Crimsworth Dean and Walshaw Dean

A long trek round today - very quiet for birds in perfect weather! Controlled burning heather on the moor at Widdop and Gorple.

Crimsworth Dean - 1 Little Owl, 5 Lapwings, 7 Swallows going through and 10 Grey Partridge. c20 Red Grouse over the moor.

Walshaw Dean - 4 Stonechats in different areas, 1 Dipper in the catchwater drain at Middle Walshaw - also 2 Reed Buntings there and 1f Sparrowhawk over. 10 Teal on Lower Walshaw and an odd Kestrel and a few M Pipits.

Lee Mount - Redwings heard going over this evening.

Any Batmen out there??

Only 3 Goosander tonight at Ringstone between 18:15 - 19:00, matched by 3 GC Grebe along with 5 Lapwing, 1 Dunlin, 2 Mallard and c100 BH Gulls before they flew off leaving only the odd couple at last light. 1 Little Owl in fields on the left hand side of Krumlin road. Rishworth Rd produced 1 large bat sp. hunting round the street lights between the open fields, any ideas guys??

Baitings - 3:00pm

8 teal on reservoir. 1 Greylag goose in with a flock of 12 canadas. Peregrine overhead.

A Calm still evening

Not often you can say that about Ringstone but you could this evening between 18:20 and 19:00. The contingent of female Goosanders has grown to 13, 7 Golden Plover flew into the top field before moving on didn't see which direction they went in but they came in straight over my head as I stood in the layby. Also present c50 Canada Geese with 1 white farm goose, 2 Male Mallard 1 female and c50 Black headed gulls with 1 Common Gull, 1 female/juv Kestrel and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Badger Lane, Blackshaw Head

Party of 8 twite this morning reported by Joe Fleming. Also told me of a ring ouzel coming from the direction of the Crags towards Heptonstall around 6 weeks ago

Shroggs Park/Lee Mount

c20 House Martins still around this morning and 2 Goosander going south. Also 1 Redpoll over and c50 mixed Chaffinch/Greenfinch in the park and a flock of c40 Goldfinch over. Lots of Blackbirds arrived in the last few days but no sign of Redwings yet as they usually arrive for the Sorbus berries.

COLD EDGE DAMS

Vis Mig 02/10/05 0645-1045hrs

815 MIPITS >S and SW
4 REDPOLL >W
42 CHAFFINCH >W
109 GREENFINCH >W
3 SKYLARK >SW
11 SNIPE >W
14 LINNET >W
7 ALBA WAG >W
2 SWALLOWS >S
OTHER... 2 Red Grouse 1m Stonechat 1 Kestrel 2 Linnets on seed
BS.

2 swallows

High, moving west, over Callis Bridge, Charlestown.

Cold & Windy Ringstone 18:20 - 19:00

6 female Goosander this evening, 1 GC Grebe, Curlew and 8 Lapwings + approx 50 BH Gulls. AND THATS ALL FOLKS !!!!!!

Peering >S under the low cloud at C.E.D. this a.m. BS 

COLD EDGE DAMS

25/09/05 0730-1045hrs Vis Mig

487 MIPIT >S
1 TREE PIPIT >SE
36 GOLDFINCH >W
4 JAY >W
5 SNIPE >W
3 ALBA WAGS >W
11 REED BUNT >W
3 SKYLARK >W
2 FIELDFARE in plantation then >NE

Other 1pr Stonechat 38 Mallard 4 Teal 2 Heron 1f Goosander
BS

Roils Head 24th September

Chiffchaff
Stonechat
Great Spotted Woodpecker

Roils Head 23rd September

1 Chiffchaff
1 Sand Martin west
5 Swallows West
20+Long-tailed Tit
20+Blue Tit
2 Coal Tit
5 Skylarks
2 Kestrels
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Goldfinch
1 Stonechat

Gorple - 9:30am

Wheatear nr. the Pack Horse pub. Not a lot else, as it was p*ssing down! However, there's a hell of a shoreline on Lower Gorple, so might be worth a look during suitable conditions.

Ogden/Fly Flats

20/09/05
Redpoll (2) and several Siskin at Ogden over the plantations. Lots of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks on Ovenden Moor and large groups of Swallows going through and feeding over the moor and high over the plantations.
Wheatear at The Withens and 14 Tufted Duck on Fly Flats - also 2 Stoats together there and one Red Grouse.

22/09/05
Fly Flats - 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Stonechats at the small bridge near the road to the sailing club, 4 Wheatears, lots of Meadow Pipits. Also small groups of Swallows going through at the far end of Res'r heading down into Luddenden Dean and a few P/Wags. One Red Grouse and one Golden Plover and one Twite over.

Dipper

Had an adult Dipper in the Calder in Todmorden whilst walking to Netto just now. It was visible at 11:55 from the bridge at Wellington Road (just up Burnley Road from the town centre), and appeared to have caught something on a dive, but had gone a few minutes later when I walked back. I presume it had flown downstream into the centre, as this bridge is the start of a long culvert heading upstream.
Ashamed to say it's my first one this year!

A murky start to Sundays vis mig at Cold Edge Dams. BS 

Luddenden Dean

18/09/05 2 - 4 pm
c160 Goldfinch on thistles/telephone wires in fields below Castle Carr Road - also 2 Redpoll over and 1 Wheatear.
Lots of Swallows/House Martins (300 approx) going through the Dean in groups coming down the valley from Castle Carr.
2 Sparrowhawks also passing through.
Lots of rabbits in the area towards the lower lodge including several with Myxamatosis and one albino.

COLD EDGE DAMS

18/09/05 0715-1045hrs Vis Mig

156 MIPIT >W
17 SWALLOW >SW
18 CHAFFINCH >W
3 ALBA WAG >W
4 SKYLARK >W
22 SNIPE >W
5 WIGEON >SE
Other :- 1f Stonechat 5 Teal 1 Common Sand 1 Pere 2 Heron
BS.

Cold Edge Dams

11/09/05 Vis Mig 0715-1100hrs.

1 Common Sand
1 Wheatear
24 Snipe >W
450 Swallow >SE
32 House Martin >SE
352 Mipit >E & SE
12 Siskin >W
15 Coal Tit >W
8 Pied Wag >W
36 Goldfinch >SE
146 Starling >S
9 Wigeon >S
1 Buzzard >W
15 Linnet on seed
Approx 50 bloggers in nearby field, Goldfinch,Linnet and Mipits. BS

Birding Journals

As many of you will know Alastair Forsyth recently left our area after over 10 years living close to Withens Clough, he now resides in the Whitby area and has taken on Kettleness as his local patch (already showing excellent results with Cory's and Balearic Shearwater amongst others!). As part of his "clear out" prior to the move he has passed on quite a large number of birding journals and magazines (BB, Birding World, Yorkshire Birding etc), he has asked that these be made available to any interested bird club member on a loan basis. At the moment these magazines are in my possesion so if anyone is interested please contact me for further details. As I have limited storage space does anyone want to take on the role of "librarian" and find a permanent home for this genorous donation?

Ovenden Moor/Fly Flats

Hobby directly over me today when I was crossing Ovenden Moor at the back of the windfarm above Ogden at 1.15 pm. Stunning view so close and chasing mipit but away at speed! Probably an immature as quite brown underneath especially on the chest with heavy dark streaking and barred tail. The moustachial face pattern was clear but no red seen on the thighs.

24 Siskin fly-over Fly Flats but not a sign of a wader though some mud. RL Partridges in field on Haworth side below the Res'r.

More Siskin over the plantation at Ogden along with hundreds (600+?)of Hirundines approx half Swallows/House Martins.

Ringstone 18:30 - 19:35

43 BH Gulls, 2 LBB, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Mallard, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Female Kestrel, 1 Juv Peregrine chasing Gulls and Crows, 21 Canada Geese. All in all fairly quiet and very windy.

Cold Edge Dams

07/09/05 1815-1915hrs

Mipit 22 High and >W
Swallow 15 >W
Snipe 5 >W + 6 on deck
1m Stonechat
1f Tufted + usual
BS.

ringstone 6th

4 golden plover
1 wheatear
1 Tree pipit
1 goldcrest
1 willow warbler
1 skylark
50 + meadow pipit
2 house martin
50 Swallows

1 speckled wood(first for Ringstone?)

Ringstone 5th

108 Meadow pipit s/w
35 pied Wagtail moving south
18 Snipe s/w
155 swallow s/w
210 House martin (at least s/w)
1 Peregrine
42 goldfinch
1 sand martin south

6 Wigeon at Cold Edge Dams this a.m. BS 

COLD EDGE DAMS

04/09/05 0720-1100hrs Vis Mig
Thick fog till 0900 then misty in valley.
Swallow 61 >SE
House Martin 5 >SE
Mipit 19 >SE
Snipe 25 >SW
Wigeon 6 on water then >E
Tufted 6 on water then >N
BS.

2nd hand report - 3 Sept

Buzzard over Slack Top (Widdop Road) reported from very reliable source. Also short eared owl injured by hay making machine and taken into care at same site.

Additionally, juv. cormorant on the canal at Mytholmroyd, and flew up towards Hebden Bridge.

3rd September update

Walshaw Dean, Pete Grice reports female/juv Hen Harrier.
NCD has Swift at Mount Tabor.

Text grapevine funds

The text grapevine funds have run out. Please send your five pounds to either Nick C or Nick D for further messages, as soon as possible.For the while I will post the texts on the blogg site.
3rd Sept, Pete Grba reports 13 Wigeon, 3 Pintail, 5 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover at Whiteholme.

Ringstone 1st sept(second update

All afternoon birds seemed to be moving through,small parties of hirrundines skimmed the water and the newly made pools were full of meadow pipits and Pied Wagtails.The first taste of autumn.All birds seemed to be moving in a westerly direction.
30 + Pied wagtail
200 Mipits
200 swallows
50+ house martin
4 sand martin
1 Artic tern(sat in a ploughed field ?)
1 yellow wag

A couple more shots

Blown up using Adobe photoshop.

A Lesson well learnt.

Once again driving down Crag Rd produces photo opportunity from the car and this time with my camera by my side I was able to take advantage. Perfect late evening light also helped show this Short Eared Owl at it's very best.

Underbank 1:00pm

6 blackcap (3m, 3f) together in one small hawthorn. Also, chiffchaff calling, willow warbler, c.50 swallows gathering with c.20 house martins. 2 raven high over Erringden, plus juv. peregrine buzzing the jackdaws and woodpig's.

Ringstone 1st sept

29 Dunlin(4 North then 25 North )
20 + Snipe
3 wheatear
3 bullfinch
150 + Mipits
6 lapwing.

Of interest

Hummingbird Hawk Moth at Moor End Gardens, in recorders back yard this afternoon feeding on budlia bush

Ringstone 31st august

1 black tern(still present at 3.30)
1 Wheatear
7 teal
2 G,C. grebe
3 Stock Dove
1 sand martin
20 house martin
150 + swallow
5 meadow pipit

Underbank - 5:00pm

Peregrine (juv.) low over, mobbed by 12 swallows, sparrowhawk and jackdaw. Green and GS woodpecker, 2 bullfinch. Also, very early pip' bat flying around.

Northowram Vis 29th and 30th

165 Swallows s/w
9 house martin s/w
3 meadow pipit s/w
8 pied wagtail high south
2 grey Wagtail high south

other birds in northowram
52 Collared dove
95 goldfinch
35 greenfinch
2 little owl
5 linnet
1 skylark
19 mistle thrush
1 gs woodpecker

COLD EDGE DAMS

29/08/05 0715- 0915
Vis Mig. Some early movement till forced to abandon through strong SW,
horizontal heavy drizzle and poor visibility.
Swallow 5 >W
Mipit 21 >W
Pied Wag 1 >W

Other. Usual mallard and Canadas, BS

CAUGHT ON CAMERA... Its suprising what you pick up with a scan across the moor. GD above Cold Edge this morning. BS 

COLD EDGE DAMS

Vis Mig 0730-1045 28/08/05
Swallow 46 >SW
House Martin 3 >SW
Pied Wag 4 >W
Snipe 4 >W
Mipit 48 >S

Other :- 1 Hybrid Garganey 1f Teal 3 m Tufted + usual. BS

Walshaw Dean Estate fined

Of interest, see

http://www.english-nature.org.uk/news/story.asp?ID=756

Walshaw Dean estate fined for damaging moorland.

Spotted flycatcher

Spotted fly in bushes on Underbank, nr. Jumble Hole. This is a first for this site for me. It's extremely overgrown up there, so it could easily have been there all summer, or just as likely been brought down by heavy rains this morning.

Nuthatch

Hi Matt
the first record in calderdale was in hardcastle craggs in october 1950.A pair bred in centre vale park todmorden in 1987(this may be near the schoo?).With the recent explosion of this species it is not uncommon to see/hear them almost anywhere these days.

Todmorden

Nuthatch calling from the woods behind Tod High School. Is this a usual site?

Nortowram...vis 21 and 22 august

185 Swallows s/w
2 Sand martin s/w
1 swift south
16 house martin s/w
1 tree pipit south
(No mipits at all so far?)

Other birds
Little Owl ,18 mistle thrush,1 peregrine (flew towards Halifax)50 goldfinch,7 linnet and 4 Skylark.

Withens Clough

My first visit unfortunately for almost 2 weeks and it's gone very quiet, 1 common sandpiper, 2 Wheatear, Female Mallard has 4 young left, 20+ BH Gulls and 1 poss more Goldcrests in small copse to the right of the Res. The big news however is that the breeding LRP have now left on my last visit I only sawthe single adult bird and 1 def although poss there was a second juv bird present (very mobile and independant although they weren't fledged, it has become impossible to see all the shore line due to the extremely low water levels.) I would appreciate any other news on these birds.

Also on drive down Juv Peregrine sat on fence post next to Crag road by Blackstone Edge Res. typically moved out of range having driven past stopped and made a grab for my camera. (must remember to carry it in the front seat and not the boot hey Sean!) The bird flew onto a nearby pylon before heading off NW towards Whiteholme Res.

Cold Edge Dams

VIS MIG 0715-1045hrs 21/08/05

Swallow 140 >W
House Martin 18 >W
Swift 2 >W
Mipit 84 >W
Snipe 8 >W
Pied Wag 4 >W
Grey Wag 2 >W

Other.....2 Red Grouse 2 Heron + usual BS

Twite feeding stations

Hi all

In an attempt to improve the fortunes of local twite and also to increase sightings of colour ringed birds several feeding stations are currently in operation locally, any sightings from these areas (or indeed anywhere else!) will be gratefully received. The feeding stations are located as follows..

Midgley SE033276 (on track leading to dams)
Cold Edge SE045294 (on track leading towards reservoirs)
Fly Flatts SE029315 (on track adjacent to pump house)
Withens Gap SE045305 (on track at right angled bend)
Lighthazzles res SD965197 (on track between reservoirs)
Ringstone Edge SE047183 (NW corner of res) Please note as a result of an impending lease agreement with Yorkshire water access to this site is only available to invitees of the HBWC, please contact midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk for further details.

Please forward any sightings to midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks are expressed to Green Business Network for assistance with grant aid for this project.

Thanks

Nick

Ex-house martin

I was sat outside having a cup of tea about 8:30 this morning, and this house martin literally dropped out of the sky onto the lawn, took a couple of breaths, and died. There were no other martins around (though there have been lots passing through recently) and they don't nest anywhere nearby. Poor sod.

Elland GP

Mike Stead reports a Green Sandpiper at Elland GP today.

COLD EDGE DAMS

14/08/05 0730-1045hrs
Vis Mig Swallow 45 >SW
Swift 2 >W
House Martin 4 >W
Sand Martin 2 >W
Other... 4 Linnets on seed
108 Canadas in from E. Not the resident flock
32 Mallard BS

Birding on the Radio

Don't know if anyone is interested but there was a programme on Radio 4 today about twitching, can be heard again by going to

www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml#f

and picking out " Four hundred plus club" from the list of available programmes.

Wheatears starting to move with 6 at Cold Edge this a.m. BS 

COLD EDGE DAMS

Vis Mig 0730-1045hrs
57 Swallow >SW
4 Swift >SW
2 Lapwing >E
1 Green Sandpiper >NE 0945hrs
6 Wheatear on deck
1 Willow Warbler
OTHER 1 Moorhen with full grown juv. 1 Heron 8 Linnet on seed. BS

Cold Edge Dams

1800hrs
2 Wheatears, mega for here. 1 Dunlin 2 Lapwings Several blogging Mipits arrived since Wed night. BS

Whiteholme

Gordon Denison reports a Whimbrel on the island at Whiteholme today.

Withens Clough Reservoir

Withens Clough Reservoir
(Where Andy had his Swallows)

Withens Clough Reservoir looking East (c)


Withens Clough Reservoir looking South (c)


Dave.

Swallows

Hi Andy
After migration counting for the full season last year (the first full year for me!), what I believe would be happening with the Swallows now is that the juvs of the early broods (quite a lot of these @ c 4 to 6 juvs per pair per brood ie many more juvs than adults) would be dispersing, more randomly in July but by the beginning of August, starting to move south as migration kicks in. Last year I was shocked as to how frequently and how many we could count on the move at this time of year. At a guess the early broods tend to leave the breeding areas, whilst the ads stop on to have two, sometimes three broods. Thus we found that Swallow movement here was double peaked, first in August with primarily the juvs on the move, followed by the adults and younger juvs in September. Again from what I have seen in the field, or hills might be a better description round here!, Swallows can be seen moving In at least two ways, the larger groups that you describe, sometimes feeding over a water, there one minute and gone the next and this can be quite dramatic, or a more steady flow which keeps going for longer, usually straight through but sometimes feeding en-route….. Very interested in any more visible migration sightings, especially of the common birds that you may have.
Best Wishes,
Dave.

Pied fly anyone?

I know the season isn't over, but has anyone seen any pied flycatchers in Calderdale this year? We have one record of a female at the Crags, but I'm not aware of any more sightings??? Let me know if you know different

Cold Edge Dams

03/08/05 1830hrs
1 Dunlin 2 Snipe in beck 12 Swallows >SW 2 Kestrels 4 Red Grouse,these seem to be getting scarce in this area. BS.

Have all the Swallows GONE????

A visit to Withens Clough Res tonight produced approx 250+ Swallows all heading S/SW, in truth the number could have been much greater I'm trying to be conservative. They came through in 5 different waves, visit also turned up a flock of 40+ mainly goldfinches but including Greenfinches and Linnets, on wires by the Keepers house.

Along with Common Sandpiper, Mallard with 4 young, Whinchat, 2 Curlew and a personal best of 19 BH Gulls.

Streamlining. A flies eye view of an approaching Swift. Well its summat to look at int it .BS 

Peregrine Falcon

A peregrine falcon was seen to go to roost on wainhouse tower last night,

Crimsworth Dean

I was just driving on the Haworth to Hebden Road (7:00pm) and a c. buzzard passed over the car at about 200 feet. It came from where the dotterels were and flew over Crimsworth Dean, possibly heading for Walshaw.

Plenty Swifts heading >E in the dark skies over Cold Edge this morning. BS 

Cold Edge Dams

First day of Autumn Vis Mig watch. 0730-1100hrs 31/07/05
135 Swift >E
59 Swallow >SW
Other... 33 Canada 2 Mallard 1 Pied Wag 1 Heron >W
All Curlew Common Sand Mipits and Stonechat seem to have gone. BS

Ringstone

1 yellow legged gull(3rd different individual this month central tail feather missing)
40 Swallow east
30 house martin east
1 swift South
7 lBB Gull west
1 Curlew west
1 Grey Wag
1 green woodpecker
3 Kestrel
20 linnet

Ringstone Edge

Two Whimbrel flew through immediately prior to rain with a Green Sandpiper arriving soon afterwards, Yellow legged Gull present also.

Lesser spotted woodpecker

On the Calderdale Wildlife network website Steve Blacksmith has reported a LSW seen 8:30am Monday 25th ".... flew in and perched on the tip of a fruit tree in the garden of Barkisland Hall. The garden is about 700 mtrs from Beestones Wood SE069196."

A Wonder Round Withens.

19:00 - 21:00 a good night turned up Whimbrel passing through at 20:45, came in from the N and left heading SW towards Warland Res. Snipe flushed from drainage ditch on the left hand side of res. 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 female and 2 Juv Wheatears, 1 male and 1 Juv Whinchat. 5 BH gulls and other usual occupants.

Elland Gravel Pits. How it used to be,when Pere could always be seen on top of one of the towers. BS 

ringstone last few days

21 July 2juv peregrines both female hunting lapwing flock with no succsess.30 swift and 1 Yellow legged gull
22nd 1 redshank, 1 juv Dunlin and1 tufted Duck
23rd 3 black tailed Godwit flew South at 10 o,clock

Cold Edge Dams & Fly Flatts

24/07/05 am.
Cold Edge Dams. 10 Swallows >W 1 Oyk. Sev Lapwings. Weather like last years vis mig Nick, Cold >E fog and heavy drizzle.
Road between CED and Fly Flatts.... 1pr Stonechat + 2 young, loadsa blogging Mipits.
Fly Flatts ..Dense fog.
BS

Common Scoter 23-07-2005

Bradford watchpoint 23-07-2005-0800hr
This bird left here, vaguely in the direction of Fly Flat Res in the early afternoon due to disturbance.
SJ/DCB/JS

Common Scoter (c) DCB
Also a Whimbrel went on south (pm) and would have passed over the Ogden area.

PS I think the Calderdale weblog is GREAT!!
Dave

Ringstone Edge Fri 19:00 - 21:00

Yellow Legged Gull dropped in briefly before flying off west, also 4 LBB Gull and 8 BH Gull, no waders except for 2 LRP - 1 Juv 1 Adult, 1 Adult eclipse Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe - 1 Juv 1 Adult, 1 kestrel and 1 Peregrine both seen briefly as they dropped over western edge wall. Flock of 10 Linnet dropped onto pools at back and usual Pied Wagtail family feeding on road side shore.

UNDISCLOSED RESERVIOR 18:20 - 19:00

Brief visit on my way home produced some great scenes of Juv Peregrine bathing at side of reservoir then buzzing local crows. Also on reservoir 2 great crested grebe incl 1 juv. 8 BHG and 1 Common Gull.

Cold Edge Dams 1845hrs 20/07/05 1 Greenshank in overflow 2 Dunlin. BS 

Ringstone

Breaking news (!) Sanderling at Ringstone 1930 hrs

Ringstone

A great morning at ringstone.
1 Greenshank feeding on the shore flew calling to east pool and could not be relocated.10 dunlin and 7 LRP on shoreline with 3 great crested grebes , 2 mallard, 8 chicks.on the water.Heavy rain with sunny spells and out of nowhere 10 black tailed godwit dropped in feeding frantically in the far back corner.Lets hope its this good tomorrow night.
Andy

Withens Clough 13:00

Busy day for feeding young both this Willow Warbler and the resident StoneChat very busy, also Whinchat present and the other usual inhabitants around the car park.

Buzzard 16.07.05

A poor record shot, no sign of it today.
Left hand image zoom & enhanced on adobe photoshop.

Ringstone Edge

2 Oystercatchers, 5 Dunlin, Yellow legged Gull, 7 LRP in total this afternoon.

Early Drive up Widdop Rd 06:30

Went up in search of the Buzzard, unsuccessful at first but drive produced green woodpecker and little owl along with usual. Then on return Buzzard relocated in same spot as last night and watched for an hour until 09:30 when I had to leave. Left it sat in a tree opposite Stoneshay gate. Bumped into Police dog handler who is also a falconer who agreed with that that is was an Imm. he thought a male.

Widdop Rd 20:00

Went up in search of my first Short Eared Owl along here in what must be 14 years and true to my fathers reports (initially he said Tawny Owl hunting - not a birder I must add) a Short Eared Owl was located hunting in fields between the road and the Crags. Sat on the wall of these fields was my first ever Buzzard, couldn't believe my luck especially given we'd just been discussing how we had never seen one locally (did inform him of recent sightings) Ran back to house to drag him out (would never had believed me otherwise) Bird which judging by rough feather edges and dull brown colouration was an imm. gave great views sat on wall in field just past cragside cottages until 20:45 when flew into near by tree and perched out of sight. Fantastic!!!!

Just out of area...

Little Egret today at Blackmoorfoot res, until 18:30 at least

Widdop rd Common

Unconfirmed report of Short eared Owl hunting on the common and in fields between Widdop Rd and Hardcastle Crags. If confirmed this will be the first sighting I know of in approx. 14 years. Sighting reported by my father who lives at Stoneshay gate. Only just reported hope to get up tomorrow to check it out, will let you all know. If anyone knows of more recent sightings please do let me know.

Ringstone

Last few visits to Ringstone
10 July - 11 Curlew (west)
12 july - 1 black tailed godwit (nice pics sean),10 Sand Martin and 2 common Sandpiper.
14 july -7 LRP (4 adults and 3 Juv's)4 Dunlin,1 Common Tern,

Whiteholme 2nite

Nice walk directly over the top from Blackstone Edge to Whiteholme. Scoped the whole shore of both. Common Sand Blackstone Edge, 2 Common Sands + chick Whiteholme, and pr of GP in between. Bizarrely 8 orphan goslings on Whiteholme. No parent to be seen for miles. Nice Little Owl at Flints.

Crossbills over Midgley

You know how it is when some birders just seem to attract birds? Just had John Beaumont round to measure up for some work we are having done and whilst we are outside 23 Crossbills fly over calling!!
Peregrine over here also earlier today.

Underbank, nr. Jumble Hole

Whitethroat, greenwoodpecker, woodcock, 1 pr. swallows with 5 young, chaffinch with 1 young. It's not exactly a sooty tern, but satisfying to see nontheless!

Roils Head 10th July

Juvenile Redstart feeding on track next to West End Golf Course. Probably bred somewhere on the Golf Course ? Also good numbers of Narrow Bordered five Spot Burnet Moths present.

Walshaw Dean lizard.

Fairly quiet, 5 Oystercatcher, at least that number of C Sand, very few Curlew now, at least 4 singing Reed Bunting and a pair of Stonechat.

The oddest sighting was a lizard, which crossed our path just above the middle dam, and down the wall (the drain on the E side of the res). I'm certainly no expert, but I've failed to find anything that looks like it on any of the websites I've found. It was about 6 inches long, and was a sandy yellow at the front, merging into a grey-blue tail! I'm quite sure it was a lizard, not a newt, but I only got a brief glimpse, and not enough time to photograph it.

Has anyone any ideas as to what this might be?

Cold Edge Dams early a.m. 3f Shoveler on water but soon left high and >E. 3 Tufted, i20 lapwings on waters edge, 29 Curlew >W. Now 2pr Stonechat + 5 young and 6 young in 2 broods. BS 

Little Egret

Don't panic! its not in our area, but it is very near, Leeshaws reservoir near Oxenhope to be precise, seen today.

Fly Flatts. 06/07/05 evening. 2 Little Owl 1 Redshank 3 Oyks 2 Common Sand 1m Stonechat + usual. BS 

Cold Edge Dams.03/07/05 a.m. 1pr Stonechat with 2 young now feeding 2nd brood. 1 Redshank 2 Common Sand with 1 young. 730 Swifts >WSW. DCB also had big numbers at his watchpoint. BS  

Nightjar search

Many thanks to those of you who made the effort to turn out for last nights Nightjar search, a number of sites were checked including those with historical records but sadly no birds located. The weather didn't help and some people thought it to be a little late in the year but it is certainly an exercise worth repeating next year.