Jumble Hole on a roll

Spotted flycatcher tonight.  It's a bumper year so far up here.

SWIFTS

Has anybody else noticed what appears to be a shortfall of swifts this year? I've only had 2 so far in my part of Elland.Just wondering if any one else had noticed a decline.

Luddenden Dean

Cuckoo still singing in the upper Dean this afternoon with no other summer visitors other than Willow Warblers, a Blackcap, Swifts and Swallows. 

1 Common Buzzard very high >W

Grey Wagtail in the stream near Jerusalem Farm

Reminder for House Martin records

House Martin Survey

House Martins are in serious decline and this has been especially notable in Calderdale in recent years with a big crash in our breeding population. The Conservation Group propose to undertake a survey this year and would like to record all House Martin observations (especially breeding record) so we can log this on to a database.
Steve D is heading this up and collating the information.
We have some simple recording forms including columns for -:
Date, Time, Weather, Location, GPS, and Activity i. e. passing through, feeding area, nesting, migrating, No of adults, No of young etc.
Information can be posted on the blog or text or the forms can be emailed by request if you leave a message on the blog email

info@calderdalebirds.co.uk

Just in case anyone is unsure of identification - House Martin is the blue bird, white underparts and is the Swallow like bird, the one with the white rump. They usually nests on houses and buildings with the nests plastered on the the wall just under the eaves or  troughins
Thanks for all the help you can give with this Calderdale wide survey.

Jumble Hole

3 male whitethroat in a singing battle this morning close to the house, including one in the garden. Blackcap seem very evident this year too.

Siskin

My son regularly has 5 siskin coming to his feeders. 2 pairs and a male. He lives in Cornholme near the main road.

Blake Dean 6pm Friday.

Not much to report - lots of common stuff (willow warbler, song thrush, chiffchaff, curlew) but not a squeak from the (currently) less common things. No redstart, tree pipit, wood warbler, spotted flycatcher, cuckoo, etc.

Luddenden Dean Cuckoo

Finally got a record shot of one of the Cuckoos in the Dean.  Plenty of Willow Warblers.  Box number 6 has fallen to the ground and found a Squirrel trying to break into a box where Great Tits were nesting.  It managed to scare it off but for how long who knows?

High Royd

I thought perhaps just a chance of Sedge Warbler singing in the old sewage beds, now overgrown with a small area of  phragmites along with willows etc. No sight or sound of a 'sedgie' though some of the habitat looks ok - if you could see and get close enough.
2 Garden Warblers singing along with 4 Blackcap, 4+ Willow Warblers, 1 Chiff-chaff, Great-spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatches.
No Swallows or House Martins and just 2 Swifts
Plenty Orange-tip Butterflies along the canal

Various sites

I tried the scrub area at the back of Park Wood Crematorium where Lesser Whitethroat has been recorded in the past. Nothing doing though the area looks really good with mature woodland bordered by large areas of established Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Brambles. Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and a Chiff-chaff singing there.

Later on I checked another local site for Reed Warbler. At least 2 singing males with one showing quite well flying up out of the vegetation to catch flies. Don't see that activity very often as they skulk in the reeds.

Later on I was lucky enough to find this Long-eared Owl which seemed to be raiding a Blackbirds nest (they were going berserk)! Tricky getting a shot to focus in the vegetation in the fading light.

 Long-eared Owl

Last nights sunset

 

One Great Black-backed Gull flyover was unexpected >NW and Grey Partridge calling as well as a Little Owl on  a nearby rocky outcrop

Hen Harrier Day Peaceful Protest

Posting from BL - Hen Harrier Day Peaceful Protest Sunday 7 August, 2016, Dunsop Bridge in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire.

http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2016/03/03/hen-harrier-day-peaceful-protest-2016-dunsop-bridge-in-the-forest-of-bowland/

Hardcastle Crags

We checked a lot of woodland areas today between the crags Midgehole car park and Blake Dean and returning on the other side of the valley to Gibson Mill (pot of tea and Coffee and Walnut cake there - very nice) !
We didn't find a lot, but at least 2 of our targets were met with a male Pied Flycatcher-  and also a single Wood Warbler singing. Both very scarce birds in Calderdale nowadays !
1 Cuckoo calling near Blake Dean but no sign of Tree Pipits at the traditional spot. We had 2 possibilities of singing Redstart but very distant and unseen therefore couldn't confirm their presence.
A good few Song Thrush, Blackbirds and Chaffinch's as well as Blue and Great Tits
1 Dipper feeding young
1 Grey Heron
A few Willow Warblers and Blackcaps
Very few Swifts or Swallows and no House Martins at all - they are usually high over Midgehole car park !

Wood Warbler photos below were the best I could get as it flitted through the canopy. But what a gem to see and hear.

 Wood Warbler

Luddenden Dean and Castle Carr Road

Lovely afternoon in the dean trying to find a few summer migrants
1 Cuckoo
1 Grey Wagtail
1+ Green Woodpecker
2 Blackcap
c10 Willow Warblers
1 Spotted Flycatcher in the scrub near 'The Lowe'
1 Little Owl
+ a few other commoner species along with 6 Orange-tip Butterflies near Jerusalem Farm, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, a Large White and a Green-veined White in the dean.
Nice to meet up with Muxy also having a search fro summer migrants.

 Grey Wagtail

 Pied Wagtail

 Wheatear - female

 Albino Rabbit

Little Owl

Jumble Hole

A pair of garden warblers were finally back on territory today! Although the whitethroat seems to have quietened right down.
A pair of treecreepers moved around together in the woods, and a small flock of siskins seemed unseasonal.
I had a concerted look for woodcock last night at dusk, and none were seen or heard.

Hartshead and around

On the Yellowhammer hunt today, there were 3 calling from the hedgerows near Hartshead church - about 100 yards out of area, and about half a mile from the main colony at Kirklees Hall. Another bonus was a single Tree Sparrow searching through the road grit next to the car, directly opposite the church; but no sign of other T.S's - very strange, but worth further checking next week. Also a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were hunting over the fields nearby.

Wheatley Valley

An hour or so this morning first thing to check the former reclaimed landfill site between Shroggs Road and Brackenbed Lane.
Just a few warblers singing...
Pair of Whitethroat
1 Garden Warbler
2 Blackcap
1 Chiff-chaff
4+ Willow Warblers
2 Stock Doves
3+ Song Thrush

Thursday PM

Cuckoo reported calling on Thursday afternoon near Cat I'th Well by SF.

White Holme and the Drain

On a walk to White Holme Drain, I heard a whimbrel calling from somewhere on White Holme Moss.  Also, raven, common sandpiper, pair of tufted duck and lots of meadow pipits.
Taking a scenic route home, I also saw a little owl near Baitings House.

Regards, Chris

Spot the Tawny Owl !

I went out looking for Tree Pipit this afternoon, without success, and ended up playing pee-po with this Tawny Owl instead.!

Ringstone

Called up there late morning for about 40 minutes.
1 drake Goosander
1 LR Plover skulking around the shoreline and in and out of the vegetation as unfortunately not much shoreline showing.
2 lots of House Martings totalling 32 (4 and 28) went through leaving high >NNE after stopping very briefly to feed over the water.
Just a few Swallows and Linnets about along with a Willow Warbler.

2 little gems !

From an undisclosed local site this afternoon.

 Pied Flycatcher (male)

 

2 of the same Spotted Flycatcher

House Martin Survey

Please see last Fridays posting and log/report any sightings of House Martins especially if you suspect they are on or near a breeding site. Thank you.

Fly Flats and Withens Head

A real struggle late morning with bright sunshine and glare off the water combined with a strong north - easterly - just the usual with nothing new - other than a good bit of shoreline appearing !
1 Sand Martin >NE over Ovenden Moor
No sign of any Golden Plover today.

And from yesterday a great find by NK at Ogden across lunchtime - 2 Greenshank on the shoreline at  12:05 but they must have moved on shortly after. Some nice shots on Nigel's blog.

Fly Flats and Withens Head

Not  a lot doing this morning but managed a Yellow Wagtail at Withens Head in the fields by the farm late morning. The farm dogs spooked it and it took off and despite prolonged scanning I couldn't re-find it - even with a second look after lunch when the rain came in
3 Golden Plover in fields along the top road at Fly Flats - but I didn't leave the car unattended !
2 Golden Plover at Withens Head in the usual top field
4 Black-headed Gulls at Fly Flats in displaying mode !

 Canada chicks starting to appear !

Oystercatcher

Jumble Hole

Cuckoo calling Friday and Saturday. Whitethroat and blackcap are back on territory, and in full song. Still waiting for garden warbler.

Elsewhere, a common buzzard was a surprise flying low over Hebden Bridge town centre at noon.

Ludd Dean - Cuckoos

Following  Dave's last week I thought I'd have a quick look this aft in the Dean for Cuckoos.  Two flew from the North facing slope, one landed mid valley while the other went across to the small wood on the other side and started calling.  Another birder on that side of the valley looked to have a good view near where it was singing.
Checked Spa but nothing of note.

Lost Rookery

Hi again,

Something I noticed a week ago but forgot to post: the rookery around Mytholm turning circle seems to have virtually disappeared. Possibly this is old news - I don't visit the Fox & Goose as often as I used to! I could only see one nest in the trees nearest the brook, and I don't know if that was occupied. Perhaps there are a few others I missed? A few years ago there were twenty nests in the area. If anyone can confirm, this would be a sad loss, although maybe some of the local human residents might not see it the same way.

Undisclosed site

1 of 2 Barn Owls seen tonight, sadly not breeding probably due to a crash in the number of voles this year. Also very few Shorties about compared to last years record numbers.

Swifts

Hi,
I heard a brief screech in Todmorden town centre yesterday, but was not able to scan upwards as I was busy at the ATM. I didn't hear any further calls, and assumed it must have been birds passing through.
This morning, however, there were four birds circling the Wellington Road area, and I assume the same four birds were  in the same area when I returned from work this evening. I am sure they were later arriving back in the late 1990's when I first got interested?
I haven't seen any House Martins in Todmorden yet, although I did spot some in suburban Manchester yesterday..

House Martin Survey

House Martins are in serious decline and this has been especially notable in Calderdale in recent years with a big crash in our breeding population. The Conservation Group propose to undertake a survey this year and would like to record all House Martin observations (especially breeding record) so we can log this on to a database.
Steve D is heading this up and collating the information.
We have some simple recording forms including columns for -:
Date, Time, Weather, Location, GPS, and Activity i. e. passing through, feeding area, nesting, migrating, No of adults, No of young etc.
Information can be posted on the blog or text or the forms can be emailed by request if you leave a message on the blog email

info@calderdalebirds.co.uk

Just in case anyone is unsure of identification - House Martin is the blue bird, white underparts and is the Swallow like bird, the one with the white rump. They usually nests on houses and buildings with the nests plastered on the the wall just under the eaves or  troughins
Thanks for all the help you can give with this Calderdale wide survey.

Jumble Hole

Whitethroat and blackcap calling persistently from my garden today. Still no garden warbler in the usual places yet.

Booth Wood / Ryburn Valley

A couple of hours this morning on my dog walk. River Ryburn and surrounding area.

2 Kestrel
1 Sparrow Hawk
4 Chiffchaff
5 Willow Warbler
1 Blackcap
2 Green Woodpecker
1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
3 Dipper
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Nuthatch
+ Lots of usual species.

Jumble Hole

I took a quick look up Jumble Hole this evening, and was delighted to find a male pied flycatcher singing at the top of an oak tree. I have been searching for this species for 13 years up here, as it was a former breeder in the early 90's. I have put up more than 20 nest boxes over the last 11 years, and with a bit (ok, a lot) of luck he'll attract a mate and finally breed again this summer.

Luddenden Dean

A Cuckoo in good form this afternoon in the upper Dean with the sound carrying a long way. !
The only summer migrants were a few Swallows, as singing Chiff-chaff and 10+ Willow Warblers

 Distant Cuckoo

Pied Wagtail

Shibden Park

A bit of an odd one but a Heron seems to be feeding with the ducks at Shibden!  It is very tame and soaks any bread in the lake before eating it.
The pair of Mute Swans are back on a nest again.

Manshead / Hubberton area

Walked around the area I saw the Golden Plover a few days ago. There were 37 up there today.

3 Curlew,
2 Lapwing
1 Swift
5 Wheatear
Plenty of Skylark.
.

Fly Flats etc

Weather pretty awful again with hail despite the forecast saying otherwise !
1 Swift high >NE
1 House Martin >NE
4 Black-headed Gulls high >NW
3 L B B Gulls
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
4 Common Sandpipers
1 Oystercatcher + usual sp.

Withens Head - 4 Wheatear
Nolstar fields - 12 Golden Plover

Swifts

Just a few reports so far following the 2 last week over Brighouse from
 MH on Friday 22nd April.
1 over Mount Tabor on Sunday 1st May (MM) with one over Brighouse also on Sunday (SB)
2 over Northowram (AC) and one over Walshaw yesterday evening (NCD)
Hopefully an influx in the next few days !

Immediate vacancy for paid field worker on twite recovery project

 

Nick Wilkinson from the monitoring part of the RSPB/NE Twite Recovery Project is seeking a research assistant to start immediately.

 

The fieldwork will mainly involve assisting with surveys of breeding twite at multiple sites and nest finding and monitoring, but may also include plant surveys on farmland and some data inputting. Suitable candidates should have good bird id and survey skills, be able to follow instructions methodically, map and record observations accurately, and be able to cope with long hours of walking over rough terrain. Any nest finding experience would be a bonus. This is a four-month contract (full time), starting early May to late August.

 

For further details, please contact Nick either by email on nick.wilkinson@rspb.org.uk or phone 07920 593908.

Wheatley Valley

Former landfill site down Shroggs Road - went just to check in case of any migrants this morning
Not a lot !
1 Blackcap
2 Chiff-chaff
3+ Willow Warblers
4 Song Thrush battling it out in song - sounded great
1 Jay
1 Stock Dove
usual sp...
Not a lot else !

RSPB report

http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/ourwork/b/martinharper/default.aspx

Raptor

Just seen a what looked like a Harrier flying fairly high above Triangle this morning. Mobbed by 2 Carrion Crows (for size comparison).

Calder near Colnebridge

Common Sandpiper flushed by the riverbank. Canada Goose on eggs (they're everywhere !) 2 Mistle Thrushes. Grey Wagtail apparently taking food to a nest site, and a second bird further upriver. Pied Wagtail. Whitethroat showing briefly, but not calling. 2 Chiffchaffs. 30 House Martins and 6 Swallows. 2 Linnets and a Mute Swan there yesterday. And a late-ish Redpoll on the garden feeder today.