible on a disc for possible inclusion in the forthcoming bird report.

Thanks

Just a quick post to thank all those of you who have taken the time to post their sightings, photos, thoughts and comments on this Blog, we weren't sure how it would go when it was originally suggested by Matt but it is obviously proving very popular! Please spread the word as it helps us to increase the records received for inclusion in the annual report as well as being an interesting read. Now that I am back on line I can hopefully contribute a little more myself!

The Bird Club has recently received its complimentary copy of the Huddersfield Birdwatchers Club annual report for 2003 anyone wanting to see it can contact me, or better still buy their own personal copy I can supply a contact address etc.

Peering through the Gloom!!!

A quick hours watching at Ringstone on the way home is very quickly turning into a half hour and not because the traffic is bad. The poor light over the last 2 evenings has made it difficult to pick out some species and near impossible to give definate counts but this should give you a rough idea:- Thurs 18:15 till last light, 11 Goosander, 17 Mallard, 2 GC Grebe, 1 BH Gull, 4 Lapwings and some unconfirmed wigeon. Tonight approx sametime, 23 Lapwings, 5 Tufted Ducks, 4 Goosander, c25 Canada Geese, 9 unconfirmed Golden Plover in top field, 12 Mallard, 2 GC Grebe and unconfirmed wigeon and teal on far bank. Planning an early morning trip up to hopefully get some confirmation on what may have stayed the night. Here's hoping it's dry and lighter.

7th October

2 Chiffchaffs at Moor End Gardens this afternoon. Sparrowhawk tried to take a Stonechat at Roils Head PM. Yesterday at Cold Edge Dams 6 Stonechat, 1 Goosander, 2 Teal, 4 Greylag Geese and 30+ Goldfinch.

Jumble Hole Clough - 9:30

Chiffchaff, green woodpecker, g.sp. woodpecker, dozens of long-tailed tits

Booth Wood

The steep sided valley leading up to the M62 from the road bridge above Booth Wood produced 4 Stonechats and a female Sparrowhawk on a telegraph pole this afternoon. There seem to be a lot of Stonechats about!

Crimsworth Dean and Walshaw Dean

A long trek round today - very quiet for birds in perfect weather! Controlled burning heather on the moor at Widdop and Gorple.

Crimsworth Dean - 1 Little Owl, 5 Lapwings, 7 Swallows going through and 10 Grey Partridge. c20 Red Grouse over the moor.

Walshaw Dean - 4 Stonechats in different areas, 1 Dipper in the catchwater drain at Middle Walshaw - also 2 Reed Buntings there and 1f Sparrowhawk over. 10 Teal on Lower Walshaw and an odd Kestrel and a few M Pipits.

Lee Mount - Redwings heard going over this evening.

Any Batmen out there??

Only 3 Goosander tonight at Ringstone between 18:15 - 19:00, matched by 3 GC Grebe along with 5 Lapwing, 1 Dunlin, 2 Mallard and c100 BH Gulls before they flew off leaving only the odd couple at last light. 1 Little Owl in fields on the left hand side of Krumlin road. Rishworth Rd produced 1 large bat sp. hunting round the street lights between the open fields, any ideas guys??

Baitings - 3:00pm

8 teal on reservoir. 1 Greylag goose in with a flock of 12 canadas. Peregrine overhead.

A Calm still evening

Not often you can say that about Ringstone but you could this evening between 18:20 and 19:00. The contingent of female Goosanders has grown to 13, 7 Golden Plover flew into the top field before moving on didn't see which direction they went in but they came in straight over my head as I stood in the layby. Also present c50 Canada Geese with 1 white farm goose, 2 Male Mallard 1 female and c50 Black headed gulls with 1 Common Gull, 1 female/juv Kestrel and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Badger Lane, Blackshaw Head

Party of 8 twite this morning reported by Joe Fleming. Also told me of a ring ouzel coming from the direction of the Crags towards Heptonstall around 6 weeks ago

Shroggs Park/Lee Mount

c20 House Martins still around this morning and 2 Goosander going south. Also 1 Redpoll over and c50 mixed Chaffinch/Greenfinch in the park and a flock of c40 Goldfinch over. Lots of Blackbirds arrived in the last few days but no sign of Redwings yet as they usually arrive for the Sorbus berries.

COLD EDGE DAMS

Vis Mig 02/10/05 0645-1045hrs

815 MIPITS >S and SW
4 REDPOLL >W
42 CHAFFINCH >W
109 GREENFINCH >W
3 SKYLARK >SW
11 SNIPE >W
14 LINNET >W
7 ALBA WAG >W
2 SWALLOWS >S
OTHER... 2 Red Grouse 1m Stonechat 1 Kestrel 2 Linnets on seed
BS.

2 swallows

High, moving west, over Callis Bridge, Charlestown.