5 Shoveler this morning on the ski-lake at Cromwell Bottom from Steve L was a very good find. Not a common bird locally. They were also seen later from Tony M and I managed to get down there later on and they were still on the ski-lake at 2 pm with the drake looking very smart!
No sign of the Scaup on the fishing lake unless it's hiding away on the ski-lake?
1 f Tufted Duck
1 Cormoramt >E
Earlier I picked out a singing Dipper in the stream at Dean Clough, Halifax - just by the car park where the culvert exits under the mills. It's really encouraging to find Dippers so close to the town centre, though this is a regular spot for them.
Mixenden Res'r held 5 Goldeneye still this afternoon 1 drake and 4 female type but the weather was terrible so I didn't stay long!
No sign of any Waxwings at King Cross !
Quite a few Redwings around this morning but not seen later in the day so perhaps they had been roosting nearby.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Licencing of upland grouse moors and gamekeepers.
Responsible department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Given the continuing levels of illegal persecution of birds of prey the Government is called upon to introduce a system of operating licences for upland grouse shoots. Following any proven offence
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Jayhouse Lane
Jayhouse Lane this dinner time
C400 Lapwings
C150 Golden Plover
Hundreds of Common and BH Gulls
1 Little Owl
17 Comorants on the pylon behind Sainsburys Brighouse this morning.
C400 Lapwings
C150 Golden Plover
Hundreds of Common and BH Gulls
1 Little Owl
17 Comorants on the pylon behind Sainsburys Brighouse this morning.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Fieldfares and Redwings
Had over 100 Fieldfares in the field behind the house this afternoon, feeding with 150+ Starlings. Tried to count them but they were very flighty so hard to get accurate number. Also picked out just 4 Redwings and a single Mistle Thrush on the wall trying to look superior to the flock.
3 Goosander on Longfield Dam as we drove past.
3 Goosander on Longfield Dam as we drove past.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
King Cross
A good find this morning with 3 Waxwings at 12 noon just by bottom of Warley Road (RH)
3 still there at 13.00 (NCD) and 10 >W over Tesco's at 13.10 (AC).
In between - we missed the lot !!!!- might have another try this afternoon.
There are still quite a lot of berries around King Cross on the small trees so the birds could stay around for a day or two. Easterly winds forecast in the next day or so - maybe a few more will turn up ?
Update! we tried again this afternoon tramping around King Cross for an hour but we couldn't track any Waxwings down though we did have a male Peregrine over heading towards Peoples Park from Wainhouse Tower direction. Also 3 male Bullfinch feeding on rowan berries, 20 Starlings and 2 adult L B B Gulls over >E.
3 still there at 13.00 (NCD) and 10 >W over Tesco's at 13.10 (AC).
In between - we missed the lot !!!!- might have another try this afternoon.
There are still quite a lot of berries around King Cross on the small trees so the birds could stay around for a day or two. Easterly winds forecast in the next day or so - maybe a few more will turn up ?
Update! we tried again this afternoon tramping around King Cross for an hour but we couldn't track any Waxwings down though we did have a male Peregrine over heading towards Peoples Park from Wainhouse Tower direction. Also 3 male Bullfinch feeding on rowan berries, 20 Starlings and 2 adult L B B Gulls over >E.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Swales Moor
This afternoon the Linnet flock was about 20 strong but I couldn't get anywhere near them to check for possible Twite
2 adult L B B Gulls >N
1 Sparrowhawk >N
1 Kestrel
2 Grey Partridge
8 Red-legged Partridge
A few Common Gulls around
2 adult L B B Gulls >N
1 Sparrowhawk >N
1 Kestrel
2 Grey Partridge
8 Red-legged Partridge
A few Common Gulls around
Mixenden and Cold Edge
Mixenden Res'r this morning
4 f Goldeneye
100+ B H Gulls adn c40 Common Gulls and that was it !
Cold Edge (and it was cold up there!!)
14 Canada Geese
4 Greylag Geese
2 Meadow Pipits
30+ Common Gull
c50 Carrion Crows
c30 Jackdaws
1 Pheasant
c20 Red Grouse
1 female Sparrowhawk, sitting the cold wind out behind a hedge near Balkram Edge but no sign of the usual pair of Little Owls - I guess they were seeking better shelter somewhere nearby instead of on a stone wall.
4 f Goldeneye
100+ B H Gulls adn c40 Common Gulls and that was it !
Cold Edge (and it was cold up there!!)
14 Canada Geese
4 Greylag Geese
2 Meadow Pipits
30+ Common Gull
c50 Carrion Crows
c30 Jackdaws
1 Pheasant
c20 Red Grouse
1 female Sparrowhawk, sitting the cold wind out behind a hedge near Balkram Edge but no sign of the usual pair of Little Owls - I guess they were seeking better shelter somewhere nearby instead of on a stone wall.
Waxwings
c15 briefly in a tree on Crowtrees Lane near Rastrick Library at 13:36hrs this afternoon. They flew off in the direction of Carr Green J&I School after a Mistle Thrush disturbed them.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
High Royd and River Calder
High Royd this afternoon
2 Teal
12+ Mallard
1 Grey Heron
2 Grey Wagtail
14+ Pied Wagtail
120+ Carrion Crows on the filter beds
2 Nuthatch
I tried for Water Rail but viewing the beds is almost impossible now - I guess there would be a chance of hearing them though! No Coot or Moorhens.
Luddenden Foot
1 Kingfisher on the Calder
Brearley
3 Goosander
1 Goldcrest (first of the year for me)
1 Jay
17 Canada Geese
Black-headed Gulls c100 on Brearley Fields
29 Herring Gulls >W late afternoon (17 and 11) following the calder and quite low down they looked really interesting - mostly adults.
2 Teal
12+ Mallard
1 Grey Heron
2 Grey Wagtail
14+ Pied Wagtail
120+ Carrion Crows on the filter beds
2 Nuthatch
I tried for Water Rail but viewing the beds is almost impossible now - I guess there would be a chance of hearing them though! No Coot or Moorhens.
Luddenden Foot
1 Kingfisher on the Calder
Brearley
3 Goosander
1 Goldcrest (first of the year for me)
1 Jay
17 Canada Geese
Black-headed Gulls c100 on Brearley Fields
29 Herring Gulls >W late afternoon (17 and 11) following the calder and quite low down they looked really interesting - mostly adults.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Today's news!
The day started off well with 2 Shelduck at Ringstone Res'r followed this afternoon with the 1st winter Scaup still on the fishing lake at Brookfoot and a Water Rail on the River Calder - all thanks to JB.
This afternoon from NCD and DF a large flock of Brambling in the woodlands in Crimsworth Dean with probably 150 or so though they were flighty and difficult to pin down. They were in and around the woodland near the 'house in the dell' about a mile upstream from Midgehole car park. There is quite a lot of beech woodland up there so there is a good chance they could stay around for a while. (?)
And from NCD yesterday 3 Greylag Geese at Cold Edge but not a lot else.
This afternoon from NCD and DF a large flock of Brambling in the woodlands in Crimsworth Dean with probably 150 or so though they were flighty and difficult to pin down. They were in and around the woodland near the 'house in the dell' about a mile upstream from Midgehole car park. There is quite a lot of beech woodland up there so there is a good chance they could stay around for a while. (?)
And from NCD yesterday 3 Greylag Geese at Cold Edge but not a lot else.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
2013 Bird Records
Our recorder Nick Dawtrey thanks all those who have sent in their records and would welcome any further Calderdale records for last year - by the end of January please.
Nick is especially after any Water Rail records as so far it looks like we have none for last year!
Thanks to Nick too for his diligence and care as our local recorder.
Nick is especially after any Water Rail records as so far it looks like we have none for last year!
Thanks to Nick too for his diligence and care as our local recorder.
Swales Moor
Pretty dead up there this morning with nothing moving at all. The usual corvids were on the top in good numbers but the best I could find was 18 Meadow Pipits, 2 Bullfinch and 3 Greylag Geese over.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Fly Flatts, Withens Head and Mixenden Res'r
Nothing at all moving this morning but a lot of Red Grouse visible and flying about near the wind farm and across the moor.
The only other bird seen was a Golden Plover and calling on the moor, this is early though I have had them before in January up there even when snow has been on the ground.
Just 3 female Goldeneye on Mixenden along with 6 Mallard
Red Grouse
The only other bird seen was a Golden Plover and calling on the moor, this is early though I have had them before in January up there even when snow has been on the ground.
Just 3 female Goldeneye on Mixenden along with 6 Mallard
1st winter male Scaup
Photographed distantly yesterday (20 January) from the road as access is a problem here but interesting to notice the marked difference in plumage of this individual in comparison to the photographs taken on 5 January by DF.
Assuming it is the same bird it is rapidly moulting into adult plumage, it will be interesting to observe how its moult progresses providing it hangs around of course.
Assuming it is the same bird it is rapidly moulting into adult plumage, it will be interesting to observe how its moult progresses providing it hangs around of course.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Ogden
This afternoon
1 very red fox asleep and sunning itself on a wall.
1 Goldeneye drake
1 adult Cormorant in breeding plumage flew over
Red Grouse up by 'The Giants Tooth'
The woodland was very quiet
1 very red fox asleep and sunning itself on a wall.
1 Goldeneye drake
1 adult Cormorant in breeding plumage flew over
Red Grouse up by 'The Giants Tooth'
The woodland was very quiet
Woodcock
Check out Nigel's - Queensbury Birder blog for some great shots of a Woodcock picked up in a Queensbury garden today after flying into a window! Thankfully the bird was alive, though stunned and later released.
Swales Moor
A very interesting 2 hrs this morning up there picking up a light movement of big gulls and a skein of Pink-footed Geese (eventually)!!!
1 Common Buzzard over and another reported heading down the Wheatley Valley from Ogden late morning thanks to Nigel, but I couldn't pick it up!
54 'pinks' >NW changed to >W as they got over Mt Tabor at 11.05
28 Herring Gulls >W mostly singles though two groups of 9
5 Great Black- backed Gulls (2 and 3) >SW
10 Common Gulls >NE
230 Woodpigeons >NE
1 Pied Wagtail >SW
Around the site
1 Green Woodpecker heard
17 Linnets but no Twite
10 Meadow Pipits
c40 Lapwings over the fields toward Shelf
1 Kestrel
Masses of corvids
Great visibility high today though haze in the valleys - The Red Arrows were giving the sky a going over towards Lincolnshire too. I couldn't pick out the aircraft but the vapour trails gave it away!
1 Common Buzzard over and another reported heading down the Wheatley Valley from Ogden late morning thanks to Nigel, but I couldn't pick it up!
54 'pinks' >NW changed to >W as they got over Mt Tabor at 11.05
28 Herring Gulls >W mostly singles though two groups of 9
5 Great Black- backed Gulls (2 and 3) >SW
10 Common Gulls >NE
230 Woodpigeons >NE
1 Pied Wagtail >SW
Around the site
1 Green Woodpecker heard
17 Linnets but no Twite
10 Meadow Pipits
c40 Lapwings over the fields toward Shelf
1 Kestrel
Masses of corvids
Great visibility high today though haze in the valleys - The Red Arrows were giving the sky a going over towards Lincolnshire too. I couldn't pick out the aircraft but the vapour trails gave it away!
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Wainstalls area
A very good afternoon, especially for Little Owls with 2 at Balkram Edge, another 2 along Castle Carr Road and yet another 2 in the upper dean.
1 Sparrowhawk female
1 Common Buzzard over > SW
1 male Kestrel
2 Raven 'cronking' over very high >NW
1 male Stonechat
c180 Fieldfares off to roost
3 Goosander flyovers towards Cold Edge late afternoon
Also of interest were a few small groups of big gulls heading up the Calder Valley late afternoon but they were too far away for identification though they were probably Herring Gulls with Gt B Backs!
No sign of any 'pinkies'. !!
1 Sparrowhawk female
1 Common Buzzard over > SW
1 male Kestrel
2 Raven 'cronking' over very high >NW
1 male Stonechat
c180 Fieldfares off to roost
3 Goosander flyovers towards Cold Edge late afternoon
Also of interest were a few small groups of big gulls heading up the Calder Valley late afternoon but they were too far away for identification though they were probably Herring Gulls with Gt B Backs!
No sign of any 'pinkies'. !!
Starlings II
Went to look for the starling flock in Bacup Road. We were too early for the fly-past so we drove up Sourhall Road. Saw c200-300 birds on wires and in field then they gradually joined up in a huge flock - more birds joining all the time and flew onto one of the pylons on opposite side of the main road. By now we'd driven down to the main road and across it onto a track. After 10 mins or so they took off in a flock from the pylon and swirled above us for 10 mins before settling into long grass/reeds on the hillside. Bob estimated c2,000 birds in total. 20 fieldfare in field at the side of Sourhall Road.
Sandra
Sandra
Shelduck for Ogden
A nice surprise at Ogden this morning with 3 Shelduck on the water in thick fog.
As soon as the fog lifted so did the birds flying a full circuit then off >SW down the Calder Valley.
A site first for me, any more records of Shelduck for Ogden ?
Also present was an ad Cormorant in breeding plumage and a male Goldeneye.
BS
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Other news today
Lee Mount - 2 skeins of Pink-footed Geese, both very close together >W over Lee Mount across lunch - time totalling c200 birds (JS and KS) I was elsewhere!!! so missed another lot.
This is an unprecedented year for such a regular occurances in this New Year over Calderdale (though we are likely to miss a lot - especially at night). I have checked coastal reports and they don't appear to be coming in off the sea at east coast sites so they are unlikely from the continent. It is more likely they are movements from Norfolk and Linc's/Humberside and probably moving towards Southport, Ribble or perhaps The Solway Firth (or Ireland maybe)?
Please keep the reports coming in!
Also today - the 1st winter Scaup was still on the fishing lake at Brookfoot this afternoon (NCD and DF)
This is an unprecedented year for such a regular occurances in this New Year over Calderdale (though we are likely to miss a lot - especially at night). I have checked coastal reports and they don't appear to be coming in off the sea at east coast sites so they are unlikely from the continent. It is more likely they are movements from Norfolk and Linc's/Humberside and probably moving towards Southport, Ribble or perhaps The Solway Firth (or Ireland maybe)?
Please keep the reports coming in!
Also today - the 1st winter Scaup was still on the fishing lake at Brookfoot this afternoon (NCD and DF)
Friday, January 17, 2014
Amazing migration!!
I see on the BirdGuides web site, a report of a Red-necked Phalarope from the Hebrides was fitted there with a geo-locater in 2012 and returned to the same site in 2013. The amazing bit is that it was tracked in the mean time to the Pacific coast of South America - Peru. A round trip of 16,000 miles.
I've not been able to copy the link but the full story is on the BirdGuides and probably the RSPB site?.
Managed to copy part of the report thanks to Bird Guides and RSPB
A tracking device, which weighs less than a paperclip, has helped scientists uncover one of the world's great bird migrations. It revealed that a Scottish Red-necked Phalarope migrated thousands of miles west across the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, a journey never recorded for any other European breeding bird. In 2012, the RSPB, working in collaboration with the Swiss Ornithological Institute and Dave Okill of the Shetland Ringing Group, fitted individual geolocators to ten phalaropes nesting on Fetlar (Shetland), in the hope of learning where they spend the winter.
After successfully recapturing one of the tagged birds when it returned to Fetlar last spring, experts discovered it had made an epic 16,000-mile round trip during its annual migration — flying from Shetland across the Atlantic, south down the eastern seaboard of the US, across the Caribbean, and Mexico, ending up off the coast of Peru. After wintering in the Pacific, it returned to Fetlar, following a similar route.
I've not been able to copy the link but the full story is on the BirdGuides and probably the RSPB site?.
Managed to copy part of the report thanks to Bird Guides and RSPB
A tracking device, which weighs less than a paperclip, has helped scientists uncover one of the world's great bird migrations. It revealed that a Scottish Red-necked Phalarope migrated thousands of miles west across the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, a journey never recorded for any other European breeding bird. In 2012, the RSPB, working in collaboration with the Swiss Ornithological Institute and Dave Okill of the Shetland Ringing Group, fitted individual geolocators to ten phalaropes nesting on Fetlar (Shetland), in the hope of learning where they spend the winter.
After successfully recapturing one of the tagged birds when it returned to Fetlar last spring, experts discovered it had made an epic 16,000-mile round trip during its annual migration — flying from Shetland across the Atlantic, south down the eastern seaboard of the US, across the Caribbean, and Mexico, ending up off the coast of Peru. After wintering in the Pacific, it returned to Fetlar, following a similar route.
Wheatley Valley and Swales Moor
I checked the former landfill site this morning but it was a bit quieter than the last visit. The large grass area was soaked and didn't have the 'wellies' on ! So, I stuck to the tree belt areas.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Song Thrush
10+ Bullfinch - they must love this area
10+ Redwing
3 Jays
A few other usual finch sp. and a few tits around but no sign of Goldcrests
Without the car today so I legged it up to the top of Swales this afternoon in the hope of some 'pinkies' on the move - just my luck recently !!!! too late for Andy's 70 over Northowram about 11:00 and too early for Sheila D's (via NK) c200 over towards Ogden around 15:30
18 Linnet and 1 Twite - just in the weedy area at the top of the lane from Ploughcroft but they were soon off and I couldn't re-locate them.
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
A few Common Gulls roaming around the tops and the usual multitude of corvids
c40 Lapwings were circling over towards Beacon Hill area. They must be feeding in the fields somewhere up Southowram area as they settled back down having probably been spooked by a raptor (?)
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Song Thrush
10+ Bullfinch - they must love this area
10+ Redwing
3 Jays
A few other usual finch sp. and a few tits around but no sign of Goldcrests
Without the car today so I legged it up to the top of Swales this afternoon in the hope of some 'pinkies' on the move - just my luck recently !!!! too late for Andy's 70 over Northowram about 11:00 and too early for Sheila D's (via NK) c200 over towards Ogden around 15:30
18 Linnet and 1 Twite - just in the weedy area at the top of the lane from Ploughcroft but they were soon off and I couldn't re-locate them.
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
A few Common Gulls roaming around the tops and the usual multitude of corvids
c40 Lapwings were circling over towards Beacon Hill area. They must be feeding in the fields somewhere up Southowram area as they settled back down having probably been spooked by a raptor (?)
Starlings
Our nephew tells me that there's a starling roost just off Bacup Road, Todmorden not far from the junction with Sourhall Road. Can't go and see today but will look tomorrow and report back. But perhaps local birdwatchers are already aware. My nephew isn't a birder but he says it's a huge flock and has been coming to roost for a few weeks.
Know anything about this Jeff?
Sandra
Know anything about this Jeff?
Sandra
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Pink-footed Geese still going over
There were about 150 Pinks west over Skircoat during the morning and about 120 west over Brighouse in the afternoon.
It was nice to hear birdsong today as well:
Mistle Thrush at Savile Park
Dunnock at Skircoat
Wren at the Calder/Hebble confluence.
Cormorant (obviously not singing) coming in to the river here saw me and decided to perch half way up a pylon.
Earlier in the week I alarmed a female Goosander under the bank and it swam away giving a croaking noise. Something I'd never heard before.
It was nice to hear birdsong today as well:
Mistle Thrush at Savile Park
Dunnock at Skircoat
Wren at the Calder/Hebble confluence.
Cormorant (obviously not singing) coming in to the river here saw me and decided to perch half way up a pylon.
Earlier in the week I alarmed a female Goosander under the bank and it swam away giving a croaking noise. Something I'd never heard before.
Other news today
The first winter Scaup was still on the fishing lake at Brookfoot this afternoon from yesterday (GD and SL)
The solitary Pink-footed Goose is still with Canada Geese at Scammonden Water (GS)
A drake Goldeneye on Ogden Water as well today from Chris S.
The solitary Pink-footed Goose is still with Canada Geese at Scammonden Water (GS)
A drake Goldeneye on Ogden Water as well today from Chris S.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Cold Edge
This morning - it was cold up there! (probably not as cold as Soil Hill though!!)
There was a lot of activity with birds feeding in very wet fields, obviously picking up earthworms and having a feast!!
c280 Fieldfare
c200 Starlings
c200 B H Gulls
c100 Common Gulls
3 adult Herring Gulls was unusual as they are usually seen passing through rather than staying to feed
2 Kestrels
4 Red Grouse
11 Canada Geese
And to crown it off - a female Merlin sitting on a rock took off soon after I got it on the scope it and it pursued a Meadow Pipit trying to strike it around 10+ times before they were lost from view so not sure what the outcome would be. The mipit had to be very agile!!
2 Little Owls together at Balkram Edge (getting cosy)
There was a lot of activity with birds feeding in very wet fields, obviously picking up earthworms and having a feast!!
c280 Fieldfare
c200 Starlings
c200 B H Gulls
c100 Common Gulls
3 adult Herring Gulls was unusual as they are usually seen passing through rather than staying to feed
2 Kestrels
4 Red Grouse
11 Canada Geese
And to crown it off - a female Merlin sitting on a rock took off soon after I got it on the scope it and it pursued a Meadow Pipit trying to strike it around 10+ times before they were lost from view so not sure what the outcome would be. The mipit had to be very agile!!
2 Little Owls together at Balkram Edge (getting cosy)
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Mixenden and Ogden area
A Sunday afternoon in the area between Ogden golf course and Mixenden Res'r turned up a few interesting birds despite the low cloud, gloom and poor light.
c60 Lapwings went high over the golf course towards Cold Edge direction but lost from view over the hill so they may have come down there or perhaps moving towards the west coast?
1 bonus bird was a Green Woodpecker at Lower Brockholes
4 bullfinch feeding in the hawthorns at the lower end of the golf course
Stodfold area produced c120 Fieldfare and 2 Redwings and 4 Moorhen on the former trout farm pond.
Mixenden Res'r was pretty dead - just 4 Mallard!
c60 Lapwings went high over the golf course towards Cold Edge direction but lost from view over the hill so they may have come down there or perhaps moving towards the west coast?
1 bonus bird was a Green Woodpecker at Lower Brockholes
4 bullfinch feeding in the hawthorns at the lower end of the golf course
Stodfold area produced c120 Fieldfare and 2 Redwings and 4 Moorhen on the former trout farm pond.
Mixenden Res'r was pretty dead - just 4 Mallard!
Other news today
Pinkies again - what a good few days for them passing over our area!
98 over Northowram at 10.10 Andy C - (possibly the same ones as described below from Muxy)
130 over Northowram at 10.45 (AC)
A massive skein over Queensbury with 257 >W at 11.20 (NK and BS) see West Yorkshire Birding blog for some great pictures and Queensbury Birders blog for details.
I missed the lot again!!!!
98 over Northowram at 10.10 Andy C - (possibly the same ones as described below from Muxy)
130 over Northowram at 10.45 (AC)
A massive skein over Queensbury with 257 >W at 11.20 (NK and BS) see West Yorkshire Birding blog for some great pictures and Queensbury Birders blog for details.
I missed the lot again!!!!
Pink Footed Geese
Could well be a good day to see them moving. Big skein just over Mount Tabor(10.15ish) going West.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Other news today
Barkisland - I had a quick look at Bowers Mill pond early on. Lots of potential for some good birds in and around the streamside and woodland there as well.
8+ Teal displaying
1 Dipper
1 Moorhen
10 Mallard
1 Grey Wagtail
Ringstone Res'r
Didn't have long there and good to have had a chat with DF 'on the early shift'!
1 Goosander flew in
c15 Stock Doves headed over towards the north fields
Quite a few Fieldfares and Starlings up there but didn't have time to do a count, similarly a lot of B H Gulls in the surrounding fields and a few Common Gulls
Also a report of
c50 Pink-footed Geese heading over towards Halifax Town Centre at around 10:10 (AC)
Another group of c100 over Cromwell Bottom >NW at 12.35 ish (BH) - perhaps the same group as DJP had over Stoodley Pike - see below Erringden Moor report.
Also a single 'pinkie' with Canadas at Scammonden Res'r this morning (JB)
8+ Teal displaying
1 Dipper
1 Moorhen
10 Mallard
1 Grey Wagtail
Ringstone Res'r
Didn't have long there and good to have had a chat with DF 'on the early shift'!
1 Goosander flew in
c15 Stock Doves headed over towards the north fields
Quite a few Fieldfares and Starlings up there but didn't have time to do a count, similarly a lot of B H Gulls in the surrounding fields and a few Common Gulls
Also a report of
c50 Pink-footed Geese heading over towards Halifax Town Centre at around 10:10 (AC)
Another group of c100 over Cromwell Bottom >NW at 12.35 ish (BH) - perhaps the same group as DJP had over Stoodley Pike - see below Erringden Moor report.
Also a single 'pinkie' with Canadas at Scammonden Res'r this morning (JB)
Erringden Moor
pink footed goose 100apx nw over stoodley pike
fieldfare 60
starling 200
raven 2
gbb gull 3 west
Broadhead clough
nuthatch 1
Friday, January 10, 2014
Mixenden Res'r
5 Canada Geese there today with no sign of the recent Goldeneye or Tufted Duck
Gull numbers down with only 30 B H Gulls and 20 Common Gulls late morning
Gull numbers down with only 30 B H Gulls and 20 Common Gulls late morning
Pink-footed Geese
Pinkies on the move across lunchtime today mostly >W and > NW
c200 over Ovenden at 11.35 (AH)
c120 over Cromwell Bottom at 11.55 (BH)
c150 over Jay House Lane near Clifton at 12.15 (DF)
c300 over Sowerby Bridge at 12.25 (SB)
c50 over Jay House Lane at 12.30 (DF)
and I missed the lot !! Might be some more yet.
Thanks for all the reports. We are very fortunate in West Yorkshire to witness these migrations and winter movements. Keep them coming!
1 straggler over Soil Hill area this afternoon (NK) and another 11 over Northowram (AC)
832 for the day!
c200 over Ovenden at 11.35 (AH)
c120 over Cromwell Bottom at 11.55 (BH)
c150 over Jay House Lane near Clifton at 12.15 (DF)
c300 over Sowerby Bridge at 12.25 (SB)
c50 over Jay House Lane at 12.30 (DF)
and I missed the lot !! Might be some more yet.
Thanks for all the reports. We are very fortunate in West Yorkshire to witness these migrations and winter movements. Keep them coming!
1 straggler over Soil Hill area this afternoon (NK) and another 11 over Northowram (AC)
832 for the day!
Swales Moor
This morning
11 Red-legged Partridge near the top
18+ Meadow Pipits on the top
No sign of the Linnet flock today
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel at Ploughcroft
2 Stock Dove
2 Common Gulls
Usual lots of corvids
Fieldfare 4>W
Woodpigeons 220 >NE
Bullfinch 4 >W
Chaffinch 4 >W
Starling 2 >NW
1 Cormorant >W
11 Red-legged Partridge near the top
18+ Meadow Pipits on the top
No sign of the Linnet flock today
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel at Ploughcroft
2 Stock Dove
2 Common Gulls
Usual lots of corvids
Fieldfare 4>W
Woodpigeons 220 >NE
Bullfinch 4 >W
Chaffinch 4 >W
Starling 2 >NW
1 Cormorant >W
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
Elland area
I tried a quick look at Brookfoot - the ski-lake and the fisherman's pool this afternoon but was unable to locate the weekend's Scaup - or any other diving duck for that matter! Just a decent flock of B H Gulls and a few Common Gulls with 2 adult L B B Gulls.
On the way back we got stuck in traffic on the by-pass - it was worth it though as a Common Buzzard flew over, flapping hard in poor conditions for a raptor, over from Salterhebble area towards West Vale.
On the way back we got stuck in traffic on the by-pass - it was worth it though as a Common Buzzard flew over, flapping hard in poor conditions for a raptor, over from Salterhebble area towards West Vale.
Bramblings at Sowerby Bridge
Peachy Steve is one of our newer members at Halifax Scientific Society. He got these superb shots of a male Brambling in Dodge Royd Wood on 5th Jan. The flock was feeding on Beech mast on towards Triangle.
You can see how the head feathers are black closer to its skin. When the grey tips wear off the black will be revealed ready for breeding in spring. This is a common way of changing colour among birds. It avoids the heavy investment of moulting and growing a new set.
Wheatley Valley
I gave the former landfill site a go this morning - been thinking about going down there for a while but its a welly job especially over the large grass flat area which is very wet (even in summer)!!
I had in mind a possible Jack Snipe or Common Snipe but was unable to flush anything, though I guess there are both species there in winter. A bonus bird turned up trumps though, with a Woodcock flushed just as I was about to give up. A new bird for this site.
I then tried the planted area (young mixed woodland with a lot of Alder, Rowan, Willow, Birch, Hazel, Cherry etc ..) which was alive with birds including
10+ Bullfinch
30+ Redwings
1 Song Thrush singing
25+ Chaffinch
8 Greenfinch
20+ Goldfinch
Lots of Blue and Great Tits though just 2 L T Tits but no Coal Tits or Goldcrests
1 Jay
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
3 Herring Gulls over >NW
Altogether 27 sp.. in 2 hrs
Also a Red Fox - looked like a big male in superb condition and not so much red but more black than red. All in all a very enjoyable and productive morning!
I had in mind a possible Jack Snipe or Common Snipe but was unable to flush anything, though I guess there are both species there in winter. A bonus bird turned up trumps though, with a Woodcock flushed just as I was about to give up. A new bird for this site.
I then tried the planted area (young mixed woodland with a lot of Alder, Rowan, Willow, Birch, Hazel, Cherry etc ..) which was alive with birds including
10+ Bullfinch
30+ Redwings
1 Song Thrush singing
25+ Chaffinch
8 Greenfinch
20+ Goldfinch
Lots of Blue and Great Tits though just 2 L T Tits but no Coal Tits or Goldcrests
1 Jay
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
3 Herring Gulls over >NW
Altogether 27 sp.. in 2 hrs
Also a Red Fox - looked like a big male in superb condition and not so much red but more black than red. All in all a very enjoyable and productive morning!
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
Swales Moor and Mixenden Res'r
At least 1 Twite positive i d (possibly another?) in with the Linnet flock of 28 this morning along Ringby Lane. They are a tricky lot, very flighty and difficult to approach as well as finding the flock in the first place!
1 Skylark on the top
Little else other than the usual corvids and a few Common Gulls in the fields
1 female Sparrowhawk nearby
Mixenden Res'r
4 Goldeneye including 1 drake
Also a drake Tufted Duck
c 100 B H Gulls and a few Common Gulls
1 Skylark on the top
Little else other than the usual corvids and a few Common Gulls in the fields
1 female Sparrowhawk nearby
Mixenden Res'r
4 Goldeneye including 1 drake
Also a drake Tufted Duck
c 100 B H Gulls and a few Common Gulls
Monday, January 06, 2014
Elland GP
No luck this morning with the scaup sadly. The conditions were not great, with terrible glare and the wind making it difficult to hold the scope steady, but I could not find the bird.
There were plenty of other things though:
-6 Tufted duck: 4 male, 2 female
-3 Goosander: 1 male, 2 female
-5 Cormorant
-Coot
-Moorhen
-Black Headed and Common Gulls
-1 Little Grebe
-At least 7 Bullfinches on the feeding station
-Long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, robin and dunnock on the feeding station
-1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
However, the Mirfield Great Northern Diver made for great compensation after dipping on the scaup
There were plenty of other things though:
-6 Tufted duck: 4 male, 2 female
-3 Goosander: 1 male, 2 female
-5 Cormorant
-Coot
-Moorhen
-Black Headed and Common Gulls
-1 Little Grebe
-At least 7 Bullfinches on the feeding station
-Long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, chaffinch, robin and dunnock on the feeding station
-1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
However, the Mirfield Great Northern Diver made for great compensation after dipping on the scaup
Mixenden and Ogden Res'rs
Mixenden this afternoon - terrible conditions!
5 Goldeneye ( 1 drake)
1 Tufted Duck (drake)
25 Woodpigeons
11 Stock Doves
Ogden
32 Lapwings over >W then they turned round back east so they were probably the flock from the north slope of Soil Hill
1 Sparrowhawk hunting the woodland
c60 Woodpigeons
c120 B H Gulls and 20+ Commons >N towards Thornton Moor Res'r
c80 Mallard but no sign of the recent Little Grebe
5 Goldeneye ( 1 drake)
1 Tufted Duck (drake)
25 Woodpigeons
11 Stock Doves
Ogden
32 Lapwings over >W then they turned round back east so they were probably the flock from the north slope of Soil Hill
1 Sparrowhawk hunting the woodland
c60 Woodpigeons
c120 B H Gulls and 20+ Commons >N towards Thornton Moor Res'r
c80 Mallard but no sign of the recent Little Grebe
Sunday, January 05, 2014
Other news today
Pink-footed Geese on the move today across lunchtime 4 skeins totalling 785 heading west seen from Northowram. See details on the link to Northowram Wildlife (AC)
Apologies for the earlier error in reporting pinkies over Oxenhope - I must have dreamt that!!!!!
2 skeins over Lee Mount heard tonight in the dark sounded to be heading west at 6.0 pm followed closely by another group heard at 6.20 pm. Some more tomorrow with a bit of luck!
Apologies for the earlier error in reporting pinkies over Oxenhope - I must have dreamt that!!!!!
2 skeins over Lee Mount heard tonight in the dark sounded to be heading west at 6.0 pm followed closely by another group heard at 6.20 pm. Some more tomorrow with a bit of luck!
Cold Edge and Brookfoot
Gave it a try this afternoon but the weather was foul with driving rain. I did manage 3 new sp. for the year with 1 Grey Heron, 3 Red Grouse and 7 Pheasants but that was about it other than c15 B H Gulls. Some of the latter are already advanced in plumage with well pronounced black heads nearly complete though the majority are still in winter plumage.
Following the soaking up there I decided to try for the 1st winter Scaup at Brookfoot fishing lake. Though the light was fading it was still feeding along with 4 Coot so that was a bonus bird for the new year.
Following the soaking up there I decided to try for the 1st winter Scaup at Brookfoot fishing lake. Though the light was fading it was still feeding along with 4 Coot so that was a bonus bird for the new year.
First winter Scaup at Elland GP
Stainland
Walk round stainland this morning
Castle carr -
Nuthatch heard
GSW heard
Stainland Dean
2 Jay
Sparrowhawk
M + F Bullfinch
Greenfinch heard
50 Redwing
Along Blackbrook
2 Grey heron
3 Dipper
2 Kestrel
Castle carr -
Nuthatch heard
GSW heard
Stainland Dean
2 Jay
Sparrowhawk
M + F Bullfinch
Greenfinch heard
50 Redwing
Along Blackbrook
2 Grey heron
3 Dipper
2 Kestrel
Other news
From John B yesterday, a first winter Scaup on the ski lake at Brookfoot yesterday though no news as to whether or not its still there today. Scaup are not often recorded in Calderdale in recent years so that's a good find.
A good number of Pink-footed Geese >W across lunchtime today reported from Andy at Northowram. Thanks, I did manage to pick out one skein through the trees of Shroggs Park in Lee Mount. Details of numbers will I guess be on Northowram Wildlife blog later today.
A good number of Pink-footed Geese >W across lunchtime today reported from Andy at Northowram. Thanks, I did manage to pick out one skein through the trees of Shroggs Park in Lee Mount. Details of numbers will I guess be on Northowram Wildlife blog later today.
Saturday, January 04, 2014
Home to Mankinholes to Walsden
A mild morning for a wander - hat, gloves, scarf and jumper removed before I'd gone 200 yards :)
150+ Fieldfare in fields at Cross Lane, Mankinholes
1 Little owl by Pennine Bridleway by Top Brink
7 Goosander (2 drakes) at Lee Dam
1 Little Owl at Lee Dam
5 Lapwing at Longfield Dam
1 f. Goldeneye at Longfield Dam
106 Redwing at Knowl Wood in birch trees
1 Kestrel over at Knowl Wood
150+ Fieldfare in fields at Cross Lane, Mankinholes
1 Little owl by Pennine Bridleway by Top Brink
7 Goosander (2 drakes) at Lee Dam
1 Little Owl at Lee Dam
5 Lapwing at Longfield Dam
1 f. Goldeneye at Longfield Dam
106 Redwing at Knowl Wood in birch trees
1 Kestrel over at Knowl Wood
Friday, January 03, 2014
Out and about!
Wheatley Valley - male Sparrowhawk this morning hunting among the trees on the former landfill site along Shroggs Road. Also a few Redwings about first thing over Shroggs Park
Mixenden Res'r - drake Tufted Duck along with 3 female Goldeneye. 2 adult L B B Gulls, c100 B H Gulls and c40 Common Gulls. 1 Pied Wagtail
Balkram Edge - pair of Little Owls on a wall
Fly Flats - not even a Red Grouse!!
Withens Head - 11 Fieldfares and 9 Starlings in the field by the wind farm car park
Mixenden Res'r - drake Tufted Duck along with 3 female Goldeneye. 2 adult L B B Gulls, c100 B H Gulls and c40 Common Gulls. 1 Pied Wagtail
Balkram Edge - pair of Little Owls on a wall
Fly Flats - not even a Red Grouse!!
Withens Head - 11 Fieldfares and 9 Starlings in the field by the wind farm car park
Recent bits
A dipper was on the river at Callis Bridge on New Years Day. A goosander flew over Walkley Clogs, and a male sparrowhawk narrowly missed taking a blackbird at Mytholmroyd station.
Several nuthatch were seen and heard on the lane up to Hebden Hey in the Crags yesterday, including 4 in one tree! A few siskin were also about.
Several nuthatch were seen and heard on the lane up to Hebden Hey in the Crags yesterday, including 4 in one tree! A few siskin were also about.
Wednesday, January 01, 2014
New Year Bird Count
Halifax Scientific Society New Year Walk and Bird Count North Dean Wood, Norland Clough and Norland Moor.RESULT:
We didn't see the Stonechat, Reed Bunting or winter thrushes seen on Boxing Day, but we did get 18 species, four more than last year on 1st Jan 2013.
Some were in the home garden before setting off, and on the way to the meet, but all countable for a day list. These lists just give an idea of bird diversity on a rainy day in winter 2013-2014, and may be interesting in the future.
Five people who attended saw:
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Dunnock
Chaffinch
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Feral Pigeon
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Jay
Robin
Grey Wagtail
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Treecreeper
Common Gull
Jackdaw
Mammals: Grey Squirrel(1) Roe Deer(3 together) Rabbit signs.
We completed the planned route, then enjoyed drinks including pints of Wainwright Ale in the Star at Lindwell (Greetland).
We didn't see the Stonechat, Reed Bunting or winter thrushes seen on Boxing Day, but we did get 18 species, four more than last year on 1st Jan 2013.
Some were in the home garden before setting off, and on the way to the meet, but all countable for a day list. These lists just give an idea of bird diversity on a rainy day in winter 2013-2014, and may be interesting in the future.
Five people who attended saw:
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Dunnock
Chaffinch
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Feral Pigeon
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Jay
Robin
Grey Wagtail
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Treecreeper
Common Gull
Jackdaw
Mammals: Grey Squirrel(1) Roe Deer(3 together) Rabbit signs.
We completed the planned route, then enjoyed drinks including pints of Wainwright Ale in the Star at Lindwell (Greetland).
