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Cold Edge 24th March

Tried over the last couple of weeks to find an early Wheatear. Jen managed to find our first, in a field just opposite the top dam, a nice male showing well. Nice to see a good mix in the same fields including Graylag and Canada Geese, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew, Moorhen, Starling, Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipits.

29 species for the afternoon.

I had chance to head up to Lower Gorple on 25th March. Don't often manage to get up there but it was, as usual, well worthwhile. Just about the first bird I saw was a Chiffchaff - feeding continuously in the small conifer plantation near Blake Dean on the track up to Gorple. Highlight thereafter was 5 Crossbills, including 2 red males around the edge of the plantation by the cottages, always a special bird in Calderdale. 

Plenty waders in the area including Curlew, Lapwing, Redshank and in excess of 70 Oystercatchers. Also 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Tufted Duck, Canada and Greylag Geese and a few Mallard,

On return I was surprised to find around a dozen House Sparrows near the cottages along with Siskin, Chaffinch's and Stock Doves and a singing Mistle Thrush.

1 Skylark as I returned down the track and a single Red Grouse calling.

All in all 36 species was a decent total.