Other news today

Another Osprey reported on Bird Guides today over Hebden Bridge >N at 15.30.
Also on Bird Guides, a White Stork flying west over Rodley NR near Leed this afternoon. This could be one of the Harewood birds of course and could overfly our area as one did last year on 17th April (BS)!

High Royd

Couple of hours this morning turned up some additional species, 2 singing male Blackcaps - the first was on the canal not far from the Puzzle Hall Inn, the second by the house at High Royd itself. Also 2 male Bullfinch but the real surprise was 8 Jays which were flying around in a gang all the time I was there calling away in a manner I've never heard before. A pair of Canada geese were also a irregular sight on the pools themselves. Habitat is looking good for allsorts of arriving migrants but the water level is dropping, sadly.

Hartshead walk

I went on a 'yellowhammer walk' round about Hartshead today. It took me a while, but I saw three in a small area around the horse paddocks through the stile opposite the old church (interesting churchyard too). The only other things really were plenty of chiffchaffs in song at various locations south of the village.

Chris

Others news today

Elland Gravel Pits
Several Sand Martins and Swallows around noon over the Ski Lake (GS) and Willow Warbler singing near the feeding station (MH)

Wellholme Park / Jay House Lane

Wellholme Park
3 x Grey Wagtail
Dipper
3 x Goldfinch
2 x Robin
2 x Great Tit
Blue Tit
2 x Dunnock




Jay House Lane
Mallard on small pond near railway bridge
Greenfinch (heard) near above
Chiffchaff (heard) near above
7 x Tree Sparrow at top of Jay House Lane
3 x Chaffinch
Blue Tit

Baitings

Still plenty of Fieldfare at Baitings.

Mipits in evidence as well in the area but not up on to Soyland moor yet. Even had a display flight from one Mipit near the old Blue Ball.

Other news today

As reported on Bird Guides - an Osprey through over Hebden Bridge this morning at 11.10.

Male Crossbill singing today at Ogden (NK)

High Royd

2 visits worth of sightings along at High Royd, 3 singing Nuthatch, at least 6 singing Chiffchaff, 6 Moorhen, 4 Coot, 4 Long tailed tit (surprisingly together), 2 Grey wagtail (male and female) seen seperately on different days could this indicate egg brooding?, 1 Water rail, at least 3 pairs of Teal, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Mistle thrush, 2 Song thrush along with usual collection of Robin, Wren, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Mallard, Magpie, Carrion crow and Rook (dave I can see only one nest from the canal)

Yellowhammers in Calderdale

I've still not seen a yellowhammer anywhere this year and am thinking about going to either Hartshead and/or Bradley Hall Farm on Saturday. Alas I don't know these areas at all, in fact I don't even know where Bradley Hall Farm is. Could someone please give me any directions/assistance in locating yellowhammers at either of these two places?

Many thanks in advance. Chris

Ryburn/Baitings

Short walk Sunday (25th) from Kebroyd to Ripponden produced:

Nuthatch
Grey Heron being mobbed by pair of Rooks
Grey Wagtail
Sparrowhawk
Chiffchaff
Blue/Great & Coal Tit
Chaffinch
Treecreeper


Wednesday (28th) evening and still plenty of Fieldfare on the fields next to Baitings, appx 40 , they were a bit flighty.

Other news today

From Sean J over in Green Head Park in Huddersfield. An Osprey through at around 11.15 heading towards Halifax. Nice one Sean, shame we didn't pick it up over here!

Coach Road, Brighouse

A lovely hot day 23c perfect for a spot of birding!

Great Spotted Woodpecker
Treecreeper
Great tit 2
Blue tit 5
Long tailed tit 4
Robin 3
Carrion Crow 2
Magpie 2
Blackbird 2

I was looking for the LSW but no sign, I did hear a strange almost light drumming sound followed by a coo noise, the only birds about were two carrion crows, im sure it came from one of them, one was like a slow popping sound. Has anyone ever heard crows making this noise before?

Marsh Harrier

cream crown Marsh Harrier heading north up Walshaw Dean today chased by Curlew's also seen by BL over Upper Walshaw Res

Jumble Hole

2 woodcock roding this evening
Blackcap singing most of the afternoon, together with 2 chiffchaff.
Plenty of bats about in the woods tonight. Which leads me to 2 points:
- does anyone have a bat detector?
- if the moth-ers wanted to try a new location later this year, I reckon Jumble Hole could be worth a look.

Mytholmroyd

Chiffchaff calling in terrace garden at the Hatchery, Hall Bank Lane today.

Chaffinch not yet started flinging itself at the cottage windows up the lane yet - but there's time! The lady at the house was most concerned last year - and it went on for weeks.

Fly Flatts

This morning just a single Twite and more seed put down.
25 Golden Plover in a group on the moor including some northern forms in good plumage
c10 Curlew
5 Redshank
2 Lapwing
2 Snipe 'chipping'
1male Stonechat by the feeding area
A good number of mipits and 2 Skylark
2 Linnet >NE
Mud appearing so lets hope this continues and some migrant waders start dropping in
The fire is out on the moor!

Cold Edge

We aborted a trip to Fly Flatts this afternoon as the fire service were dealng with a moorland fire by the road in front of the wind farm. Thankfully they looked to have it under control - lets hope the situation remains that way rather than the destruction of the fire on the moor last year!

Cold Edge
2 Redshank
2 Oystercatchers
1 Little Grebe
1 Moorhen
12 Lapwing
c6 Curlew
c30 Medaow Pipits
1 Reed Bunting
Pair of Little Owls
c50 Canadas but no Pink-foot
1 adult L B B Gull over calling
Still no Wheatears up there!

Lee Dam and Gaddings Dam

A walk in the warmth for a change this afternoon!

Little Owl - at Mankinholes as usual
Little Grebe - 2 at Lee Dam had just arrived and were calling
Little Owl - at Lee Dam which is a new location
Meadow Pipit - 4 on way to Gaddings and another 3 up there
Skylark -  at least 8 around Gaddings
Goldeneye - 3 (1 m displaying to 2 f) at Gaddings
Although there is a fair amount of shoreline there were no waders there today - probably scared off by the family camped on Tod beach!
Snipe - 1 between Gaddings and Jail Hole.
No Wheatear yet

Whoopers

2 of the 8 Whoopers at Walshaw Dean yesterday, 3 on lower and 5 on upper reservoirs. Also had a Red Kite at Upper Walshaw yesterday and at High Brown Knoll today, probably the same bird.

Elland GP & Ski Lake

This lunctime in the glorious sunshine:

2 x Tufted duck
8 x Mallard
39 x Canadian Geese
4 x Chiffchaff (heard)
2 x Dunnock
3 x Robin
3 x Great tit
Grey Heron
Green Woodpecker (Heard)
Jay
4 x Wren
2 x Coot
3 x Goosander
Blue Tit
2 x Great Crested Grebe

Chiffchaff

One calling at Jumble Hole this morning. Lots of nuthatch and green and gs woodpecker activity

Warland and Whiteholme

From KM (Bradford Ornithology Group) Sunday afternoon a very good record of a pair of Common Scoter on Warland Res'r and 3 Ringed Plover on Whitehole Res'r. Nice to see some wader on the way.

Hunter Hill

6 Goosander north this afternoon
1 Little Owl
1 Common Buzzard distant
2 Sparrowhaks
Pair of Kestrel
Pair of Stock Doves
1 Skylark
12 Meadow Pipits
No Wheatears!
Several Lapwing and Curlew
1 ad L B B Gull
1 f Goldeneye on Mixenden Res'r still

Repairing and Reinforcing

To stop your nestbox being raided by squirrels you first need a step ladder (we didn't have anything bigger and would actually recommend something much longer).........

You also need a cordless drill/screwdriver........

But when that doesn't work either because you can't reach or the screws just won't play then we recommend you use a Manchester screwdriver............

Then add a few trips, slips and falls stir with a degree of micky taking for 5 hours and you end up with this...................

Finally do a little dance of celebration............................

before taking a team photo next to the last box thats been upgraded..............................

Ogden friday pm

Not much about really, birds of note pair of goldeneye, female goosander. Mammals Weasel, mink and 2 hares.

Cromwell Bottoms

Had half an hour after work so nipped down.  Still a few Redpoll present, a couple of chiffchaff, the usual stuff and an odd Coal Tit.  Had me dreaming of Cresties!

Cold Edge

Pink-footed Goose with Canadas

Common Shrew

An interesting afternoon at Cold Edge with mammals to the fore!
1 Common Shrew (I think!) running about in some tractor tracks at Moorlands Farm. Also nearby 1 Weasel and a Brown Hare.

Birds were interesting too
1 Little Grebe on the small pond
1 Pink-footed Goose with 80+ Canada's and 4 Greylag Geese
6 Goosander
1 f Goldeneye
1 Little Owl
c30 Meadow Pipits
2 Pied Wagtails
2 Skylark
c20 Lapwings
c6 Curlew
2 Golden Plover
2 Kestrel
c5 Reed Buntings
No LRP's - no mud!!!
No Wheatears found up at Cold Edge yet although 4 have been seen nearby along Cold Edge Road this week.

Mixenden Res'r

Late morning
13 Whooper Swans still there at 12.30 - just one still showing signs of juvenile plumage. They seemed quite settled with several of them sleeping in between watching the dog walkers around the res'r.
1 Great-crested Grebe
4 Coot
1 Redshank
1 dead adult Common Gull on the floating buoy
1 ad L B B Gull >NW
2 singing Chiff-chaff
2 singing Goldcrests
1 Treecreeper

Other news today

TM and SL
Brookfoot - 3 Mute Swan earlier today

Scammonden - Female Stonechat

GS - 4 Wheatear around Scammonden/Dean Head

BH (yesterday) 'several' Whooper Swans over Holmfield west at 06.10

AH - an amazing number of 52 Whooper Swans at Lower Gorple late this afternoon. I hope Andy got some photo's. I wonder if this is a record count of Whoopers for our area?

Whoopers at Gorple

I have been trying to upload a video but always getting error messages so it's a poor distant record shot.

A first for me up at Lower Gorple, 52 Whoopers at 15:25 and still present when I left at 16:30. It seems to have been a good year for this species in Calderdale, having finished work earlier than expected and having the rare luxury of transport add that to the fact I'd arranged to visit my dads at 17:00 I thought I'd visit the old stomping ground in search of wheaters. No joy with them but along with the whoopers, 6 greylag, 2 redshank, 4 golden plover, 1 singing skylark and high numbers of oystercatcher, curlew, lapwing, meadow pipit, black headed gull and canada goose.

KirkleesHall & Hartshead area

Plenty of 3's.....

3 Buzzards circling and calling
3 Yellowhammers calling
3 Mistle Thrushes
and a Sparrowhawk
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Treecreeper
21 Redpolls
plus later at Holiday Inn, Brighouse-another Chiffchaff

Weekend Work Party

Ok folks we've 3 Barn Owl boxes and the metal plates to fix to the Redstart and Pied Fly boxes in the Crags.

Is anyone available to assist in one last push this weekend?

Personally I'm available all weekend.

Other news today

From Steve and Tony
At least 13 Snipe at Ringstone along the edge
1 G C Grebe
1 Cormorant
2 Oystercatchers
A few Golden Plover and Lapwings
c20 Redwings in the fields below the res'r towards Barkisland and c20 mipits

Mixenden Res'r and Soil Hill

Mixenden
4 Coot still !
1 G C Grebe
2 Grey Wagtails

Soil Hill
c7 Skylark
c 15 Linnet
Pair of Pied Wagtails
Singing Dunnock!
1 ad Common Gull

Fly Flatts and Cold Edge

This morning
1 Redshank
2 Oystercatchers
2 Grey Heron
c20 Meadow Pipits >NE
4 Skylark
No Twite and no Wheatears!

Dean Head
1 pair Tufted Duck
1 Goldcrest
6 Stock Dove
30+ Woodpigeons

Cold Edge
4 Goosander
1 f Goldeneye

Mixenden Res'r

Thismorning
1 G C Grebe
4 Coot still !
1 f Goldeneye
3 Redshank
2 Grey Wagtails >W
2 Herring Gulls >W
c20 Meadow Pipits >NE

Fly Flatts - blowing a gale so gave it up as a bad job!

Saturday

Im planning on spending a whole day out birding on saturday and I wondered if anyone had any good spots I could visit?

Im hoping to start at Derby Delph early on to see the Twite & raptors (is this a good idea?), then tracing back along the m62 corridor towards fairburn, potentially finishing there. Does anyone have any suggestions and of course if anyone wants to join me you are more than welcome!

RSPB Twite Recovery Project

Below is the link to RSPB web pages for the Twite Recovery Project

http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/projects/details/222974-england-twite-recovery-project#video

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff reported yesterday at CB, Tag Lock area.

2010 bird report

I spoke to Nick Dawtry tonight, and sales of the 2010 bird report are disappointingly low so far. If you bird locally, please support the group and the compilation of the report by buying one. Copies are available at £5 each from Woodlesford Newsagents Pellon, Flying Saucers Hebden Bridge and Midgley shop, or via midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk £6.50 incl postage.

Shelf Moor Red Kite

Red Kite over Shelf Moor tonight at 1800hrs >NW towards Ogden area.
BS

Other news today

See Brian Sumners link for details and photo's of a wonderful Red Kite at Shelf Moor early evening today - not a bad shopping trip Bri!

Various sites

Fly Flatts - went down early to put nyger seed down at the feeding station.
3 Twite
1 Skylark
2 Oystercatchers
Red Grouse
No mipits!

Mixenden Res'r
2 Redshank
4 Coot (this is a record)!!
1 female Goldeneye
2 alba wagtails flyovers
No gulls

Ogden - Back Lane/Foreside Lane
2 'stonking' male Wheatears in the second field behind the farm shop at Denholme Clough up Foreside Lane(just out of Calderdale recording area)
2 Little Owls (one singing continuously)
2 Red-legged Partridge
1 Meadow Pipit
c10 Curlew
3 Lapwing
c20 Starlings
1 pair Sparrowhawks displaying

Ringed Necked parakeet

A ring necked parakeet flew high north at 7.15 this morning called once which drew my attention to the bird.2 Canadas east and 1 mipit north.Also found 3 tail feathers of grey Partridge which is sad news as its the first time Ive recorded them on my patch this last few weeks,must have been a fox i reckon.

Mipits and Curlews

Walked from Mankinholes to Erringden this morning and there were 9 Mipits singing on the lower hill slopes below Stoodley Pike; 2 Curlews were singing on Erringden Moor. No sign of Wheatear yet.

Weekend Work Party

I know it's late notice but we still have 3 Barn Owl nestboxes and all the Pied fly and redstart boxes to survey for condition.

Is anyone available this Sunday?

Other news today

From TM and SL - Male Wheatear (locally first of the year as far as we know in Calderdale) this morning at Dean Head above Scammonden along with 2 Stonechats and 6 Goodsander on the res'r. Always special to pick up the first Wheatear! This must be one of our most prolific migrants both spring and autumn and not many stay on to breed in recent years!

Another excellent record today was from NK with a cream crown Marsh Harrier south through the coll between Soil Hill and Ogden at 11 am today. See queensburybirder.blogspot.com for further details.

And from Mike at Bradley Hall Farm - another Stonechat along with 11 Yellowhammers this afternoon.

Anyone for some survey work?

West Yorkshire Ecology are advertising for someone to help with the bird surveys of the South Pennines moorland fringe this summer. Although the advert is for a full-time position, they may be able to accommodate someone part-time (3 days a week), particularly if they were able to start early in April. It's short notice, with the application deadline being midday, Monday 19th March, but they are now racing the start of the survey season.

If anyone is interested please contact me for further details on midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk.

Nick Carter

Derby Delph, 15th March 2012

This aft' in cold, grey conditions were 30 to 35 twite in a flighty, vocal flock.

Chris

Fly Flatts

We went up there yesterday (Wednesday) hoping for Wheatear, none about. We had 8 canadas, 2 mallard, 2 oystercatchers, several curlew and red grouse calling, skylarks but only one mipit.

Today's news

1st Wheatear of the year with a male reported this morning by Steve and Tony at Dean head above Scammonden. Well done. Also present up there 2 Stonechats and 6 Goosander.

And from Nigel at Soil Hill a cream crown Marsh Harrier south over the Coll between Soil Hill and Ogden heading south just before 11am. Well done there for a great record. See Queensbury Birders blog for further information.

Baitings

From Tony and Steve, Stonechat there this morning.

Rookeries

I know we are not due to undertake a full Calderdale wide survey of Rookeries until 2014 BUT if anyone passes any of our local Rookeries it would be good if you could let me have any numbers of 'active' nests as I am logging all information into the database.
Many thanks - Dave

Ogden

Crossbills still about this afternoon from Tony and Steve.

Tawny Owls very vocal tonight in the main woodland - several males and females calling giving an indication of a reasonably good population up there.

Luddenden Foot etc

We walked along the River Calder footpath to Mytholmroyd and back along the canal towpath this afternoon but it was very quiet birdwise. Thought we might have picked up a Chiff-chaff but not a peep! Hardly anything at all other than a few tits and Canadas - but it was a pleasant afternoon in the sunshine.

Ogden, Withens and Cold Edge

3 Stonechats together (2 males) at the top end of Ogden plantation by the golf course this afternoon
1 Grey Partridge
13 Golden Plover
c 12 Curlew
1 Redshank
3 Lapwings
2 Meadow Pipits
1 Little Owl at Cold Edge
6 Goosander and pair of Goldeneye on Ogden
B H Gulls and Common Gulls now moving on their way as numbers going down locally

Also from today still at least 6 Crossbill at Ogden Back Lane thanks to NK

Mixenden Res'r

Late morning
3 Coot still
1 Goldeneye
5 Goosander
c35 B H Gulls and 8 Common Gulls
1 Redshank

Ogden Water

Six whooper swans arrived this morning. They may be the same ones which were at EGP yesterday

Whoopers EGP

Whoopers at EGP this dinner time

Cold Edge Road

This afternoon
c8 Curlew
2 Lapwings
c8 Skylark
1 male Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
No sign of the mipits yet - coming through any time now!4 alba Wagtails moving >NE
Good to see Gordon and Anne as well having a run out. Lovely afternoon but still cool up there!

c130 Canadas and a few Greylags at Cold Edge

Pepper Hill/Ploughcroft etc (yesterday)

Yesterday afternoon (Sunday 11th March)
2 Sparrowhawk
8 Skylarks together plus another singing over Ploughcroft
2 Jays
4 L B B Gulls and 3 Herring Gulls >W

Also a report from Jim W yesterday of a Red Kite over Northowram Sunday morning but we have no further details.

Crossbills still showing at Ogden Back Lane - see West Yorkshire Birding blog from BS

Other news today

From Steve and Tony
6 Whoopers at Elland GP this morning around 10.30 along with a single Shelduck.

4 Twite still at Fly Flatts feeding station.

Twite

30 odd Twite at the Derby Delph Quarry feeding station today.

Other news today

At least 6 Crossbills still at Ogden Back Lane plantation this morning ( NK)

Fly Flatts

4 Twite this afternoon with one colour ringed bird - red over white/green on left and single metal ring on right. This is the same combination of one seen all last summer.
4 Curlew
4 Golden Plover
Red Grouse
2 Oystercatchers
2 Goosander south
2 Kestrel

Also, forgot to mention - several clumps of frogspawn in the channel to the left between the bridge and the overflow - though not a sign of a frog!
From Martyn Birder on two occasions this last week - a single female Stonechat at Fly Flatts.

A Query

Hi all - Just seen an internal email at the Council that suggests that Peregrines nest regularly at site in Halifax town centre (which they named).   I know Kestels nested at this site in the past but have not heard that peregrines had moved.  I suspect the report is mistaken but can any one confirm the facts?
Thanks

PS looks like the herons are building again - spring is getting closer !

Twite

'The plight of the Twite'
See the very interesting posting on Twite over the years at Fly Flatts Brian Sumners Blog (link on the main page)
Well done Bri for getting all those records together from over the years.

Cuckoo migration

People may be interested to know that the satellite tracked Cuckoo's in the Congo have already started moving. You can watch their progress here:

http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking

With thanks to Paul Bowyers posting from the Vis Mig group.

Other news today

From Tony and Steve at Ringstone
3 Wigeon
1 G C Grebe
Several Golden Plover

Coach Road, Brighouse

These were the best I could get with the digiscope of the 'lesser pecker'

Single male Lesser-spotted Woodpecker at the site this afternoon. It appeared around 2.45 pm when it was heard drumming and was tricky to pick up in the top branches but stayed around for around 15 to 20 mins. Thanks to John M for the help in tracking it around. Bad luck to Andy K who had to get back to work before it showed!!
Also
1 Goldcrest
1 Nuthatch
1 Great-spotted Woodpecker
1 Sparrowhawk

Bradley Hall Farm and Jay House Lane

Kestrel at Bradley Hall this morning

Bradley Hall Farm
2 Yellowhammers this morning but elusive and only a brief song heard from one male.
2 Grey Wagtails
3 Sparrowhawks

Jay House Lane
max of 5 Tree Sparrows feeding on the fat balls, 1 or more were seen heading off into the distance over the fields so they must have other foraging areas nearby.
2 House Sparrows
The feeders were empty as we hear the Carrion Crows have developed a strategy for emptying them!

Good to meet up with Tony, Steve, David and John as well at Jay House Lane

Mixenden Res'r

1 Reshank there first thing but flushed by dog walker! Headed off towards Ogden
1 G C Grebe
5 Goosander
10 Canada's
3 Coot

Fly Flatts

No Twite there this afternoon unfortunately. No mipits yet either.
2 Oystercatchers by the boat house
1 Goldeneye
Lots of Canada's!
1 Raven over
1 Common Buzzard at a distance
1 Kestrel
Red Grouse

Other news today

From NK at Ogden - at least 8 Crossbills still showing at GiantsTooth area and Back Lane plantation.
2 Goldeneye and 2 Goosander on the res'r

1 Lesser spotted Woodpecker at Coach Road, Brighouse early afternoon with a Great spot ( TM SL)

Mixenden and Soul Hill

Mixenden Res'r
Great- crested Grebe this morning
2 Coot still
10 Goosander

Soil Hill
No sign of Snow Bunting, just 11 Linnet and c5 Skylark.
1 Kestrel

Jay House Lane

Same result as Steve yesterday, not a Tree Sparrow in sight.
4 Meadow Pipits in the field plus 15 Fieldfare and 20+ Redwings

Elland GP

Had a quick look down there this afternoon and the weather cleared up nicely.
1 Mute Swan
3 Cormorant
2 drake Goldeneye
6 Goosander
1 Kingfisher flew down river
1 Pink-footed Goose still with the Canadas behind Avocet in fields across the river
1 Lesser Redpoll
14 Siskin

Fly Flatts

Twite are slowly returning to Fly Flatts with 5 this morning, which as far as I could see none had rings but conditions were grim so can,t be sure, and NK / DP had 6 yesterday.
DJS and myself are putting Nyger down so if you get up there a pocket full of nyger would be appreciated, especially by the birds.
BS

Redpoll Video

Soil Hill

Took a trip up this afternoon hoping that th Snow Buntings hadn't cleared off.  I've been visiting weekly since the turn of the year hoping to make a nice montage of the same birds going through a moult.  Nigel's shots from earlier in the week showed definite signs of this being underway but it wasn't to be.  A dozen linnet, a few Skylark and the briefest of views of a raptor going through the mounds, first impression was of Merlin but I didn't see enough to confirm this or to rule out sparrowhawk.

Found a Tamron lens hood up there, looks about 300mm lens so drop us a line if it's yours.  A few shots of those Snow Bunting from the last few weeks...

3rd March

 White Crow still at Illingworth today.

 At least 5 Crossbills at Back Lane Ogden but flighty.

Also 8 Herring and 1 LBBG over, 2 Sparrowhawks and assorted finches present.

***SOS Tree Sparrows***

I don't often get up Jay House lane but I thought I would stop by today on the off chance that I might come across some mad march hares. I had managed to film them in the hedgerows and fields up there a couple of years ago. And of course, it would be nice to see how are only thriving colony of tree sparrows are doing.

Last January there were at least 28 Tree Sparrows here. Today, however, there were none.....not a sniff of one....absolutely nothing......narda...zero!!!!!

The trees in the garden in which they hung out have been severely cut back, exposing the nest boxes to the elements, and trees they used in the neighbouring garden have also been "pruned". This is in addition to the hedgerow management that has taken place down the lane. All the feeders were completely empty and I hope I am wrong in saying that it looks like Tree Sparrows may have deserted the area.

I filled the feeders with seed before I left......mainly Nyger, Black Sunflower and wild bird mix. I didn't have any millet unfortunately, which is what Tree Sparrows prefer. I also added some fat balls as I had plenty in the boot of the car.

During my visit I only had Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock and Goldfinch (which breed in that hedgerow). Sadly neither sight nor sound of any Sparrows at all.

Could birders who happen to be in that area, please keep the feeders topped up (preferably with red millet), and report any sightings of any Tree Sparrows that you have. I really do hope we haven't lost our last remaining colony.

Ogden

Back Lane area this morning
Pair of Crossbills and the male was singing in the top of a spruce. No sign of the larger flock though.
2 Curlew
2 Skylark
1 Little Owl
7 Herring Gulls west
Sparrowhawk displaying over the res'r plantations

Mid afternoon
6 Crossbills and 6 Siskin feeding together in the tops of spruce trees.
12 Curlew
2 Lapwings
Pair of Reed Bunting

Mixenden Res'r

This morning
Influx of Coot ! 3 there now
9 Goosander
Plus usual gulls

Brighouse

Coach Road
2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers
c60 Redwing
6 Nuthatch
2 Treecreepers
No sign of Mikes 'lesser peckers' this afternoon.

Hunter Hill area

A little northerly movement over the hill this morning with 15 Curlew, 6 Meadow Pipits and 20+ Skylarks very high >NE (nearly out of earshot)!
Also 2 pairs of Curlew on the moor and resident Skylarks and 1 Reed Bunting singing.

Cold Edge - 12 Lapwings, 1 Curlew, 25 Canadas and 11 Greylags

Mixenden Res'r
1 f Goldeneye
10 Goosander

M.H. birthday boy.

                                                                                 Autumn 1999
This is where Martinbirder was 13 years ago.
On vis mig watch at Oxenhope  with DCB on his left and HC on his right and me taking the photo.
Very cold but happy days.
BS

Walshaw, Gorple & Widdop

lots of birds returning to the area lately

WALSHAW

Crossbill 6 (m 4f & 1st summer male)
Raven 3
Redpoll 2
Goldfinch 7
Mistle Thrush 4
Great Spotted Woodpecker
plus the usual Tits and Chaffinchs
Canada Goose 8
Mallard 15
Tufted Duck 2m 2f
Curlew 36 inc flock of 33 that flew in
Oystercatcher 10
Lapwing 3

GORPLE

Curlew 14
Lapwing 104 - these seem to be a migrating flock not the local breeders
Oystercatcher 5
Canada Goose 61
Mallard 6
Starling 80+
Fieldfare 11
Pied Wagtail 3
Black Headed Gull 7

WIDDOP

Canada Goose 67
Mallard 4

also plenty of Lapwing in the breeding fields and odd pairs of Curlew throughout

On Sunday 26th we had a Merlin stuck in our chicken run for the second time at New High Laithe, Widdop Road. The netting is 1 1/4" for scale. She seems to have been chasing birds that hang around the feeder we have out. When I got home on Sunday evening she had been in again and caught a blackbird.