Fly Flatts

Another good find for BS this morning with 3 Sanderling. I headed up there late morning and was pleased to see they were still there and I scoped from the top road.
Also there at the time I had a count of at least 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 62 Herring Gulls.

Luddenden Dean - 6th June - for anyone interested in a Calderdale Countryside Walk

https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/leisure-and-culture/whatson/events/bird-walk-through-luddenden-valley

Luddenden Dean

An afternoon in the upper dean on a lovely day takes some beating though a few more summer migrants would be nice.
Cuckoo calling occasionally, but unseen.
Plenty Blackcaps 12+ singing (this species must be one of our most common and vocal summer visitors this year ?)
1 Garden Warbler singing just at the back of Jerusalem farm
2 Chiffchaff
8+ Willow Warblers
2 pairs of Whitethroat at one location was interesting !
No sign of any Redstarts
Plenty Blue and Great Tits at nest sites and feeding young
2 Nuthatch
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrels
2 Curlew
1 Little Owl calling
1 Grey Heron
1 Moorhen
Plus usual species

Ringstone Edge Reservoir

The site turns up some more 'goodies' this morning. 

No sign of yesterdays Purple Sandpiper but I understand Dave T found these two gems around 8:15 - 2 Sandwich Terns. They didn't stay long, heading off >NE but arrived back a few minutes later staying long enough for one or two 'early birders' to see them.  Just enough for some photo's below courtesy of Nick Mallinson. Many thanks Nick. I understand there are some more photo's on Huddersfield Bird blog as well.

Purple Sandpiper

This is the best I could get of Andy C's Purple Sandpiper at Ringstone today

A great find Andy, it was very hard to spot through the heat haze, spending most of its time resting low between the rocks at great distance and only moving  occasionally, here it is with a Dunlin

This crop is massive but the yellow/orange bill can be seen, just!

Hopefully JM managed to get something better

photo by Dave P.....(great photo)

Barn owls

Site withheld for obvious reasons, but a pair of barn owls are feeding young in a natural nest site near Hebden Bridge. First time I've seen any that weren't nesting in a barn or box.

Calderdale

Some very nice shots of scarce birds in Calderdale today from John M

Sand Martins above and Reed Warbler below. Patience pays dividends !

Whimbrel, Ringstone

Another Whimbrel at Ringstone around midday today, great spot by Dave F

Whitethroat  Friday 17th, a fairly common bird but something different for me at Ringstone

And Goosander with 6 chicks was good to see yesterday, river Calder, Cromwell Bottom with JM

Pied Flycatchers return

A couple of pics over on Calderdale-wildlife.blogspot.com
Apologies for not posting them here as well - laptop getting slower!

Female of the pair seen entering the box 23.5.19. A ringed bird. Again on the other blog.

Ringstone

Ringstone this morning was pretty quiet Summer plumage Cormorant ,  1 LRP , 2 Dunlin , 2 Oycks , 2 Common Sandpiper , 1 Curlew ,5 Sand MArtin , 2 House martin and 20 Swallow  ..looking pretty grim for the local lapwings with the fields being cut this week and no sigh of any chicks about.?? 8 Common Terns flew west to east very fast and Alan got these photo's (well done AT) ....

Jumble Hole walk

This eve Matt Bell is leading a walk for HB Birders round his local patch Jumble Hole Clough, if anyone wants to join us we're meeting at 6.30 at the bottom of Jumble Hole Road (JCB place) or sharing lifts from the turning circle (Hebden Bridge) at 6.10. Terrain is steep so will be semi strenuous, and we'll be out til half 8 or 9pm.

Ringstone Reservoir

Some nice pictures from John M of some of 9 Dunlin observed there this morning (AT and JM)

Whimbrel

Fly Flats is the place to be at the moment for waders. Dipped out on Brian's 2 Greenshanks but a nice Whimbrel flew in from the east just as we were leaving. Also here lots of Dunlin, Redshank, Common Sands and a Ringed Plover, 1 Cuckoo in the valley and a Short-eared Owl. Also dropped in to Cold Edge Dams where we relocated Pete's Common Tern.

Cromwell Bottom

Common Tern still present on the ski-lake probably the same bird from yesterday. Some nice shots below from John M. Not an easy site to see the birds never mind getting such decent shots including with a small fish and a BTO ring on it's right leg (third shot).

From Hugh Firman

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO)

Working together to prevent moorland fires - everyone has a part to play

Calderdale Council is working proactively with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and West Yorkshire Police to prevent moorland fires, but all agencies also depend on the vigilance and care of those who are out and about in our wonderful countryside to play an active part in protecting it.
To take part in the consultation and for more information, see: Moorland Fires and the Public Spaces Protection Order [PDF 706KB].

The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) replaced the:

• Designated Public Place Order (DPPO);
• and the five Dog Control Orders (DCOs).

This was introduced under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, on 20th October 2017.
If there is evidence of behaviour in a public space that has, or is likely to have:

• an adverse effect on the quality of life of the community;
• and the behaviour is persistent / ongoing and not reasonable;

a PSPO can be introduced by the Council. These can include specific behaviour restrictions and/or requirements for people to abide by, on any public space in question.
Note: All anti-social behaviour can be considered for a Public Spaces Protection Order, not just dog or alcohol issues.

Existing Designated Public Place Orders (DPPO) and Dog Control Orders (DCO)

The change to the law came into effect on 20th October 2017. From this time, current DPPO and DCOs were treated as provisions of a PSPO.
Signage for the DPPO and DCOs has been changed to help raise public awareness. The Council will review current orders and consider amending conditions by 20th October 2020. unless extended before this date, the orders will expire.

---

Related documents and links:

• Dog Control Orders map
• Dog Control Orders
• Dog Control Orders: Your questions answered

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO)

• Moorland Fires

Calderdale Barn Owls

A few weeks ago I reported on the pair of barn owls near where I live. Unfortunately they have not been seen for several weeks now so I'm not sure what has happened.

Mixenden Reservoir and Ogden

Mixenden Reservoir.
 I checked first thing after a 'tip-off' from AH of terns on the move over Holllingworth Lake this morning in the rain. Nothing doing here though a Great Crested Grebe was new in along with c70 Swallows, a couple of House Martins and 2 Sand Martins.
Pair of Treecreeper carrying food in the plantation but couldn't locate the nest site. Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaff singing in there despite the conditions.

Ogden
Not a lot, still raining
2 Moorhen
2 L B B Gulls
Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps singing

Also this afternoon (still raining) I had a check on local reservoirs for terns, many of which have been reported nationally inland in good numbers today. Ryburn, Baitings, Blackstone Edge and Withens Clough but no terns.
Cuckoo singing at Withens Clough
Green Woodpecker and Cormorant at Ryburn Dam
Great Crested Grebe at Baitings

UPDATE
Common Tern at Cromwell Bottom fishing lake and ski-lake late afternoon (DF).... details later.

Withens Clough Reservoir

We did a circuit this afternoon and finally tracked down a Cuckoo on a fence line though we only heard it sing a couple of times.
Pair of Stonechats
1 Jay
1 Willow Warbler
1 Dunlin
2 Common Sandpipers
2 Wheatear
A few Swallows, Linnet and Meadow Pipits.
12 Small Mallard ducklings were huddled together to keep warm but they made a very rapid exit into the water as a Carrion Crow stooped at them. !

 Mallard ducklings

 Stonechat (male)

Sent from my iPhone

Ogden

I went up there early on to try catch up with the recent Cuckoo reported from up there. Nothing doing on that score!
Plenty evidence of Willow Warblers, Blackcap and Wrens singing along the woodland edge. Also a Green Woodpecker.
1 Tawny Owl was still out hunting then it sat there checking me out from a tree branch.
Pair of Stonechats above the gully, along the track that leads towards Thornton Moor. Also several Linnets on the moorland fringe along with Meadow Pipits. 2 Red-legged Partridge and the usual other species including 2 Jays.


Sent from my iPhone

Cold Edge and Mixenden

It was nice to be out in the cool this morning before the rain set in late afternoon.
Nothing too much out of the ordinary but very enjoyable.
Cold Edge and Ovenden Moor
1 Raven
1 Barnacle Goose
2 Wheatear
1 Kestrel
4 Tufted Duck
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Redshank
Several Snipe up 'drumming'
1 Swallow near Nolstar
+ usual species

Mixenden Reservoir
2 Swifts - always good to see them back !
Willow Warblers singing in the plantation and a Blackcap
30+ House Martins and  a few Swallows with them