For much of last year, after the male with a damaged bill was taken away, there was a lone female on the lake. In December it was joined by a second bird (reported to, not seen by, me). Then both birds departed, so that in late December no swans were present. Now, however, there are again 2 swans present. I think they are a pair, from the size difference of the swellings at the bill base. And the distal half of each bird's bill is pink: does this mean they are quite young birds?
Great find by AT yesterday with 9 Whoopers on Ringstone.
I was undecided whether to venture out but his whatsapp alert made it an easy choice, cheers Alan
As it turned out, it was a good decision and I was fortunate to be stood in the right place when they took to the air.
The birds left at 15.50, first flying South/West before doubling back and heading North.
The recent 2nd winter Iceland Gull was seen at Ogden on Monday 17th early afternoon (BS) but no reports since then, though it could still be about.
Nine Whooper Swans were on Ringstone Reservoir yesterday (19th) leaving to the north late afternoon (AT and PD).
I managed a couple of visits to Cold Edge dams recently - 38 Greylag Geese and 6 Canada Geese there today (20th) but on the whole the area was pretty quiet in the icy cold conditions though the dams were still clear of ice. There were 2 Meadow Pipits near the top dam and 2 Moorhens by the bottom pond. Apart from that there was little else other than Black-headed and Common Gulls loafing around with one adult Herring Gull flyover.
'Winter Watch' on Tuesday got off to a great start with an amazing presentation about Jack Snipe. We don't get many records of them in Calderdale but we know they are here in winter - they are just so difficult to find. Well worth watching on 'catch up''.
Good day out at Cromwell Bottom yesterday, was chuffed to see
lots of Siskin & Goldcrest but no Redpoll which I was looking for,
and also good to see 4 Goldeneye and 3 Tufted Duck on the Ski Lake
though at a distance. 2 Buzzard were overhead, GS Woodpecker and
Green Woodpecker in the woods. sorry for so many pics.
A 2nd winter Iceland Gull has been seen on and off at some point each day in the last 3 days (12th, 13th, 14th January. Some nice shots on BS's 'West Yorkshire Birding' blog.
Elsewhere still a few Trans Pennine flocks of Pink-footed Geese being reported most days recently heading >W or NW.
Mixenden Reservoir. A report from BS on 9th Jan of a flock of 35 Redpoll adjacent to the reservoir tempted me up there - but they had disappeared without a trace. They could still be around the site .
Early afternoon with a scout around Cromwell Bottom I searched some of the tree belt areas and was fortunate to come across a decent sized flock of small finches. Mostly Goldfinch - feeding in the alders - fairly flighty as they kept moving around en-mass. Finally tracked them down without further disturbance. With them were at least 6 Lesser Redpoll and 8 Siskin.
A 'tit' flock was also about in the shelter belt with a few Blue, Great and Coal Tits, though the dominant birds were Long-tailed Tits, around 20+ and 3 Goldcrests.
Birds around the site came to 35 species including 4 Mute Swans, two of which arrived from high and landed on the ski-lake. Also nearby, 2 Teal, 1 Cormorant, Little Grebe, Goosanders, and Green and Great-spotted Woodpecker.
Freezing cold conditions with underlying snow up on the top this morning. JJL had the same thing in mind - possible Snow Bunting, but we drew a blank there.
