Little Ringed Plover
BIRD A
Trip up there this afternoon to see if any further waders were present as viewed from Turvin Road . Nothing new but still 1 Sanderling, 4 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Curlew and 2 drake Teal.
Kestrel nearby and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls dropped in briefly to bathe and preen.
Great Crested Grebe. My first here. (Because of the rain, I had only my 30x pocket Lumix with me).
But since none of these applies to me, the only way I can build a lengthy local patch list (as opposed to a Calderdale list) is by lumping two very different habitats together as a single split patch.
Late afternoon. 3 Golden Plover, not northern forms, in field by Withens Head farm with a pair Stonechats running the walls.
Despite the constant drizzle it was an enjoyable morning on Soil Hill, with a few warbler highlights.
A new Grasshopper Warbler was reeling on the summit. Normally, I don’t get this species singing so late into the spring, with birds on territory stopping singing around mid-May before starting again at the end of June or beginning of July.
The Sedge Warbler continues to hold territory and was in fine voice this morning, although not showing particularly in the rain. A recording has been attached to the eBird list.
The Garden Warbler continues into its fourth day, during which time I have managed to see it a grand total of three times. I don’t understand how a bird can be so vocal but so impossible to see. This morning it was much quieter than the previous days, giving only a few short bouts of song but mostly remaining silent during the hour I spent continuing to fail to photograph it. Perhaps this is an indication it has successfully paired up, but being as elusive as it is, it's unlikely I will ever know.
Lots of Willow Warbler and Whitethroat activity as well. It looks like both species are having an excellent year here!
Despite the bright conditions, it was a frustratingly breezy morning on Soil Hill, and sadly this came to play a large part in the story of this mornings star bird.
Upon reaching the top
of the North Slope, I caught a brief snippet of warbler song, reminiscent of
Blackcap but faster and more bubbly. Fortunately the bird sang again and was
soon in full song, confirming that it was a Garden Warbler, a full Soil
Hill tick for me. Although I was able to take some recordings, in the following
90 minutes of tracking the bird I managed to see it just once as the strong
breeze kept it deep in the vegetation. It was surprisingly mobile, moving from the
top of the North Slope, to the mast and then all the way to the bottom of the
North Slope and back to the top. Although thrilled at a patch tick, it was a
rather frustrating experience.
Garden Warbler is my 130th species for Soil Hill, and the 10th species of Warbler here. Can’t imagine there are too many sites in Calderdale that can claim double figures of warblers.
Audio recordings are attached to the eBird list below
In total managed 38 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S245812256
Once again, the ample shoreline at Blackstone Edge provided a wader bonanza this morning. Yesterdays reported 12 Sanderling had now increased to a flock 15 strong, flying around the reservoir in a close-nit group before settling down to feed on the exposed mud. At times they were quite approachable, and a steady stream of birders came and went throughout the morning, enjoying this incredible inland spectacle.
The birds of Halifax quotes that the record count of Sanderling in Halifax being nine on the 27th May 1980 at Fly Flatts. Before today, has this record been broken since its publication? And does this flock now become the new benchmark for Sanderlings in Calderdale?
Whilst there, I also ventured
on to Whiteholme Reservoir but found it almost void of birdlife. Who can blame
the migrant waders when Blackstone Edge has so much shoreline to offer, and Whiteholme
has comparatively little.
In total managed 15 species at Blackstone Edge Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S245301265
In total managed 9 species at Whiteholme Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S245330572
Tried both sites this morning in the hope of seeing so moving terns in the wet and windy conditions - no luck there at all and not much else. Mixenden res'r was devoid of birds other than a Swallow, Mallard and 3 Canadas though the woodlands were pretty lively with the expected Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. Blue, Great and Coal Tits were all busy collecting beak-fulls of insects. Also a pair of Great-spotted Woodpeckers.
Ogden was pretty grim in the drizzle. 15 adult LB-b Gulls's and 4 Black-headed Gulls. No sign of any waders though masses of shoreline. A few Willow Warblers in song as were 2 Blackcap and nothing unusual among the other small birds other than 2 Bullfinch.
Went up to check Blackstone Edge and Whiteholme Reservoir this morning and was met by horizontal rain, fog and strong winds. The conditions were almost impossible to bird, with optics becoming saturated in a matter of minutes upon stepping out of the car. Fortunately it was not a complete loss as a new Sanderling was feeding away on the mud among the Dunlin. There could easily have been other interesting waders hidden away in the murk, but I couldn't see them. I did not bother venturing to Whiteholme, I had already suffered enough punishment for one morning!
The Sanderlings that had been present had moved on by yesterday morning, but there continues to be some excellent wader action on the exposed shoreline, especially at Blackstone Edge. Yesterday there were seven Ringed Plover, but this had increased to 13 this morning. Dunlin numbers remained steadier, with six on both mornings. Yesterday also had an Oystercatcher, which had moved on by this morning.
Whiteholme, by contrast, has struggled for waders, although it is not a surprise given the more limited shoreline. A single Dunlin and a single Ringed Plover have been present on both days, otherwise just the usual species present.
In total managed 8 species at Blackstone Edge Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S243352855
In total managed 16 species at Whiteholme Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S243351537
Mistle Thrush: 1 of 2 juveniles in a feeding party of 4. Pale head; white spots on upperparts
In total managed 9 species at Whiteholme Reservoir today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S242294475
I was hopeful that the change in the weather conditions might bring in some migrant waders. The previous day I had visited both Blackstone Edge and Whiteholme reservoirs, and while there were a few Dunlin and Ringed Plover, there was nothing different. But with overnight rain I was optimistic that there might have been something different drop in.
Blackstone Edge was my first port of call and from the road I could already see that the reservoir looked quite lively with wading birds. A scan produced 6 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Curlew and the best of the bunch, two Sanderling.
On my departure from Whiteholme the two Blackstone Edge Sanderlings were still present, leading me to confidently state that there was no overlap between the birds on the two reservoirs.
