This is the blog for bird sightings and related news in the Calderdale area. It is generally updated daily. Any non-member wishing to report and post sightings should send them to info(at)calderdalebirds(dot)co(dot)uk
Monday, August 06, 2007
Oystercatcher
OK so its not quite 38 Common Scoter but just had an Oystercatcher flying over Midgley this evening.
I remember finding the Wilsons phalarope back in 79. It was midday with the sun in my eyes. Long before mobiles! The run back to my car and drive to a telephone was heart stopping to say the least.
Not sure how many of us eventually got to see that bird, I know Nigel and me saw it together and I believe David Crawshaw and Dave Sutcliffe also managed to connect, probably Alan mitchell also?
Heres a good one for you ,but no good to you young weeny boppers.Did anyone out there go on a field trip with Halifax Scientific Society to Sunderland Point in 1966.It was a badly organized do and we all ended up up to our waists in water by the fast incoming tide and had to be led to dry land by local fishermen. As 15 year olds we thought it was funny but it could have been a disaster.
One of the things we don't get any more are the white winged gulls, partly I guess due to lack of rubbish tips and also the lack of Gull roosts. How well I remember freezing my bits off at Ringstone in the hope of a Glauc or Iceland Gull, sad thing is now we've got a hide we've no gulls!
1966 is a bit too early for me Bri but I do remember some of the Scientific Society characters of that era, Clifford Lees, Irvine Morley (who we local birders owe a lot to), Vernon Crapnell and the venerable Frank Murgatroyd who I think is still going strong (ish).
Thats right Nick,those are the 4 that used to run the show when I was in it.Clifford Lees used to write a weekly birding arcticle in the Halifax Courier.They were all knowledgable birders.
Irvine Morley put together "The Vertebrate Fauna of The Halifax Parish" (and an update) both of which Nick D used as his source for all the old records for his "Birds of Halifax". The next wave of local birders from then were David Crawshaw, Bruce Hoyle (who posts on here), Alan Mitchell and Dave Sutcliffe etc. David restarted the local bird report in 1976 (I think), he now lives in Suffolk and does his birding on Orford Ness
Yes, Nick and I owe a great deal to the venerable gentleman mentioned above. As young teenagers we started going to the Scientific Society at the then Central Library and it was a revelation to our birdwatching aspirations to meet David Crawshaw, Bruce Hoyle, Irvine Morley, Vernon Crapnell, Clifford Lees et al. We learnt so much from them in such a short time in those days (c 1975) when today's resources available via magazines, the web, PCs, mobiles simply didn't exist/weren't even dreamt of. And then, Nick committed the fatal mistake of going on holiday with his parents (to Cley) and a Buff-Breasted Sand turned up at Ringstone (which we had to go to by bus). I well remember pushing a note through his letterbox for him to read when he got back. Thanks Bruce for the Wilson's Phalarope too! A great expedition for us in those days was Fairburn (also by bus!) and later Spurn (with David and Bruce). To bring things back up to date and a topic of current interest, we also had permits (strictly limited) in the 70s to go into High Royd. If I'm pushed I'll dig out my embarrassing photos mainly of Nick and scan a couple in.
(and there was sod all at Cley if I remember correctly!)
On a serious note it really was a great time to be getting involved in birding and thanks to people like David and Bruce has led to us both having a lifelong hobby. Its such a shame that there aren't young birders coming through the ranks anymore, I know Nick D has been contacted by the family of a twelve year old who is very keen and I think we could all "pay a bit back" by helping to encourage this new member
Copies are available at £6.00 each from the GO local store at Woodlesford, Pellon price . Hopefully they will also be available at the Fox and Goose Hebden Bridge ,
20 comments:
we all have to start somewhere!!!!reminds me of the 25 at ringstone in 96 now that was a twitch!!!
Don't get me going again, you know how us old f*rts like to reminisce, did I ever tell you about the Wilson's Phalarope at Whiteholme?
Once or twice..... ;-)
can't believe you can remember that far back,i have trouble remembering the grey headed wagtail at elland 17 years ago!
This could be the start of a great new thread, best Calderdale bird, biggest dip etc etc or would that bore the pants off the newer local birders?
birders??birdwatchers yes
anyway to get you a started for 10
grey headed wagtail egp 1990
arctic skua(2) fly flatts 1991
honey buzzard egp 1991(when they were rare!)
spotted sand egp 1990
ring necked duck fly flatts 1995(cheers nick c)
caspian gull egp 2001(descion???)
+ loads more
thats my oystercatcher, it was at Cold Edge Dams this evening and flew off south west at about 8.10PM
I remember finding the Wilsons phalarope back in 79. It was midday with the sun in my eyes. Long before mobiles! The run back to my car and drive to a telephone was heart stopping to say the least.
Bruce
Lets hope its as good for waders as in 1996,should put darrel into the 150+
Not sure how many of us eventually got to see that bird, I know Nigel and me saw it together and I believe David Crawshaw and Dave Sutcliffe also managed to connect, probably Alan mitchell also?
Heres a good one for you ,but no good to you young weeny boppers.Did anyone out there go on a field trip with Halifax Scientific Society to Sunderland Point in 1966.It was a badly organized do and we all ended up up to our waists in water by the fast incoming tide and had to be led to dry land by local fishermen.
As 15 year olds we thought it was funny but it could have been a disaster.
One of the things we don't get any more are the white winged gulls, partly I guess due to lack of rubbish tips and also the lack of Gull roosts. How well I remember freezing my bits off at Ringstone in the hope of a Glauc or Iceland Gull, sad thing is now we've got a hide we've no gulls!
1966 is a bit too early for me Bri but I do remember some of the Scientific Society characters of that era, Clifford Lees, Irvine Morley (who we local birders owe a lot to), Vernon Crapnell and the venerable Frank Murgatroyd who I think is still going strong (ish).
Thats right Nick,those are the 4 that used to run the show when I was in it.Clifford Lees used to write a weekly birding arcticle in the Halifax Courier.They were all knowledgable birders.
Irvine Morley put together "The Vertebrate Fauna of The Halifax Parish" (and an update) both of which Nick D used as his source for all the old records for his "Birds of Halifax". The next wave of local birders from then were David Crawshaw, Bruce Hoyle (who posts on here), Alan Mitchell and Dave Sutcliffe etc. David restarted the local bird report in 1976 (I think), he now lives in Suffolk and does his birding on Orford Ness
I have a copy of Vertebrate Fauna of the Halifax Parish from 1965.
Nice simple birding days with no worries of computers, mobiles and sub-species.
Yes, Nick and I owe a great deal to the venerable gentleman mentioned above. As young teenagers we started going to the Scientific Society at the then Central Library and it was a revelation to our birdwatching aspirations to meet David Crawshaw, Bruce Hoyle, Irvine Morley, Vernon Crapnell, Clifford Lees et al. We learnt so much from them in such a short time in those days (c 1975) when today's resources available via magazines, the web, PCs, mobiles simply didn't exist/weren't even dreamt of. And then, Nick committed the fatal mistake of going on holiday with his parents (to Cley) and a Buff-Breasted Sand turned up at Ringstone (which we had to go to by bus). I well remember pushing a note through his letterbox for him to read when he got back. Thanks Bruce for the Wilson's Phalarope too! A great expedition for us in those days was Fairburn (also by bus!) and later Spurn (with David and Bruce). To bring things back up to date and a topic of current interest, we also had permits (strictly limited) in the 70s to go into High Royd. If I'm pushed I'll dig out my embarrassing photos mainly of Nick and scan a couple in.
God your old.!!!!!!
Ok, how much for the negatives????
(and there was sod all at Cley if I remember correctly!)
On a serious note it really was a great time to be getting involved in birding and thanks to people like David and Bruce has led to us both having a lifelong hobby. Its such a shame that there aren't young birders coming through the ranks anymore, I know Nick D has been contacted by the family of a twelve year old who is very keen and I think we could all "pay a bit back" by helping to encourage this new member
whatever the age they should be encouraged, a woman who walks her dogs up green withens always asks me what ive seen,and has now bought a bird book!
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