Bird Report

The 2004 Bird Report is selling well, but we are still 82 pounds short of breaking even. Can I remind people to forward any money owed, to me as soon as possible so I can balance the books.

Also this is a good time to ask folks for thier records for 2005. The sooner I get them the sooner work can start on the next report.

All the best Nick..

Happy New Year

Just a quick post to wish all contributors and readers of this Blog a happy and bird filled 2006. A special thanks to Matt who's initial idea this Blog was and to all for your contributions and comments. I would like to offer a personal thankyou to all those who have worked for the Cons Comm during the year, there has been a lot of hard work done by a lot of people.

Northowram 31st

Happy new year to you all
2 snipe, 2 skylark,1 bullfinch,1 golfinch,50+Greenfinch,15 Chaffinch,2 fieldfare,3 redwing,30 common Gull,20BH Gull,1 grey Heron,40 Jackdaw and 19 Magpie

Calderdale Birds

Wainstalls etc- still one pair of stonechats toughing in out in the cold on 29th December. Also Green Woodpecker on the golf course at Ogden. Little Owl and one Lapwing nearby at Stodfold Farm below the golf course. White Carrion Crow still around Mixenden area.

New species for garden list 29th December

A male Reed Bunting this afternoon was a new species for Moor End Gardens.
Pete Grba has reported a Willow Tit at EGP sometime last week and Darrel flushed a Long-eared Owl at the back of High Royd sometime last week.

Jumble Hole/Underbank

Woodcock flushed from cover. Sparrowhawk, 3 bullfinch, 2 goldcrest, 12 redwing.

Northowram 29th Dec

2 Ruff in fields with 85 lapwing unfortunately they were flushed by a dog walker and flew off west.2 Skylark,3 Meadow Pipit,35 Redwing,2 Fieldfare,2 Golden Plover ,1 Snipe ,11 Herring gull and 1 Song Thrush.A brilliant afternoon.

Roils Head 27th December

5 Bullfinch, 1 Reed Bunting and 2 Wrens. 1 GBBGull west at Mount Tabor and a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Pellon again.

Ringstone Edge

Quick check this lunchtime produced only 6 Goosanders.

Walshaw Dean

1 m. goldeneye on Lower Walshaw
2 mallard
15 fieldfare
1 Great spotted woodpecker
7 red grouse

High Royd sewage works

3 water rails reported today (JB)

Waxwing/s

Reported from a garden at Dale Avenue, Kilnhurst (Todmorden) on Sunday 18 Dec, record via Hugh Firman.

Ringstone today

1 Reed Bunting
3 Teal
2 mallard
10 grey Partridge
1 Pheasant
1 Meadow Pipit
50+ Common Gull
20 BH Gull
1 Female Stonechat
20 Greenfinch
10 Chaffinch
3 Pied wags
2 Blackbird
1 Herring Gull

Injured short-eared owl

This short eared owl was picked up by a farmer whilst cutting hay at Slack Top, Hebden Bridge. It had an injured wing, and is being cared for by a falconer who is attempting to hack it back to the wild, though the wing is still damaged.

Lower Gorple

2 robin, 2 wren, m. kestrel, 2 red grouse, chaffinch, great tit, meadpw pipit, 24+ reed buntings in larch by the house.

Red letter day for recorder

A 1 hour local walk this afternoon started with a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by Carrion Crows at West End Golf Course. 2 minutes later and a large raptor was picked up being chased by another Carrion Crow ? fantastic a superb Female HEN HARRIER flew slowly south west over Norton Tower towards Sowerby Bridge and into the distance heading for the Baitings area (thank goodness for corvids). 100 yards further and the local Stonechat appeared, this was followed by a Little Owl and 100+ Redwings at Heath Hill Road. Over High Road Well Moor and 3 Golden Plovers were sat in the fields replacing yesterdays Hare. On to Moor End Road and 100+ more Redwings were feeding in the fields with the odd Mistle Thrush. Finally 3 Roe Deer stood out in the open for 5 minutes on my way back home.

More Waxwings

3 Waxwings reported today by Steve Cummings at Horne Street, Pellon Lane.

Roils Head and Heath Hill Road yesterday
Stonechat, 2 Reed Buntings, Little Owl and c40 Fieldfare.

Christmas pint

Just a reminder that we are meeting next Thursday (22nd) for a quick pint at "The Works" in Sowerby Bridge. All welcome. Even Adie.

walshaw Dean

2 Raven
2 stonechat
3 Carrion crow
1 Kestrel
10 Red Grouse

More Waxwings

News was sent out today on the birders text grapevine of 4 Waxwings on Burdock Way roundabout that were seen to fly towards Sainsbury's. Info from Sean Gray.

Lighthazzles

Report from unknown birders passed onto Brian L of a couple of Snow Buntings at the Lighthazzles Twite seed sometime during last week. Sorry to be so vague but that's all the info I have! Any birders on the text grapevine that haven't recently paid subs need to do so ASAP please.

Blackstone Edge res

1 Shelduck today (per BL) and c30 Twite at the Lighthazzles seed

EGPits 9th December

29 Cormorants
11 Tufted Duck
1 widgeon
2 pochard
50+ goosander
4 goldeneye
4 Redpoll
4 grey heron

Lower Gorple

f. kestrel, 2 red grouse, pheasant, meadow pipit, 2 fieldfare. Also 5 mallard and 3 canada geese on Widdop.

EGPits

28 Cormorant (min)
2 pochard (males)
4 goldeneye(1male,1fst winter male & 2 Females)
1 Widgeon
8 tufted duck
1 GC Grebe
2 little Grebe
22 Coot
8 Moorhen
3 Mute swan
50+ Goosander
2Kingfisher(male & female)
1 Grey wagtail
40+Mallard

Crosley gardens
2 Waxwing

Waxwings

The waxwings are back. Or at least two anyway. On the corner of Crossley Gardens 1:00pm today. Checked again an hour later, but no sign around the area.

EGPits

70+ Goosander
20 Cormorant (apparently there have been up to 24 last week)
1 Goldeneye
30 Mallard
2 Little Grebes
7 Tufted duck

Hen Harrier

A female reported today in usual area (BL)

EGPits and Ringstone

EGP
21 Cormorant
2 Little Grebe
1 Goldeneye (MALE)
6 Tufted Duck
22 Goosander
RINGSTONE
7 Bullfinch
11 meadow Pipit
8 Fieldfare
3 Redwing
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Blue Tit