Recent news

Not easy to keep up with all that has been happening in our local area in the last week or two but will attempt a brief review !!

Today
House Martins, Swallows and Sand Martins reported in the last few days mainly from Cromwell Bottom ski- lake. Occasional sightings of Swallows and Sand Martins from elsewhere but the ski-lake is the favored early stop-off after their long, and probably continuing migration. The weather today concentrated the birds here, a low level lake probably a little more sheltered than many other parts of Calderdale today in the cold windy conditions.

Also reported from Cromwell Bottom this week  a Blackcap, Chiffchaffs, Kingfisher and Common Buzzard

From PJWS a brave attempt at the very exposed Whiteholme Reservoir in today's conditions with rewards of a Common Sandpiper (first one locally for the year) and 2 Ringed Plover.

Distant photo's but well good enough for identification - click photos to enlarge

 Common Sandpiper

2 Ringed Plover

First Willow Warbler from Bank House Lane, near Wainstalls on Saturday 30th March (PB)

An Osprey over Ringstone Edge Reservoir >N also on Saturday at 16:40 (JB)

A few Wheatears also reported from various locations but no local Ring Ouzels yet since the first one from near Scammonden on 22nd March (PD). Although one was seen near Denholme on Monday 1st April(JJL)

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen in Greetland  (AT)

Still a few Bramblings about earlier in the week and the weekend as well as a few Chiffchaffs and a Ring-necked Parakeet in Warley.
Great Crested Grebe from Blackstone Edge Reservoir on 2nd April (PJWS) and another from Cromwell Bottom (AC) and one from Green Withens (DP). Also the latter site with 13 Twite.

I will have missed some reports but perhaps the above gives a flavor of what's been happening locally this week.
It's very encouraging to see so many local observers out in the field in recent times. Keep up the good work everyone !
I would encourage others to continue to post on the blog as well.