News in today of a Shag near Todmorden. Well done and thanks to AvH for posting a photo on the birding group raising awareness to this rare bird for us. Later news advised us that it has been present since 25th November. Very few records for Calderdale. A fantastic inland find.
I managed a brief look at Cromwell Bottom to check the ski-lake which is never an easy place to view but generally the birds are undisturbed. It is a place where scarce water-fowl, can and do turn up on occasions. Not today, but 2 drake Goldeneye and 11 Tufted Duck (7 drakes) were nice to see along with 7 red-head Goosander, 2 Mute Swans, 4 Grey Herons, 14+ Cormorants.
Also present, with some gulls moving through, were 25+ Common Gulls, 6 adult Herring Gulls, 11 LB-b Gulls and 40+ Black-headed Gulls.
A gem of a Kingfisher along the canal.
Pepper Hill, the hillside above Claremount turned up a Buzzard earlier in the day then this afternoon - a Kestrel and a Little Owl. Among the berries of hawthorn and holly were feeding thrushes including 20+ Redwings, 1 Fieldfare and 12 Blackbirds.
