Mixenden Reservoir

Looking from Soil Hill tonight Mixenden Reservoir has been drained so it may be worth keeping a wader watch there if anyone does that area. BS

Green Sandpiper

Sean Gray reports a Green Sandpiper at Ringstone this afternoon at around half past one, last seen flying onto the pools but not seen since. Walked up to top Gorple this morning for virtually no birds!

mipits invade

hundreds of mipits on soil hill this afternoon. also present linnets, 1 weatear, 4 kestrels and a sparrowhawk. also met Brian sumner up there.

30th September

Roils Head
1 Chiffchaff and a few Goldcrests in the tit flock, 1 Stonechat, 1 Skylark over with 50+ Meadow Pipits, 4 or 5 Blackbirds, 1 Kestrel.
No sign of a kite at Heath Hill Road.

SOIL HILL

30/09/2007 1630-1715hrs

S.E. corner and mast field alive with Mipits and Linnets. Mipits must have come in since NKs visit this a.m.
Meadow Pipit 150+
Linnet 50+
Skylark 4
Wheatear 1
Nice to meet Dishfish and his dad trekking over the hill. BS

Fly Flatts and Sacrifice Stones

30/09/2007 0700-1030hrs Calm then slight >SSE Clear skies
VIS MIG
MEADOW PIPIT...........................................................280 >S
SWALLOW...................................................................36 >W and >SW
SISKIN.........................................................................9 >W
LINNET.......................................................................4 >SW
COAL TIT......................................................................4 >W
CHAFFINCH.................................................................. 31 >W
ALBA WAG.....................................................................16 >SW
JAY...............................................................................10 >W
SNIPE............................................................................11 >SW
BRAMBLING..................................................................6 >W
PF GOOSE......................................................................53 >E
SKYLARK......................................................................7 >W
Other :-
4 Stonechat
1 Wheatear
2 Raven
+ usual
Again no Twite on seed. BS

Ogden Merganser

Good find Dave, with the advantage I didn't dip out this time! Pictures from 1pm Saturday.

Ogden

29/09/2007
Red Breasted Mergansers still present at 1730hrs, still getting heavily bombarded with BH Gulls.
Why is everything you go to see at Ogden always at the opposite end to where you are ? BS.

Castle Carr Road/Cold Edge

Castle Carr Road - 1 Whinchat this afternoon with 3 Stonechats. Also 1 Kestrel.

Cold Edge - 6 Fieldfares >NW, 25 Linnets, 22 Mallard, 1 Snipe, 2 Kestrel, 1 Stonechat, c80 Meadow Pipits in the fields, 1 Starling and 1 Red Grouse.

Heath Hill Road - 3 Swallows

29th September

Roils Head - Heath Hill Road.
2 Stonechats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Song Thrush, 8 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Swallows, 2 Kestrels, Linnet and Goldfinch.

There as been an unconfirmed report of a Red Kite seen at Heath Hill Road at around 3PM today. I must have been here about 20 minutes earlier but unfortunatly did not see anything. Also had a look at 6PM with DJS but nothing. Will try again tomorrow.

red breasted mergansers

showed well this morning. still quite far out though and being mobbed by swarms of gulls. briliant views by the tower on the far side to the vistitor center.

RBM Ogden

2 Red Breasted Mergansers

Not as good as i hoped for but you can't win em all.

Nice to meet Nick Dawtrey and DJSutcliffe

Gannet

Immature Gannet flew > NE at Walshaw Dean at 13.30 this afternoon - report via Nick Dawtrey. Apparantly several have been seen inland in Yorkshire in the last day or so. Keep a watch out over the weekend for Gannet or possibly other seabirds as Arctic Terns have also been seen inland in last day or so.

Ogden

2 Red Breasted Mergansers today at Ogden - turned up during heavy rain at around 11 am - still there at 4 pm. I think there might be some better pictures to follow ! Stand by!

Also 3 Wigeon there and 7 Siskin this morning, a Chiff-chaff and Great-spotted Woodpecker near the duck feeding area. Also 6 Swallows still around.

Ringstone Edge Reservoir

Not quite as spectactular as last week but a few ducks on the water which was nice to see:
47 Canada Goose
4 Shelduck
4 Teal
1 Goosander
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel

27th September

Unidentified tern seen at a distance flying north west at Mount Tabor at 3.08PM

Roils Head
2 Chiffchaffs heard, Goldcrests, 10 Pied Wags, 2 Fieldfare and 2 Skylark north.

common gull

1st winter common gull on roof of school today besides the usual rooks, carrion crows, starlings, pied wagtails, and swarms of black headed gulls.

FW: THRUSH FLOOD....... 27-09-2007

Hi John, Jef and Hans,

Just got back from the moor (Oxenhope watchpoint) and confirm your GIGA radar morning for Redwings in the Netherlands Hans is here in the UK also!!

In 4 hours from 0700 - 1100hrs we have had 3825 Redwing and at least 5 Fieldfare initially travelling west and then from c0930 movement swinging to the North West. Birds initiallly quite high and then as the morning progressed flocks dropping lower.... Ideal 8/8 conditions for picking them up.

Also supporting cast of Brambling, Hobby, Peregrine and Jay. A TOP MORNING at our watchpoint!

Dave Barker and Howard Creber....
Glad there were two of us!!!!!

Just outside the Halifax area I know but certain you will be getting them as well!

Dave Barker

Ogden

Vis Mig this morning 08.45 till 10.00 (Back Lane and Res'r).
500+ Redwings passing through >NW (mostly groups of 20 to 40 but also one flock of c170)
c60 Meadow Pipits
30+ Chaffinch
2 Pied Wagtail
2 Grey Wagtail
6 Linnet
2 Lapwing
2 Starling
1 ad male Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
Also quite a good number of Goldcrest in the plantation

Booth Wood Res'r

2 Cormorants (juveniles) there yesterday morning.

Also from yesterday (SG) 70 Pink-footed Geese >E over Whiteholme at 10.10.

Mystery Dead Tawny Owl

I found a dead Tawny Owl on the canal towpath this evening near Park Nook Lock. The most perplexing thing about this is the fact that the owl appeared completely uninjured except for the fact that it was missing its face ! I have never seen anything like it, it head had been eaten/hollowed out completely from the face/beak inward to the back of the skull, yet the bird showed no other injuries at all. I cannot for the life of me work out how or by what it was killed ? I have stashed the remains on a wall (no bag to carry it with me at the time) and will try and get some photos of the injuries and post them on the blog. Does anyone have any idea about what happened here ?

Grapevine phone idea

Following postings re the grapevine Andy C has suggested we look at getting a phone on contract with free texts to use as the "grapevine phone" in an attempt to save money, this idea looks to have considerable value. Unfortunately Andy can't post directly to the blog but can post comments, would grapevine members please look at the ongoing dialog under the grapevine post some way below and add their opinions. My own feeling is that any suggestion that can save us money is a good one!

Undisclosed site

I think these are two first year male Peregrines digiscoped at over 1/2 mile away. Both had very clear face markings however at least one of them was brown underneath with streaking marks down the chest and belly rather than barring across the chest as in an adult. Seen to catch and eat 2 small bird (Meadow Pipits?) from the fence posts.

North Halifax

Ogden Res'r- 4 Tufted Duck and 4 Swallows (they have gone very thin on the ground this week).

Ogden (Back Lane) - 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiff-chaff singing in the plantation. 2 Skylarks over and 20+ Meadow Pipits and 2 Grey Wagtails >S.

1 Reed Bunting at the top end of the golf course.

Fly Flats - 6 Twite at the feeding station (1 with a pink ring at the top of the left leg and think? there was a green ring lower but hard to see even in the short grass, also silver ring on right leg).
15 Swallows went through >S along with 1 Sand Martin and 2 Grey Wagtails.
2 Kestrels and 4 Wheatears around and another at Withens Gap along with 1 Stonechat.

25th September

Roils Head - Heath Hill Road
2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 15 Pied Wags, 5 Siskins south, 1 Skylark north, 1 Stonechat.
HHR- 4 Skylarks north, 1 Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel.

Grapevine

Please note posting on 22nd September (below Seans Wheatear photos) and comments - Thanks

Lee Mount

Heavy downpour this afternoon brought down 4 Song Thrushes (normally a very occasional winter visitor to my garden), 5 Blackbirds and a Grey Wagtail into my small garden. I just wondered what else came down in the heavy rain!

North Halifax

Various sites this afternoon in the pouring rain!

Fly Flats - not a bird - sorry forgot, a very brave and hardy Kestrel.

Cold Edge - 1 Tufted, also 2 Goosander >SW

Mixenden Res'r - loads of mud but only 25 B H Gulls.

Ogden Res'r - 1 pair of Tufted Duck and the usual c50 Mallard. Also 2 large tit flocks + Goldcrests and a Treecreeper. 1 Kestrel

great northern diver (ncd)

photos by nick dawtrey

Golden B*ll*cks Award

Current holder Brian Sumner (Purple Sandpiper) has suggested the award should now move on to Sean Gray for his magnificent Great Northern Diver at Ringstone, I'm sure no one will deny Sean his award for the first record for 50 years! Well done Sean, once we can arrange a hand over you will join the ever growing band of Golden B*ll*cks holders.

23rd September

Roils Head
1 Chiffchaff in the tit flock also a few Goldcrests, 23 Pied Wags and several Meadow Pipits on the fields. 2 Kestrels at Heath Hill Road.

Bird Report update- I am two thirds of the way through writing the 2006 report. Hopefully it will be out later this year. Any photos taken in 2006 will be gratefully recieved for inclusion. If you could send them to me on a cd that would be fine.

The 2005 report is still available at Woodlesford News Agents Pellon - Mount Tabor or at the Piece Hall Tourist info centre.

Fly Flatts/ Cold Edge Dams

23/09/2007 0700-1015 hrs Strong SW>6 - 7 Heavy drizzle early on.
VIS MIG
Meadow Pipit.........................................155 >S
Swallow..................................................64 >S
Siskin.......................................................16 >W
Alba Wag................................................13 >S
Greenfinch...............................................18 >W
Linnet.......................................................25 >W
Golden Plover..........................................26 >SW
Snipe.......................................................18 >SW
Widgeon...................................................1 >E

Other
3 f Goosander on Cold Edge
BS

ringstone

nothing much at ringstone last night lots of mallards including a chick is that usual
also lots of canada geese (38) a great creasted greab (i though it was an eider at first) and lots of bhg.

Whooper swans (?!)

Yesterday (21st) my son saw 24 whooper swans flying above Halifax Road in Todmorden, low enough to be counted accurately. I wouldn't have reported this if anyone else had told me but he is very reliable at identification. (He phoned me up on the Isle of Mull to tell me).

Sandra
22/09/07

Booth Wood

Merlin (female type) went straight across the road just past the Quarry above the res'r this afternoon - heading Green Withens way!

September Swift

DCB got a Swift this morning past his Oxenhope Watchpoint moving with several Swallows.
Has no one in Calderdale had one this month, this must be a first with the last of the Swifts being seen in August ? BS

22nd September

How can this be happening, Im back. After half an hour of prating around, my stupid machine seems to have reconected its self, thanks to Nigel performing more magic than Gandalf the Grey.

Roils Head PM
4 Chiffchaffs in with the tit flock, also 5 Goldcrests and 9 Siskins dropped in briefly, 30+ Pied Wags also present.
1 Wheatear at High Road Well Moor and 3 LBBGs south at Heath Hill Road.

For those who missed the Great Northern Diver at Ringstone Edge, it was only the 5th record for Calderdale and the first since 1957, well done Sean, regular patch work brings rewards.

Attention NICK DAWTREY

I have done another tweak to your new Google account Nick, one that may have been skipped last week. PLEASE attempt to log into this blog, i.e Calderdale Birds.

Nigel Kerwin

Seeds Project Update

Following on from the sowing of seed earlier this year and the efforts of Ann Blackburn and others in promoting the project several new landowners have shown interest and offered their land for inclusion. With this in mind around 8 acres of new land have been prepared today and will be sown with seed mixes later this next week. Several of the areas already in the project have shown good growth and whole fields at these sites are to be sown . It is very encouraging that new landowners are coming on board and that existing landowners are very enthusiastic and allowing whole fields to be included. It is thanks to the knowledge and enthusiasm of Ann Blackburn (and funding via GBN) that this project is becoming such a success. there are few landowners in the valley that haven't heard of a twite now! Photo shows land being prepared for sowing earlier today.

Ringstone - 7:45 am

A couple of pictures of a wheatear that was hanging about on the east shore. I won't bother with the picture of the empty patch of water where the GND had been!

Had a look at Ryburn reservoir. 1 male tufted duck, some mallard and a heron. Also a spot the kingfisher competition (no prizes).

Grapevine

Just to let you know that it is time for another payment for the grapevine. The following people are still in credit so do not have to pay this time round, Pete Grba, Andy Huyton, Sean Gray, Sean Johnston, Tim Walker, John Beaumont, Wendy Baggeley, Daniel Branch and Pete Smith. Anyone else wishing to remain or join the grapevine please forward your fiver to either me, Dave Sutcliffe or Nick Dawtrey ASAP.

Thanks

white wagtail

one flying over bradshaw this morning being chased by a pied wagtail. have not been out much latly so this is the highlite of the week

Ringstone

Report from Andy C - Great Northern Diver present at 06.50 then left >W at 07.16.

Mixenden Res'r

Loads of mud - unfortunately no waders!

Green Woodpecker and a Chiff-chaff singing in the plantation.

Ogden Water

Migration through this morning 09.00 till 10.30 >SW (Back Lane and the 'Promenade')

Skylark 4
Meadow Pipit c180
Swallow 300+
House Martin 6
Sand Martin 12
Lapwing 6
Linnet 6
Chaffinch c35
Pied Wagtail 12
Grey Wagtail 1

Also in the plantation Goldcrests, Mistle Thrush 6, Kestrel 1, and Gt Spotted Woodpecker 1

'Sparrowhawk Kill at Barkisland'

On my way up to Ringstone for the second time this afternoon when I noticed this individual fending off a couple of Carrion Crow and a Magpie in a field below Barkisland.

I know it's probably not appropriate to post this on 'Sean's Day' but my Great Northern Diver pics don't quite have the same quality as Sean's so I thought a few action shots of something he hasn't photographed wouldn't go amiss.

Ringstone

Fantastic find by Sean Gray - Great Northern Diver this morning and still there at 12 noon. Look forward to the photo's Sean. Well done.

Cold Edge/Withens Gap

c64 Linnets on Castle Carr Road this afternoon - feeding on Ragwort seed and thistles in the fields to the right -just past Bridge Terrace (I think they call it).

3 Stonechats, 1 Kestrel ,1 Snipe and 24 Mallard on Cold Edge and that was about it apart from a few Mipits and Goldfinches.

Malta Raptor Camp

Just thought I'd let you all know we returned safe and sound from our visit to Malta, unlike this unfortunate Honey Buzzard.
Although despite birds still be shot on the island we do feel we have made a difference and feel the trip was a success.
A raptor count of 12 different species were seen during the week, mainly Honey Buzzards and Marsh Harriers but also Lesser Spotted Eagle, Booted Eagle and Osprey to name just a few.
In all 60 species of birds were seen, to put this into some sort of context Malta only has 15 breeding species.
This fight to stop illegal hunting is far from over but things do seem to be heading in the right direction.
We have all come back and are wanting to do more to help, as a result we are aiming to raise money and sponsorship for supply of Optics to Birdlife Malta in order that they can loan these to the ALE (wildlife crime police).
If you want to know more please feel free to contact me.

Todmorden

My first Dipper of the year (I really haven't been out much...), and only 100 yards from home, in the Calder by Tod Bus Station at 0640 this morning.

Another Mystery Bird (Out of Area)

Following on from Ian's photos I would be interested in your comments on a bird I photographed feeding in and out of the water at a reservoir in the south of the Huddersfield Birding Area, as a number of experienced birders in the Huddersfield and Wakefield area have put forward their theories.

More mystery bird photos

At the request of Nick Dawtrey, I've put up the other 3 photos I managed to get of the mystery bird. The first is a bit out of focus.

Over to the experts!

Shibden - Saturday morning

A couple of chiffchaff were the only things of note. However, could anyone help with identification of the bird pictured above? I'm assuming it's a juvenile. I only saw it for about 15 seconds before it disappeared into the tree and I couldn't locate it again. It looked a bit bigger than a chiffchaff - my guess is juvenile blackcap.

Heath Hill Road

Posting for Nick Dawtrey for yesterday - Hobby over Heath Hill Road near Mt Tabor heading off in the direction of Sowerby/Flints.

Spoke too soon

Although I can access this blog as if I were Nick Dawtrey, Nick himself has just contacted me to say he cannot log in. Therefore I conclude the problems lie with his PC setup; sorry Nick, we tried our damned hardest!

Nigel Kerwin

Fly Flatts

Mipits poured through this gap below the cloud.
A murky grey morning with very low cloud and cold W>5-6. All movement was before 0815.

VIS MIG :-
MIPIT...........................278 >W
SWALLOW......................15 >W
COAL TIT........................10 >W very unusual
GREENFINCH...................4 >W
REDPOLL..........................2 >W
SONG THRUSH..................1 >W

Other :-
1m Pheasant
5 Red Grouse on Twite food
No Twite.

Report from Pete Atkins of approx 40 PF Geese over Wainstalls 0945 but must have been in the cloud for me.
MD and SJ had several moving at Spurn yesterday.
BS

Malta Trip

Report from the trip to Malta from the lads who have gone to check out on the illegal hunting issues there!
The good news is 76 Honey Buzzards south today over Lafela Cross area.

Barn Owl!

One reported this evening to Nick Dawtrey from an undisclosed location on the eastern side of Calderdale. Further details on the grapevine tomorrow once we have additional information as to location.

Fly Flats/Roils Head

Postings for Nick Dawtrey this afternoon/evening.

Fly Flats - Merlin, Whinchat and Red-legged Partridge.

Roils Head - 2 Chiff-chaff.

Hello Hello Hello Wot's All This Then?

A test post from Nick Dawtrey using my Hotmail account. Actually it's NK on Nick's behalf but he will be posting himself very soon.

eland g p

quick look this evening
3 jays
4 blue tits
3 great tits
2 greenfinchs
1 willow or marsh tit
5 mallards
1 ccot

thats all

kevin

saw a kestrel on the way home today having a go at the swallows. we call him kevin if your wondering.
in addition to this we also had a sparrowahwk in our garden my first pics comin up (the sparrowhawk dosent have a name) he occasional comes to my garden but today stalked in the bush and stayed for about 20 mins. he didnt catch anything although he tried. the reason i dont take many pics is because i only have a digi camera and no scopes (might get a few through binoculars though)

Cold Edge/Fly Flats

This afternoon just 2 drake Tufted Ducks on Cold Edge, 1 Red Grouse and 2 Stonechats and 1 Stock Dove.

1 Twite, 1 Red Grouse and 2 Kestrels at Fly Flats. Hirundines seem to have moved on quickly today in the N wind although there are still some House Martins at Wainstalls feeding young and also c20 House Martins an the valley at Castle Carr.

Warchpoint

Kestrel taken this afternoon by Nick Dawtrey with Fugi F30 through the scope.

Nice one Nick.

Ogden Water

This afternoon - 4 Teal in the middle of the res'r. Also c60 Black-headed Gulls, 6 Common Gulls and 3 Lesser-black-backed Gulls. A Chiff-chaff in the shrubs around the res'r and also Blackcap by the visitors centre. 3 Kestrels on the moor and also female Sparrowhawk. c150 Swallows also went through and about a dozen or so House Martins mid afternoon.

Watchpoint

1 Buzzard today (2 yesterday) Also Peregrine chasing a pigeon. 1 Sparrowhawk and 4 Kestrels. Lots of Swallows and Meadow Pipits going through along with a few House Martins. Also Chiff-chaff at Roils Head.

white wagtail

on roof as i was walking home from school opposite tavern. first one ive seen out of scotland. also i swear ive heard swifts twice this week over my school.

Soil Hill

Buzzard reported yesterday at 12 noon over Soil Hill NK

curlew

heard in my back yard tonight sounded distant but still could have been the starling on my roof. if it was then its up by soil hill also heard little owl again down by the stream (an area of gorse and shrub usually the best place to see the little owl)

Elephant Hawk-Moth Larvae

I have uploaded a tip to the Calderdale Invertebrate blog on finding the large spectacular caterpillar of Elephant Hawkmoth which is around now on Rosebay Willowherb. An easy species to find and rear through until it emerges as an adult next year.

sparrowhawk and mystery l.b.j

saw sparrowhawk over illingworth today but flying quite high. also mystery lbj's. looked like medow pipits but their calls were different and more boistrous. this is the same place as the last mipit i reported in bradshaw only this time there were three. is there another bird they could be? (i was thinking skylark).

Underbank, Hebden Bridge

A few migrants still kicking around
2 blackcap, 1 willow warbler, 3 goldcrest, 45 swallows > W, 3 house martin over
2 green woodpecker, 2 bullfinch, 3 juv greenfinch, 1 jay, nuthatch still calling in Jumble Hole. Rain forecast for Friday, which always brings good counts of swallows and martins to Callis sewage works at this time of year!

Roils Head 10:30-11:30

Another posting as promised although last one till we get back from Malta.
Willow Warbler c4, Pair Bullfinch, Swallow 3, Mipits c18, Pied Wagtails c16, Goldfinch 3, Carrion Crow 4, Common Gull 1, BH Gull 1, Jackdaw 1, Coal tit 1 and several Blue tits.

PF Geese for Dishfish

This is how we usually see Pink Footed Geese over our area. These came over Queensbury >W in January this year.
They,ll probably have come over Bradshaw and right over your house.Keep a look out later in the year when you start seeing reports of them.

CJ Wildbirdfoods update

Following further discussions between myself, Paul Talbot and CJ Wildbirdfoods it would appear there has been some confusion with regard to our orders, for some reason we have three accounts with CJ. Having checked up on the total spend from all three accounts and in appreciation of our local conservation efforts CJ have now agreed to offer us a discount of 15% and free postage on orders over £50 with immediate effect. This change of heart by CJ is much appreciated. Further details have been sent to CBCG members by E mail

Shroggs Park

2 Siskin over >SE this morning.

Luddenden dean (yesterday)

Not a lot doing in the dean however there are loads of Blue (35+) and Great Tits and Long-tailed Tits around the lower lodge area at Castle Carr. Also a few Coal Tits and Goldcrests seem to be coming through as well now.

A male Peregrine was unusually quartering the rabbit warren hillside between the lower lodge and the top lodge. I've never seen one take a rabbit but it was definately showing interest! No Twite today on Castle Carr Road just a Wheatear at the old railway cabins.

Soil Hill

09/09/2007 1700-1800hrs Strong W>5
Good flock of Linnets, 42 + NK earlier had 70.
5 Goldfinch
8 Mipits
1 Wheatear
1 Kestrel swooping amongst the Linnets
BS

mistle thrush

heard in my back yard today. also a small flock in back feild near soil hill (infact probably visable from soil hill) also 3 wild greylags flew over bradshaw cricket ground last night thses were greylag because of their yellow bills but when you get a flock high in the sky how do you tell if its greylag or pinkfoot (or bean or greenland white fronted or lesser white fronted, fat chance of that though)? collard doves on lawn today as well. and thats about it realy.

Fly Flatts

Spot the odd one out. Mother and 4 nearly full grown now
09/09/2007 0715-1000hrs. Bright sunshine then fog banks rolling over the moor from the west. W>1 inc.4
VIS MIG :-
SWALLOW................................121 >S
MIPIT......................................261 >S
SKYLARK..................................5 >W
ALBA WAG................................7 >W
GREY WAG................................1 >W

Other :-
2 WHINCHAT
1pr + 1 juv STONECHAT all in seed area
Not a Twite in sight

DCB had a count of over 1000 Swallows >S to the east of his watchpoint.
BS

Goldcrest

This bird was a window hit brought round by a neighbour in Ogden. Lovely to see it close up. It flew from the safety of our ground feeder cover within half an hour. SED.

Cold Edge/Withens Gap

Tried again today to check for the Black Redstart at the farm ruin without success.

The area seemed very quiet this afternoon (apart from the jet ski's on the top res'r)! Still a lot of Swallows about and 2 Kestrels. Also checked out the lower dam - just a drake Tufted Duck, 22 Mallard and a Stonechat - and that was about it.

Swifts

Anybody had a September Swift yet ?
BS

scaupe???

ok this sounds daft but i think there is a ist winter male scaupe up at cold edge dams. i cant decide wheather it is scaupe or tufted duck sorry i dont have any pics. it has grey sides instead of white but has a gold eye and a purple tinged head. i cant see a crest, please help me

also a quick visit to ringstone and guess what i dont have a hide key. still got veiws of 2 shelducks, a female tufted duck and 1 great creasted greabe

Recent Press coverage

A couple of Courier articles featuring Conservation Group issues

http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/local-news/Disturb-these-birds-and-you.3177833.jp

http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/local-news/Mission-to-save-the-Maltese.3172790.jp

Ringstone and Roils Head yesterday

First posting for a while and hopefully first of many more to follow now, as I aim to get out locally Monday and Friday mornings due to a change in work commitments.

So first stop was Ringstone sat in the hide for an hour, not much about but 3 good sized passages of House Martins totalling 100+ birds all stopped to feed briefly over the res. Shame no Hobbies in close attendance.

Also 1 Grey Heron, 3 Snipe, 2 LBB Gulls (1juv), Swallow, several Lapwings and B H Gulls (exact counts in log book), 1 GC Grebe.

Moved onto Roils Head again spent about an hour, no sign of Redstarts but c20 Pied Wagtails similar number of Meadow Pipits (no rings Sean but wasn't aware of your project so not paying close attention)
Goldcrest calling, Greenfinch and 4 Willow Warblers pics are all of the same bird.