Whiteholme

April 1:  Raven 1 north, calling

Shibden Valley

Kestrel male

Cromwell Bottom

From Brookfoot end this afternoon. As soon as I arrived, scanned over towards the avocet building to see what turned out to be at least 3 Sand Martins high over the river. A good start to an hour or so down there along with a Dipper and a pair of Goosander on the river just west of the building.

I was hoping for a Water Rail, photographed superbly on the lagoon in the last couple of days from (MSh), but there was no show while I was there. 6 Teal, 3 Moorhens and 2 Coot showed well at times. A Little Grebe was heard though viewing on the main ski-lake was not good at all. 2 adult Common Gulls, 1 Black-headed Gull, 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls and around 20 immature Herring Gulls with a few noisy adults flying around, all viewed through the trees. Not a lot else other than a showy singing Chiffchaff and a Great Spotted Woodpecker 'drumming'.

3 Sand Martins were still showing on my return towards Brookfoot.

Soil Hill

   Last night there were a few reports of Common Scoter migrating over Lancashire, with reports indicating it was quite the movement of birds. Most of the reports came at around 20:00 but I was not aware of them until already 21:30 by which time those flocks would have had ample time to reach Calderdale and continue towards the North Sea.

  However, from Bradshaw, I did some listening and at 21:40 a clear flock of Scoter was heard passing over. Buoyed by this I grabbed my thermal imager, jumped in the car and set off for Soil Hill. There was not much activity however, and during the hour I stayed on the Hill I only recorded one clear flock of six Common Scoter flying over, with just a few calls heard. A very distant large flock of birds flying in formation were probably also Scoter but without calls it's impossible to be sure. A few solitary birds I picked up in the thermal could have been anything! 

  This morning was once again very pleasant, but with little in the way of standout species. I managed to locate two Jack Snipe this morning but sadly one of these was deceased. A Jay was a nice surprise, initially in the North Slope Tree-Line before flying north. It, or another individual, was spotted flying SW a little time later. A late Common Gull flew north. 

-Common Scoter

-Living Jack Snipe

-Expired Jack Snipe

In total managed 42 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S312292864

Soil Hill

   No standout species from recent visits to Soil Hill, but a steady trickle of interesting birds. This mornings highlight was a pair of Grey Partridge on Perseverance Road, my first sighting of these reclusive birds in 2026. It was nice to find a Jack Snipe in the thermal, before it was unfortunately flushed by another Jack Snipe taking off next to it, which I had not seen. A flock of 35+ Fieldfare continues to enjoy the delights of the fields along Taylor Lane, although presumably they will soon be on their way. A scattering of finch movement recently as well, with four Siskin this morning and a single Lesser Redpoll.

  Yesterday I could only find a single Jack Snipe, but had a nice bonus snipe when I flushed a Woodcock from the North Slope Tree-Line. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew SW, briefly stopping on the North Slope and two Greylag Geese flew NE. The day before that my visit was during the early afternoon once the morning fog had cleared. A Redwing at the bottom of the North Slope was the highlight. 

-Jack Snipe

-Grey Partridge

-Meadow Pipit

In total managed 46 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S311775466

Around and about

 Three nice shots thanks to Paul B today at Cold Edge.

2 Pink-footed Geese - Cold Edge this afternoon

Male Sparrowhawk

Also nearby - 1 Wheatear and 2 Grey Partridge along Castle Carr Road. (PB)

We also had a walk along the road in the afternoon. Failed to find the Wheatear though amongst the usual species were 4 Stonechats showing, along with a distant Little Owl, c40 Meadow Pipits, Skylarks singing and 3 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls passed over >N.

3 Whooper Swans were also reported on Fly Flats res'r this afternoon (Mark B)

A day for some Whooper Swans

Thanks to some early warnings from BS and MM, Whooper Swans on local reservoirs first thing. 

March is usually a good time for them as they start their return to Iceland

I headed up to Mixenden Res'r 23 there, at the far end - they stayed till at least 15:30.

Next stop Ogden with 18, again distant, being enjoyed by several people doing the circuit

Later in the day JM found 19 at Withens Clough res'r off Cragg Vale 

They sometimes stay a day or two though being a clear night they may well move off overnight ?

Cunnery Wood

Mallard female. 

Also 2 males

Soil Hill & Ogden

  I’m back home for the week so wasted no time heading up to Soil Hill this morning hoping for some Whooper Swan migration. I didn’t manage to pick up any flocks flying past, but from the vantage point of Soil Hill I was able to distantly spot a group on Mixenden Reservoir. From the photos I have I was able to count 22, but being so distant it could easily be more.

  However this Whooper Swan action was thoroughly trumped when I reached the bottom of the North Slope. I was just scanning the area of The Shay for Wheater (no joy there) when I turned around to see the bright white crescent of a male Ring Ouzel looking back at me! This is my first March record here, and caught me completely off guard. I was able to approach the bird but it was then flushed by a patrolling police helicopter. It remained in the area after, but was quite mobile. Sadly JJL was not able to re-find the bird late morning, so it may have moved off.

  In addition to these two highlights, there was a nice supporting cast. A single Raven flew over heading SE. Lots of wader activity with two Oystercatchers on The Shay and another three flying north, plus at least two Snipe in full display. Two male Stonechats were at the bottom of the North Slope and a female Bullfinch was on Ned Hill Track. A mobile flock of 30+ Fieldfare was still present on Taylor Lane.

  Late morning I made a short trip to Ogden to see the flock of 18 Whooper Swans that had landed there. In very peaceful conditions it was great to watch the birds taking a break on their journey home. The only other birds of note were four Tufted Ducks and a flyover Lesser Redpoll. 

-Ring Ouzel

-Whooper Swans on Mixenden

In total managed 43 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S310528580

Whiteholme

Carrion Crow

Raven

Round and about !

 A very good find this morning for BS, thanks for the call Bri, with a drake Common Scoter on Fly Flats so I made a move for it. Can be quite scarce now on Calderdale reservoirs but from a distant it was showing well. A couple of Redshank were skulking along the shoreline along with Oystercatchers and Lapwings.

Also had a check at a few spots just in case an early Wheatear might be about. PB was on the same mission but we failed on that score. Maybe just a little patience needed before we spot one but they will be on their way anytime!

On the way back I called at Mixenden to check for any other Scoters or Whoopers but there was nothing doing. Good to see NK doing the rounds too. A couple of Siskin in the bushes by the top gate took flight into the pines.

Whiteholme

Oystercatcher 2

Blackstone Edge

Stonechat male. Female also present.

Lighthazzles

Mallard pair: first sightings here this year.

Also, Raven 2 NW

Fog bound this morning !

The fog took an age to clear today though it did lift enough to have a look at Stodfold, Carrs Beck and lower end of Hunter Hill this afternoon.

1 Dipper in the stream at Stodfold and on the edge of the fields adjacent the Calderdale Way a pair of Pied Wagtails and c 22 Fieldfares were wary to and from the safety of the tree line. One Curlew calling as was a Green Woodpecker on the slopes of Hunter Hill where a single Buzzard was sitting it out on a fence post. 20 or so Meadow Pipits went overhead, not for stopping. One Grey Wagtail on the edge of Mixenden Res'r.

Blackstone Edge

Blackbird 1 male.  (Also, a Peacock butterfly)

Shibden Park

Coot nestbuilding

Hag Lane

Looking over into Shibden Valley this afternoon we walked the hillside along Hag Lane towards Claremount and return via the hillsides towards Bradford Old Road. Nice bit of sunshine !

2 Green Woodpeckers were 'yaffling' it out from different areas of the valley and a distant Buzzard. Still no sign of winter thrushes up there, or Skylarks but a Little Owl, viewed on a post along Bradford Old Road was nice to see.

Latest news from around the country of Wheatears arriving mostly reported from 'the south'. Though one just marginally outside our recording area by 20m, just north of Portsmouth today from SB.

Mixenden Reservoir

Call from JJL during the morning with 13 Whooper Swans on Mixenden. Thankfully they were still there early afternoon. This was the best I could do with my camera and the bright sunshine. They are always a bit special and we can probably expect a few more in the next few weeks as they head back to Iceland...

Still no Goldeneye at this site. It used to be a good spot for a small number in winter. Nice to see there was a pair reported from BS at Fly Flats this morning.

Byron Edge

Golden Plover 2. I think this is a southern pair, with the male (top 2 photos) having a dark lower face.

The female shows well the diagnostic rear of Eurasian Golden Plover: wing tips about level with tail tip, and tip of tertials well short of tail tip.

Blackstone Edge

Skylark 3 (1 singing)

Lee Mount and Fly Flats area

Blackbird pair in the garden - the female was gathering moss and dead grass ! They'll be lucky with all the magpies about here. Also a surprise was a Stock Dove on the lawn - thats a new one for the garden list though I do see them at times through the scope, towards Swales Moor.

A couple of bonus birds on the way up near Nolstar - 2 Grey Partridge feeding in among the remnants of hay left for the sheep. No luck with either Golden Plover or Skylarks. Just got to Fly Flats mid afternoon and the fog rolled in and sideways rain. I just managed to see 4 Oystercatchers and hear some Canada Geese, Curlews and Red Grouse !

Hebden Bridge

Dipper

Castle Carr Road

A nice walk on there this afternoon cool westerly wind in some sunshine ! 

Highlight was of 9 Stonechats along the length - 1 pair near Wainstalls end, then 1 male with 2 females running a fence line half way along and lastly 2 pairs together in gorse and heather. Same count on return avoided duplication.

Also 18 species in total including 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 2 Meadow Pipits, 4 Curlew and just 1 Lapwing.

There don't seem to have been many Redwings or Fieldfare about up there all winter !

High Royd STW

I check this site just occasionally. Not quite like it used to be since the sludge lagoons were left to the willows ! We just checked the filter-beds from the canal side towpath today. It's often good for migrant hirundines and Swifts later in the year given the insects emerging  from the site, canal and river though a few Sand Martins have been reported from Fairburn Ings and Swillington St Aidan's the last few days so always worth a check !!

Probably just short of 40 Pied Wagtails on the beds this afternoon and 1 Grey Wagtail with 40+ Carrion Crows. Goldcrest, tit species and a Nuthatch calling in the nearby woodland.

Whiteholme

Stonechat female: the white patch on the inner greater and median coverts is quite prominent. Male stonechat seen nearby.

Whiteholme

Raven: 3SW, 1 on pylon calling

Fly Flats area

A nice surprise with a single Redshank this afternoon with 32 Lapwings in the area at the end of the wooden fence line with another 8+ Lapwings and  2 Curlew around the shore towards the south end. Failed to locate BS's Ringed Plover from earlier in the day. One pair of Tufted Duck on the water with 10+ Mallard. Plenty Canada's scattered about, mostly in pairs with just a single Greylag Goose on show.

The only small bird was a Pied Wagtail briefly on the boat-house roof.

At Withens Head there were 6 Curlew. Two Red Grouse raced across the moor.

Blackstone Edge

The first Meadow Pipit and Canada Geese (3 pairs in all) that I've seen here this year

North Bridge

1 of 4 Greenfinches (1 singing)

Mixenden, Fly Flats, Withens Head

Very little to show from any of the sites early afternoon. Conditions a strong gusty >SW with rain.

Mixenden Res'r - 3 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls along with 9 immature Herring Gulls. Several Black-headed Gulls now in full breeding plumage looking good. Very few Common Gulls at the time I was there.

Fly Flats - 19 Lapwing in one of the top fields looked to be finding plenty worms !

Withens Head - 2 Curlew

Shibden Park

Stock Dove and Mallard

Whiteholme

Most of 87 Pink-footed Geese flying SW at 1145 (thanks MH)

Blackstone Edge

Kestrel female

 

Mixenden Res'r and Fly Flats

Mixenden. An interesting morning with a nice surprise of 4 Shelduck on the reservoir. Also on the embankment a pair of Oystercatchers. 2 Cormorants flew over >SW and an adult Great Black-backed Gull dropped in but didn't stay for more than a few minutes.

Plenty of activity with c200 other gulls, mainly Common and Black-headed and at least 12 Herring Gulls. All tricky to count as so many were to and fro-ing and with plenty of disturbance on the embankment where they like to stay and preen.  Most were arriving from the north and departing >SW.

From the woodland a Nuthatch was making plenty of noise with a Green Woodpecker 'yaffling' from the hillside. Then a call from BS with Pink-footed Geese over Queensbury coming my way. Very distant from my spot. They were over towards The Withens, maybe 60 or so.

I headed up to Fly Flats and  4 birds arrived and landed on the water - Shelduck - they must have been the ones from Mixenden.

Shelduck at Mixenden Res'r

Soil Hill

  It was a blustery morning on Soil Hill today, so I did not expect too much bird activity despite the otherwise pleasant and clear conditions. 

  As I began my descent along Perseverance Road towards Ned Hill Track, I spotted a large gull flying SW slowly into the wind, almost adjacent to Ned Hill Track. Whilst I expected to see a Herring Gull in my binoculars, I was stunned to see the bird had creamy-white primaries; a white-winger! Due to the general lack of Glaucous Gull records in the country, I assumed the bird would be an Iceland Gull, but my priority in the moment was to grab as many photos as I could. 

  Once the bird began to move away from me I had a chance to check and confirm the bird was an Iceland Gull and to get the news out. It continued towards Ogden until I lost it as it dropped below the plantation there. I hoped that the bird would have settled on the reservoir but both BS and JJL confirmed that it was not there, so it presumably carried on its way.

   I note that the long-staying bird at Roundhay Park in Leeds was not reported today, so it may be the same bird. Iceland Gull is my 133 species for Soil Hill! 

  Additionally, there was a very dapper male Stonechat at the bottom of the North Slope but sadly no Jack Snipes today. 

-Iceland Gull

-Stonechat

In total managed 32 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S302937172