Swales Moor - 20th November...

I had a 'stab' at Ringby Lane top mid morning. In these conditions its always worth checking for Snow Buntings on the tops. Its been a place in winter where over the years we have recorded occasional Snow and Lapland Buntings, Linnets, Twite, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits as well as a Shore Lark that stayed for 3 winter months (26th December 2006 until last seen on 26th March 2007). The site has gone off in recent years which is unfortunate. Farming methods appear to have changed and several fields are managed in a different way. Even so, feel it's still worth a check.

Very little up there this morning, mainly corvids and a few gulls passing through along with 2 Stock Doves - that was about it - though the views were stunning !

Wednesday 19th November

Braved the conditions at Cold Edge - more than living up to its name in the cold wind, snow and ice. Never know what birds might turn up !!

3 Stonechats - how do they survive in these conditions ? A Pied Wagtail was on a manure pile. Also 72 Canada Geese. 1 each Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Raven, Stock Dove, Kestrel and 3 each Redwings and Fieldfares.

Lower dam area

Haighcote Dam, towards Ovenden wind-farm

Adult Common Gull

Pied Wagtail

Then a check of the ski-lake at Cromwell Bottom this pm.

9 Tufted Duck, 1 Red-head Goosander, 3 Goldeneye (1 drake), 2 Coot and at least 30 Cormorants.

6 adult Herring Gulls and a Lesser Black-back flyover. A few Redwings near the car park shrubberies.

Tuesday 18th November

A Tuesday morning check at Mixenden res'r - more or less drew a blank there other than smaller gulls, 2 adult Lesser Black-backs and a juvenile Herring Gull alongside a Cormorant. I then made a trip up to Fly Flats but as I arrived, the fog came in and it snowed sideways so I made an exit just managing a Red Grouse along the top road.

Ogden yesterday afternoon just avoiding the torrential downpour. Not a lot on or around the res'r but a Little Grebe at the north west corner in the water under the willows was about the best of the afternoon along with 4 Mistle Thrush in the clough.

Shibden Park

Little Grebe (1 of 2), Tufted Duck pair, Mallard

Tufteds

Cold Edge

Some of 18 feeding Pinkfeet

Whiteholme...

 A morning at Whiteholme with MH this morning. Stayed fine with a cool wind after some early fog. 

40 Golden Plover on the island were the highlight especially as the sunshine appeared highlighting their striking plumage. Always a job for the 'scope up there. Just enough to keep us interested but always in the hope of something a bit special turning up there.

Starlings were moving through >W at times, often low and in close proximity to one another across the water. 12 flocks went through with a count of 279. 

Also distant Peregrine, Buzzard and a Kestrel with a Merlin looking to chase down a lone Starling. 

1 Reed Bunting, 5 Red Grouse, 2 Raven and 4 Carrion Crows and a single adult Herring Gull went through >W.

Weather does not look good for tomorrow but something might turn up somewhere, hopefully coming in with a strong north-easterly forecast.

c60 Goldfinch late afternoon from near the lodge at Shroggs Park (SC)

The recent Whooper Swan at Mixenden seems to have moved on now (NK)

89 Common Gulls today on Savile Park. Also along the river at Copley, Kingfisher and a Dipper (WG)

Hardcastle Crags - 7th Nov

Oh so quiet in the woodlands, hardly anything of note, it was even difficult to find the expected commoner species. One small flock of 'tits' along with at least 2 Goldcrests was as exciting as it got for birds. Soup etc in Gibson Mill cafe was a treat.

We returned along the top road, hoping for some thrushes but nothing doing at all. Passing Shackleton Knoll, just in one field were c60 Common Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 5 Herring Gulls as well as c20 Black-headed Gulls.

Today (from NK) - 8th Nov turned up 2 Shelduck on Mixenden Reservoir -they got spooked by a motorbike doing circuits around the reservoir embankment. The juv Whooper is still braving it out there.

From Whiteholme today (MH) 1 Wigeon, 31 and c60 Pink-footed Geeese >W plus others heard in the fog. 7 then 24 Golden Plover went through. Also a suspected move of Starlings was difficult to assess given the banks of fog. Unusual up there to see a Song Thrush and a Blackbird. 

10 Whoopers reported from Green Withens (TW) and another 8 at Gorple (SiB and JS)

At Ryburn dam 70 Fieldfare, a Chiffcaff and 18 Pinks went >W at 11:02 PGr

We managed a single Mandarin drake there mid afternoon.

Cold Edge

1cy Common Gull, with Black-headed Gull and 2 of 20 2+cy Common Gulls

6th November

 A different Grey Plover from yesterday turned up today at Whiteholme. Always a special find - from AC and MH.

A drake Gadwall reported from Withens Clough, another good find in Calderdale (DJP)

Ogden Water produced 3 Mandarin Ducks, maybe arrived overnight and held there till the mist cleared this morning. Drake and 2 females (BS). I called there later in the morning but looked like they had gone. I also checked Soil Hill, as did NK who managed one more species than I did, a Kestrel. The fog came down as soon as I got up there and didn't clear ! 

Juvenile Whooper still on Mixenden Res'r.

News for 5th November

Grey Plover this morning at Whiteholme  but it left late morning. Also a decent move of Pink-footed Geese and Starlings and 3 flyover Great Black-backed Gulls and a 1st winter Caspian Gull. (AC and MH) Also later, a small flock of c20 Golden Plover this afternoon (JJL).

Cromwell Bottom - 3 Goldeneye earlier today (M Sh)

I tried Soil Hill late morning but generally drew a blank all round ! No sign of the Black Redstarts but who knows, they could still be in the vicinity.

Cold Edge

1cy Continental Cormorant, P c sinensis. Rear edge of yellow gular patch drops vertically from the gape

Mixenden and Ogden reservoirs

Mixenden - Whooper Swan - juvenile still present this afternoon and a single Cormorant.

Ogden - At least 16 Teal present late morning, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Wigeon alongside the numerous Mallard. Also a Dipper down in the sluice.

Ryburn

4 Mandarin

Soil Hill

Been trying hard all year for Black Redstart but this mornings visit to Soil Hill paid off with two. Both first spotted at a distance catching insects on the walls along Ned Hill Road. Very mobile throughout though BS and NK turned up there at the right time ! BS got a few decent shots off with one on a roof to confirm identification. 

Both birds were very mobile ending up on walls near the turbines, then on the muddy summit and I left them around the mast around 11:45. I tried hard for some decent shots with the small camera and a 'dud' screen ! These are the best I could do of the juv? male. the other female type was more elusive though  more photos to check later.

Nothing else up there - but no matter as these were good enough. 

As far as I can recall only one (?) previous record in Calderdale this year at the end of July, from AC at Blackstone Edge/ Turvin Road.

Whiteholme res'r etc...

Pair of Pintail reported this morning from Whiteholme - dropped in mid-morning (MH)

Also earlier today a Little Egret flew up Colden Clough (SiB)

Cromwell Bottom etc

Checked the ski-lake as best we could this afternoon despite the limited viewing. A drake Goldeneye was a nice surprise towards the east end of the ski-lake. Also 3 drake Tufted Duck, 2 adult Herring Gulls, 20+ Black-headed Gulls,7 Common Gulls, 16+ Cormorants, Grey Heron, a Moorhen as well as usual Mallard. Failed to locate yesterdays Great-crested Grebe or Wigeon.

A Kingfisher was showing well catching fish and flying to and fro along the canal. Also a few Siskin high up in the Alders

Elsewhere JJL reported the Whooper Swan still present at Mixenden res'r this morning. Also 7 Whoopers arrived at Whiteholme mid morning consisting of the pair with 5 juveniles (MH). 2 more Whoopers present at Ringstone (LD, PD).

Mixenden res'r etc and Ogden

A small group of Whooper Swans were reported yesterday morning flying over Cold Edge (AR) around 10:30. Later in the day what appear as the same Whooper Swans had arrived at Mixenden res'r and photographed by NK. I called up at Mixenden this morning on the off chance they might have stayed overnight. Still there, 2 adults and 3 juveniles. Probably fresh in from their breeding grounds in Iceland. I felt encouraged that juveniles had survived the journey and made it safely to the UK.

Little else at Mixenden other than a few Black-headed Gulls and 2 Common Gulls.

I also checked Fly Flats - fantastic views in good light from the top road but very few birds - singles of Pied Wagtail, Kestrel, Red Grouse and a passing immature Common Gull.

Ogden this afternoon - managed to locate 1 Brambling in flight in a small Chaffinch flock though a larger Chaffinch flock, maybe 40+ birds got flushed by a male Sparrowhawk with the Chaffs disappearing over the trees so no chance to check for Bramblings. Plenty Mallard, a few Teal, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 female Wigeon, 1 female Goosander and 3 Canada Geese. All seemed to be feeding in the weedy shoreline.

Whiteholme

Whooper Swan 10. Flew off ESE

8 of 15 Golden Plover

Shibden Valley

Grey Wagtail

Whiteholme

Redshank 2

10 of 25 Golden Plover

Walshaw Dean

 A pleasant afternoon, overcast with no breeze, and the sunshine was limited to about half-a-minute.

A flock of 20+ Long-tailed Tits moved apace through the conifer plantation. Also a couple of Blackbirds in there as well as a Robin. 

Our main aim was to check out the spot,photo below, where the recent Siberian Stonechat had been seen, Plenty of Stonechats about along with a few Reed Buntings in one area of rock, stone walls and grass/heather on the east side of the lower reservoir. At one point 8 Stonechats were on a fence line with others in and out of the vegetation, all obviously feeding well. Difficult to get an accurate count though 15+ (maybe nearing 20 !). No sign of the Siberian bird. Could it still be nearby ?

Little else other than at least 3 Kestrels and 2 Buzzards en-route and a flock of around 40 Redwings passed >W. Also from Steve B were 15 noisy Fieldfares in the Sycamore trees.

Whiteholme

Raven 1. Flew off south

Also: 2 Ravens north at Blackstone Edge

Whiteholme Sunday morning

 A great morning to be out with fog in the valley's and swirling fog on the tops.

Pink-footed geese 525 all WSW in 6 skeins

Jackdaw 217 in one large noisy flock WSW

Whooper Swans 5 WSW

Also about Hen Harrier , Merlin, Buzzard , Kes , Mipits 86, Reed Bunting 16 , Widgeon 4 , Teal 1 and 1 Golden Plover on the shoreline

,

Siberian Stonechat (Maurus) Lower Walshaw Dean

 

Ryburn

 Mandarin 2 females (grey bills)

Whiteholme and Soil Hill

Whiteholme today from MH - in a strong blustery wind but good visibility.   A cracking start with 17 Stonechats along the long drain,. 2 Reed Buntings, female Merlin, 16 Golden Plover  and 41 Pink-footed Geese >W

Soil Hill for me - just on the summit. No sign of any moving birds in the drifting mist and light drizzle. Similar count from my previous visit with 9 Skylarks, c 30 Meadow Pipits, 1 Stonechat , 2 Grey Partridge and plenty Pheasants.

Beacon Hill

1 of a flock of 15 Mistle Thrush

Also: parties of 12 Greenfinch and 9 Goldfinch, and 1 female Chaffinch

North Halifax

 A struggle to find much today on Hunter Hill and Carr's Beck and nothing at all on Mixenden res'r other than a few 'loafing' Black-headed Gulls.

2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 1 Raven (heard) along with the usual corvids in abundance. c160 Woodpigeons flushed from the beech trees as the farmer was rounding up his flock of sheep.

Whiteholme Res'r

 Today's news from MH. Well done braving it out in the strong blustery wind ! 

41 Golden Plover, 47 Pink-footed Geese >W, 11 Meadow Pipits, 1 Raven, 1 Red Grouse and Whooper Swans heard but unseen in the mist.

Cold Edge

Tufted Duck male

Soil Hill - 1st October

It was grim up there early afternoon - compared with the lower ground. I made a mistake of wearing boots and not wellies. What a muddy mess - but did I enjoy it...YES !

It was very similar to the top as it was many years ago, it turned up some very good birds then. The site still does !!

After being scraped off this year in late summer it leaves bare earth more or less all over the top.

Despite the look of desolation I came across a few interesting birds that I hadn't expected in the conditions.

1 Stonechat, 9 Skylarks, 40+ maybe up to 50 Meadow Pipits consistently wary of the 2 Kestrels showing interest.

Also a Snipe flushed and 2 Buzzards drifted south.

Cold Edge

1 of 6 Teal

Reed Bunting, Stonechat, and Meadow Pipits

Stonechat and Magpie

North of England Raptor Forum

 **NERF Raptor Conference 15 November 25, £20 delegate fee for under 25s*

The status of the Red Kite in NE England John Barrett

A life with raptors Brian Etheridge

The North Pennines National Landscape Chris Woodley-Stewart

Raptors and the work of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel Mark Eaton

The life of Short-eared Owls John Calladine

Nomad; the world of the Pallid Harrier Mike Henry

The Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme Connor Tomlinson

The full programme and booking arrangements for delegates will be available via the NERF website (*www.raptorforum.co.uk)*

Cromwell Bottom

1cy Goosander, (white line below eye and through lores to bill)

Also, 1 Kingfisher

Whiteholme

Midday: Meadow Pipit 15, Wheatear 2, Carrion Crow 2, Goldfinch 2 (1 ad, 1 juv)

Soil Hill

   A pleasant morning on Soil Hill with very little activity overall but a few standouts. The highlight of these, for me at least, were two Ring-necked Parakeets that flew south early morning. These were a patch tick for me, my 132nd species for Soil Hill. 

  Perhaps of more rarity interest was a Great Egret circling over Ogden at 09:10, before heading northwards, my second record here. There was not the movement of Pink-footed Geese that there has been on previous mornings, probably due to the fog across the tops, but a large skein of 241 birds did fly over Halifax at 09:20.

-Ring-necked Parakeet

-Great Egret

-Pink-footed Geese

In total managed 46 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S275511164

Trektellen count here; https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/767/20250926

Ringstone Edge

Teal 10

Arctic Skua

 

Seen today on the path to Whiteholme Reservoir at 17.10 ....Amazing