Friday, August 30, 2013
Jumble Hole
A common buzzard drifted south at Jumble Hole at 2pm. Sparrowhawk and kestrel have both been taking an interest in the growing number of swallows.
Hunter Hill watchpoint
7.10 until 9.30 this morning but pretty quiet for genuine movers.
2 Curlew SW
25 Meadow Pipits SW
1 Common Gull N
9 B H Gulls S
4 Lapwing N
1 L B B Gull SW
Other birds around the site
1 Green Woodpecker
2 Wheatears
2 Sparrowhawks
1 Kestrel
150+ Swallows
30+ House Martins
c60 Meadow Pipits
c30 Linnet
c20 Goldfinch
2 Stock Doves
c30 Woodpigeons
2 Jays plus a few other corvids
1 G C Grebe on Mixenden Res'r (adult)
Nothing on Fly Flatt though still plenty shoreline.
2 Curlew SW
25 Meadow Pipits SW
1 Common Gull N
9 B H Gulls S
4 Lapwing N
1 L B B Gull SW
Other birds around the site
1 Green Woodpecker
2 Wheatears
2 Sparrowhawks
1 Kestrel
150+ Swallows
30+ House Martins
c60 Meadow Pipits
c30 Linnet
c20 Goldfinch
2 Stock Doves
c30 Woodpigeons
2 Jays plus a few other corvids
1 G C Grebe on Mixenden Res'r (adult)
Nothing on Fly Flatt though still plenty shoreline.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Red Kite
Hunter Hill
I tried earlyVis Mig for the first time (as we reach autumn!!) this morning from the watchpoint.
I was rewarded with an Osprey, which approached from the Ogden / Soil Hill direction, at eye level heading SW at 7.35am - through the bins and the scope though it was unfortunate I couldn't get on to it for a digi-scope photo as it disappeared through the gap between Mount Tabor and Wainstalls heading towards the Calder Valley.
Other migrants included
4 Lapwing W
1 Curlew SW
1 Snipe N
2 Reed Bunting N
31 Swallows and 2 House Martins SW
12 Meadow Pipits SW
Other birds nearby
3 Wheatear
1 Redstart
1 Spotted Flycatcher
1 Little Owl
Mixenden Res'r
1 G C Grebe - adult
1 Grey Heron
c160 Swallows
c20 House Martins
Withens Gap
1 Wheatear
c60 Linnet
c30 Goldfinch
c60 Starlings
I was rewarded with an Osprey, which approached from the Ogden / Soil Hill direction, at eye level heading SW at 7.35am - through the bins and the scope though it was unfortunate I couldn't get on to it for a digi-scope photo as it disappeared through the gap between Mount Tabor and Wainstalls heading towards the Calder Valley.
Other migrants included
4 Lapwing W
1 Curlew SW
1 Snipe N
2 Reed Bunting N
31 Swallows and 2 House Martins SW
12 Meadow Pipits SW
Other birds nearby
3 Wheatear
1 Redstart
1 Spotted Flycatcher
1 Little Owl
Mixenden Res'r
1 G C Grebe - adult
1 Grey Heron
c160 Swallows
c20 House Martins
Withens Gap
1 Wheatear
c60 Linnet
c30 Goldfinch
c60 Starlings
Recent News
Lee Mount - the last Swifts -so far!! were 3 on the 16th August - still a chance of some late birds moving through, hopefully!
7 Black Terns were reported moving north through Elland Gravel Pits on Saturday 24th August morning around 11 am though we don't know who the observer was as we only picked up the report from the BirdGuides web site. Any further information would be appreciated for this excellent record.
From Roger R - 2 Greenshank at Green Withens Res'r on 25th August - the day previously BS reported other Greenshanks heading our way from the Oxenhope area!
From NCD on the 26th August at Roils Head there were at least 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Redstart, 2 Whinchat, 1 Whitethroat and around 8 Willow Warblers - migrants were mainly in the north facing shelter belt near the playing fields.
A Little Egret yesterday (Tuesday 27th August) from GWH was a very good record too - see Cromwell Bottom blog for photo's and with thanks to Mike H for passing the information on.
7 Black Terns were reported moving north through Elland Gravel Pits on Saturday 24th August morning around 11 am though we don't know who the observer was as we only picked up the report from the BirdGuides web site. Any further information would be appreciated for this excellent record.
From Roger R - 2 Greenshank at Green Withens Res'r on 25th August - the day previously BS reported other Greenshanks heading our way from the Oxenhope area!
From NCD on the 26th August at Roils Head there were at least 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Redstart, 2 Whinchat, 1 Whitethroat and around 8 Willow Warblers - migrants were mainly in the north facing shelter belt near the playing fields.
A Little Egret yesterday (Tuesday 27th August) from GWH was a very good record too - see Cromwell Bottom blog for photo's and with thanks to Mike H for passing the information on.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Whiteholme area
Had a walk around the Blackstone Edge/Whiteholme area today, a few birds about including 2 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 4 Mallard, a Common Sandpiper, single Dunlin and an adult and young Ringed Plover (possibly two young but they were disturbed by a dog)plus a Wheatear.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Soil Hill
Went for a wander up to soil hill this afternoon to see what was about.
The bird department was limited, but found this female wheatear on the wall next to the road before you go to the hill.
Other Birds included:
Meadow pipits
Skylarks
3 Woodpigeon
1 Magpie
Starlings
3 Phesants
5 Carrion Crows
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Clifton
A few bird records over on the Calderdale-wildlife blog mixed up with flowers etc I'm afraid, but last time I tried to copy and paste some over it didnt work at all well.
Lee Mount
A nice surprise first thing this morning with a Sand Martin > NW - the second fly through here this year.
Still just a few Swifts about today at various times - 1, 6, 4, 1.
1 Nuthatch and that was about it.
Still just a few Swifts about today at various times - 1, 6, 4, 1.
1 Nuthatch and that was about it.
Jumble Hole
3 ravens were over the house this evening, cronking like mad.
The whitethroat pair are on to their 2nd (or possibly even 3rd?) brood.
And loads of butterflies about, including a speckled wood in the garden this afternoon.
The whitethroat pair are on to their 2nd (or possibly even 3rd?) brood.
And loads of butterflies about, including a speckled wood in the garden this afternoon.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Fly Flatts and Withens Head
Fly Flatts
1 fem (or juv) Merlin - which I disturbed on a wall and it saw me before I saw it and it was off - low across the moor, across the res'r and I lost it chasing off towards the Calder Valley
5+ Kestrels spaced out across the hills and including at least 2 juveniles on a wall along Cold Edge Road
2 Lapwings were the only waders
2 L B B Gulls >NE
2 Stock Doves
2 Swallows >NE
No Swifts
c80 Canada Geese
Withens Head
c350 Starlings mainly juveniles
30+ Meadow Pipits
2 Stock Doves
2 Kestrels
Wainstalls
2 House Martins ! a rarity up here this year
1 fem (or juv) Merlin - which I disturbed on a wall and it saw me before I saw it and it was off - low across the moor, across the res'r and I lost it chasing off towards the Calder Valley
5+ Kestrels spaced out across the hills and including at least 2 juveniles on a wall along Cold Edge Road
2 Lapwings were the only waders
2 L B B Gulls >NE
2 Stock Doves
2 Swallows >NE
No Swifts
c80 Canada Geese
Withens Head
c350 Starlings mainly juveniles
30+ Meadow Pipits
2 Stock Doves
2 Kestrels
Wainstalls
2 House Martins ! a rarity up here this year
Ringstone
Late morning
1 Redshank
30+ Swifts feeding high over the western ridge
1 Peregrine over towards the M62
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
20+ B H Gull with lots coming in as I left
1 L B B Gull
6 Common Gulls including 2 juvs
1 Willow Warbler
A few Swallows about as well
I also got a call to say an adult Yellow-legged Gull turned up soon after I left
1 Redshank
30+ Swifts feeding high over the western ridge
1 Peregrine over towards the M62
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
20+ B H Gull with lots coming in as I left
1 L B B Gull
6 Common Gulls including 2 juvs
1 Willow Warbler
A few Swallows about as well
I also got a call to say an adult Yellow-legged Gull turned up soon after I left
Monday, August 12, 2013
Lee Mount
Swifts have really thinned out since a flock of c30 last Friday over Lee Mount.
Since then 6 on 10th, 5 on 11th and 7 today (1,5,1)
Did anyone else see the 10 Red Arrows fly through low and fast at 5.10pm today >SE over Lee Mount towards Halifax? WOW!
Since then 6 on 10th, 5 on 11th and 7 today (1,5,1)
Did anyone else see the 10 Red Arrows fly through low and fast at 5.10pm today >SE over Lee Mount towards Halifax? WOW!
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Snake slough found at Ogden.
At this relatively quiet time for birds, birders might be interested in this. Picture over on the Calderdale Wildlife blog.
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Cold Edge and Withens Head
Cold Edge
Butterfly Survey today - what a day with hundreds and hundreds of Small Tortoiseshells - they were all over the place mainly on thistles and Willow Herb and roadside verges along Cold Edge Road.
Also a good number of Green-viened Whites and Small Whites. 1 Ringlet, c6 Small Heaths, 2 Meadow Browns and 2 Peacocks
Birds were a by-product !!
1 Little Owl near Wainstalls
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Little Grebe
1 Grey Heron
c40 B H Gulls - all checked in case of a med gull!
1 Common Gull
1 L B B Gull
4 Curlew (including 2 well fledged juvs)
c30 Lapwing
2 Teal
3 Goosander (on 5th)
1 Moorhen
20+ Linnet - now on thistle heads
20+ Goldfinch
Loads of mipits
40+ each Rooks and Jackdaws
2 Greylag Geese
Withens Head
2 Wheatear
1 Kestrel
1 Skylark
6 Linnet
Lots of Meadow Pipits
30 juv Carrion Crows in one field, with not a sign of an adult - and I had to check carefully they wern't juv Rooks ! Anyone else aware of post breeding juv Carrion Crow flocks?
Butterfly Survey today - what a day with hundreds and hundreds of Small Tortoiseshells - they were all over the place mainly on thistles and Willow Herb and roadside verges along Cold Edge Road.
Also a good number of Green-viened Whites and Small Whites. 1 Ringlet, c6 Small Heaths, 2 Meadow Browns and 2 Peacocks
Birds were a by-product !!
1 Little Owl near Wainstalls
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Little Grebe
1 Grey Heron
c40 B H Gulls - all checked in case of a med gull!
1 Common Gull
1 L B B Gull
4 Curlew (including 2 well fledged juvs)
c30 Lapwing
2 Teal
3 Goosander (on 5th)
1 Moorhen
20+ Linnet - now on thistle heads
20+ Goldfinch
Loads of mipits
40+ each Rooks and Jackdaws
2 Greylag Geese
Withens Head
2 Wheatear
1 Kestrel
1 Skylark
6 Linnet
Lots of Meadow Pipits
30 juv Carrion Crows in one field, with not a sign of an adult - and I had to check carefully they wern't juv Rooks ! Anyone else aware of post breeding juv Carrion Crow flocks?
Saturday, August 03, 2013
Friday, August 02, 2013
Med Gull at Mount Tabor
Whiteholme
After our success the other night with the Green Sandpiper Nick Carter and myself couldn't resist another opportunity to get out and check another site for waders moving through.
On arrival we were greeted with lots of small tortoiseshell and large white butterflies as well as several silver y moths all feeding on the thistles by the side of the path.
At the res a mountain biker flushed 3 Curlew from the far end and calling they carried on their journey south, as well as these we were also treated to:-
LRP x 1
Teal x 7
Merlin x 3
Mallard x 1
Not a great list but the Merlin were fantastic, hunting and giving great if brief views.
Several Damselflies and a Dragonfly sp. photos to follow if anyone can help with the id.
On arrival we were greeted with lots of small tortoiseshell and large white butterflies as well as several silver y moths all feeding on the thistles by the side of the path.
At the res a mountain biker flushed 3 Curlew from the far end and calling they carried on their journey south, as well as these we were also treated to:-
LRP x 1
Teal x 7
Merlin x 3
Mallard x 1
Not a great list but the Merlin were fantastic, hunting and giving great if brief views.
Several Damselflies and a Dragonfly sp. photos to follow if anyone can help with the id.
