Lumbutts Lee Dam & Cromwell Bottom

  Soil Hill was fairly steady this morning, as the VizMig season slowly dries up. The highlight was 538 Fieldfare south, including one without a tail, and 297 Redwing south. The best of the rest were 35 Chaffinch south and 5 Lesser Redpoll. There were still seven Teal on the NK pond, which seem settled in for now, having been present since the last week of October.

  As autumn winds to a close, MJB and I spent the day checking different sites around the Calderdale area. Our first port of call was Lee Dam in the Lumbutts valley, where PB relocated the Slavonian Grebe that had been seen on the Todmorden Canal two days ago. It showed fantastically well at times, catching a few perch in the shallows but spending much of its time in the middle of the reservoir.

  Leaving Lee Dam, we checked New Mill Dam just down the valley and had a drake Mandarin. Next we checked Whiteholme in case something interesting was visiting, but it was not. A quick check of Ringstone brought us a drake Gadwall, which is presumably the same bird originally found by PD on the 3rd November. A Little Grebe was also on the reservoir here. 

  We ended the day checking out the Ski Lake at Cromwell Bottom, to see if the two Scaup found by DJS the previous evening were still present. Initially it looked like they might have moved on, as we could only see seven Tufted Ducks and three Goldeneye from the restaurant viewpoint. It was not all lost however, as MJB spotted a pair of Shoveler sleeping at the very far end of the lake. 

  Walking along the canal to get another perspective, we were able to refind the Scaup. They showed well but it was difficult viewing from the towpath and we eventually went back to the restaurant, from which they were now viewable. With clear views, we decided that the birds were a 1st winter female and a 1st winter male. 

A thoroughly enjoyable day of inland birding!

-Slavonian Grebe

-Greater Scaup

-Gadwall

-Shoveler

In total managed 44 species at Soil Hill, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S201550604

In total managed 22 species at Lee Dam, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S201584281

In total managed 16 species at Ringstone Edge, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S201584345

In total managed 27 species at Cromwell Bottom, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S201584373