Cold edge vis

08.00 - 10. 30
heavy showers and clear spells
254 Fieldfare s/w
162 Redwing s/w
2 Blackbirds s/w
42 Meadow Pipit s/w
6 Golden Plover south
27 Chaffinch s/w
2 Greenfinch s/w
1 Reed Bunting south
54 Starling south
Other birds present
2 Stonechat
4 goldfinch
4 Greylags
1 Raven
1 moorhen
14 mallard
17 Canada Geese
Cheers

Survey help wanted!

Below is an E mail I received today from Steve Atkins of the BTO with regard to pilot survey work for the BTO National Atlas. Several of us discussed this survey at one of our meetings but it would appear from Steve's E mail that perhaps there isn't quite the commitment required we first thought, anyone interested or wanting more info please contact me and I'll pass on Steve's details. perhaps a few of us could co-ordinate something between us?



Dear Nick,


Would you please circulate the following to any members of the Halifax Birdwatcher’s Club who might be interested in helping out with this pilot survey. At present we are looking for volunteers to do timed counts in the following tetrads: Blackstone Edge Reservoir, Soyland Moor, Green Withens Reservoir, Moss Moor and White Hill. If it will be of help I can provide you with a list of the 1km squares that fall within these tetrads, which are all either wholly or partly within the HBC’s recording area. We are also keen to find people willing to take on the roving recorder role anywhere within the 10 km square.

In the winter of 2005/2006 we will be undertaking pilot work for the forthcoming National Bird Atlas. The atlas will cover both breeding and wintering birds and between 1st November and the end of February this winter we will be testing two different methods for counting wintering species. Trials will take place in the 10km square SD91 which is the area East of Rochdale town centre, from Denshaw in the South to Light Hazzles/White Holme Reservoir in the North. This area contains a wide variety of habitats, from urban through to moorland, and will test our ability to survey the more remote parts of our region. Whilst there are some popular birdwatching sites here (Watergrove Reservoir, Hollingworth Lake and the Piethorne Valley) it is equally important to survey less attractive urban areas.

The two survey methods, "Roving Recorders" and "Timed Counts", will be trialled in the same area by two different groups of observers and Steve Atkins has agreed to assist with the co-ordination of this work, which will be more intensive than the actual survey work for the atlas. If you would like to help with these survey trials, you need to choose which one you would rather do - you can't do both! The survey period for both types is 1st Nov - 28th Feb.

"Timed Visits" involve making 2 visits to a chosen tetrad (2km by 2km square) and counting all the birds you see or hear using the area (not ones which just fly over). Each visit will take at least 1 hour 20 minutes and no more than 3 hours (depending on the number of birds there are - so moorland visits will probably be shorter).

The second type is called "Roving Recorder" where you can make as many visits as you like anywhere within the whole 10km by 10km square (SD91) and record all the species that you see or hear using the square. You don't need to count the birds but note down which tetrads they were in. I will provide maps for you as well as instructions and the recording forms.

Would anyone who is interested in taking part please contact either of us indicating which survey method they would prefer to help with. If Timed Visits, please indicate which tetrad (s) you would be willing to survey. If you would like any more information please get back to me or Steve Atkins.

Thanks

Steve Suttill

Steve Atkins

on behalf of the British Trust for Ornithology (Manchester Region)

Pellon area 23rd October

Reed Bunting at Roils Head, Siskin at Silverwood and a Merlin over Moor End Road followed by an injured blackbird.

Cold Edge Vis Mig

Just to say that I will have to stop the vis mig watch at CED due to my wife being taken to hospital after a stroke which looks like it could be a long job.If anyone wants to carry it on for the remaining few weekends it would be good. Brian.

Twite sighting

Of interest, a Twite ringed in Midgley in 2004 (as a pulli) and reported later that year at Lighthazzles (03/10/04) has been seen again, this time at Cant Clough (Burnley area) on 14/10/05. Colour combination is dark blue/bw orange/bto

1/2 PLACES LEFT

STILL 1 COMFORTABLE SPACE AND 2 @ A SQUEEZE FOR TOMORROWS TRIP TO SPURN, BIRDS IN THE AREA TODAY INCLUDE FIRECREST, YELLOW BROWED WARBLER AND NORTHERN LONG TAILED TIT. I'LL ALSO HAVE BIRDGUIDES TEXT ALERT SWITCHED ON IN CASE ANYTHING REALLY EXCITING TURNS UP. ANYONE WISHING TO JOIN ME AND IAIN G PLEASE LEAVE CONTACT NUMBER ON MY EMAIL ANDREWHUYTON@HOTMAIL.COM, THOSE OF YOU NOT COMING ALONG HAVE A GREAT DAY ON YOUR LOCAL PATCH.

Lower Gorple & Widdop - pm

Very little about today. 4 red grouse, goldcrest and tawny owl calling in plantation. Probable ring ouzel flushed from moor. Absolutely nothing on, or at the edge of, either res' despite loads of mud.

Cold Edge 19th October

5 Wigeon, Adult male Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, 2 Red Grouse, Kestrel and 6 Goldfinch.

TRIP TO SPURN

Does anyone fancy joining me for a day at Spurn this coming Saturday, sorry it's short notice but thats my life I'm afraid. I'm happy to drive and have room for 3 comfortably, 4 at a squeeze.
Leave your names and numbers to arrange, early start suggested; open to ideas on exact time. I've not checked high tides, weather reports etc as yet.

Underbank

Chiffchaff (still) in my garden.

Ringstone 11.00 - 12.00

220 Lapwing
21 Golden Plover
1 Dunlin
19 Widgeon(18 female types 1 male)
3 Skylark
2 Cormorant
30 Meadow pipit

Curlew chicks spring 2005

Hi all apologies for moth photos but it looks like ive sussed this photo thing at last.Andy 

Testing Photo

moth 

Ringstone 14:30 - 16:00

1 Wheatear North East shore, 1 Snipe > E, 8 Greenfinch on feeders, 2 Blue tits, 2 Great Tits, Dunnock, 7 Common Gulls on Res., c80 B H Gulls on Res and in surrounding Fields, 5 Golden Plover in Field to West before flying off SE. 17 Lapwing in same field.

Meeting at Cromwell bottom

Wenesday morning at 10.00 at car park.This meeting is about, what happens next at Cromwell.it would be good if a birder could be there,J beaumont,G,denison and myself canot attend.For futher details call me at home or on my mobile.There is talk of chopping down large areas of bramble and Fragmites.this would be a disaster for breeding warblers.
Thanks andy

Ringstone

Sean and andy
2500 + ( largest flock 120)s/e
54 Brambling ( 50 + 4)s/e
Siskin 35 ( 16 + 4 + 15)s/e
Woodpigeon 30 S/e
Chaffinch 100 +
Greenfinch 20 +
Redpoll 10 S/e
1 Collared Dove
220 Pinkfeet ( i40 + 80 ) west
20 Goldfinch s/w
30 meadow Pipit S/w
20 Fieldfwre s/w
60 Lapwing
1 Golden Plover
1 Song Thrush s/w
3 Blackbird s/w
1 Sparrowhawk (male following finches)
1 bullfinch
A great vis mig day

Hebden Bridge /top football pitch

3 Swallow south
200 Redwing s/w
80 Pinkfeet west
20 Fieldfare s/w

COLD EDGE DAMS

16/10/05 0715-1030 Vis Mig

254 MIPIT >SE
2 ALBA WAG >W
13 REED BUNT >W
148 STARLING >S
41 GOLDFINCH >W
192 REDWING >E 1 flock of 170

Other 1f Stonechat 1 Tufted 1 Wren 31 BH Gull + usual.
What should have been a mega morning spoilt by rolling fog and mist banks.
BS

Ringstone./Lapland Bunting

A second bite today!.total fog this morning. Almost on top of the fog at times with periods of good
vertical visibility through to open sky. Redwings constantly on the move with
biggest parties of 60 and 45 going south-west together with lots of smaller
groups. As usual with Redwings on the move, more
groups were heard than seen and counted. Small parties of Fieldfare the largest been 50.The bushes around the feeding station(east side )Held large numbers of Greenfich ,Chaffinch,Goldfinch and 1 Brambling called loudly as they all took to the sky.I then walked up the track next to the farm, large numbers of Meadow Pipit were streaming through and then i herd the call of Lapland Bunting above me moving south.I herd the call another time before seeing the bird dissapearing southward (brilliant).2 Skylarks, 1 jack snipe ,35 Snipe ,10 Twite near where Nick placed nijer seed and 65 Pinkfeet made for a great hour at Ringstone

Ringstone 4-5pm

Walked the eastern section of the new "Ringstone Recording Area". Pinkfeet now down across the road in the East fields. 90 Redwing over going Southeast.

Cold Edge 14th October

Wigeon, 2 Stonechats, Goldcrest, Red Grouse, Grey Partridge and 7 Linnets.

Roils Head
Stonechat, 3 Goldcrest and 40+ Redwings over.

Ringstone 11.00 - 11.45

1 Dunlin
1 Tufted Duck
1 Blackcap (male)
8 Snipe
9 Golden Plover
65 Pinkfeet
100 Canada Geese
Small parties of Redwing ,Chaffinch,greenfinch,redpoll and meadow pipit heading s/w

Ringstone

I think we can agree it was a Hobby.The latest record in calderdale by along way(16th Sept previous record)There have been a few october records from Paul Clough and the Bradford area,so its not that late.Today had a real winter feel with the wind turning northerly.
65 Pinkfeet in the north field
4 Whooper swans
35 redwing south
6 Teal
1 male Goosander
8 snipe
6 Reed Bunts
2 Jays

Cold Edge 12th October

Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck, Goosander, Red Grouse and a Short-eared Owl near the Withens Hotel.

Yellow-browed warbler

Early today briefly at Scammonden Dam (John Beaumont).
No sign later that morning.

Ringstone 14:45 - 17:30

5 Snipe over, 17 Lapwing, 8 Goosander, c50 BH Gulls, 4 Common Gulls, 3 Pied Wagtail.

On and around the feeding station on the South shore, 1 GS Woodpecker, 3 Bullfinch incl 1 female, 6 Blue tit, 1 Wren, 1 Robin, 1 Great tit and a Blackbird.

1 Adult Peregrine sat in the field above the North shore.

Down the road in the newly seeded field 7 Golden Plover.

COLD EDGE DAMS

Vis Mig 09/10/05 0715-1100hrs

805 MIPIT >S
3 SKYLARK >S
8 SNIPE >W
359 STARLING >S
27 ALBA WAG >SW
11 GREENFINCH >SW
66 CHAFFINCH >SW
4 SWALLOW >S
430 PF GEESE >E 250---150---30 to the far S of me.

Also 1m Stonechat 1 Heron 32 Mallard

MIXENDEN RESERVOIR 3 Swallows. BS

Roils Head 8th October

Ring Ouzel first winter bird, fourth record for the Pellon/Mount Tabor area. Also present Goldcrest, 4 Skylarks and 28 Lapwings in nearby fields.
Anybody with any photographs of birds taken in Calderdale in 2004 should send them to me as soon as possible on a disc for possible inclusion in the forthcoming bird report.

Thanks

Just a quick post to thank all those of you who have taken the time to post their sightings, photos, thoughts and comments on this Blog, we weren't sure how it would go when it was originally suggested by Matt but it is obviously proving very popular! Please spread the word as it helps us to increase the records received for inclusion in the annual report as well as being an interesting read. Now that I am back on line I can hopefully contribute a little more myself!

The Bird Club has recently received its complimentary copy of the Huddersfield Birdwatchers Club annual report for 2003 anyone wanting to see it can contact me, or better still buy their own personal copy I can supply a contact address etc.

Peering through the Gloom!!!

A quick hours watching at Ringstone on the way home is very quickly turning into a half hour and not because the traffic is bad. The poor light over the last 2 evenings has made it difficult to pick out some species and near impossible to give definate counts but this should give you a rough idea:- Thurs 18:15 till last light, 11 Goosander, 17 Mallard, 2 GC Grebe, 1 BH Gull, 4 Lapwings and some unconfirmed wigeon. Tonight approx sametime, 23 Lapwings, 5 Tufted Ducks, 4 Goosander, c25 Canada Geese, 9 unconfirmed Golden Plover in top field, 12 Mallard, 2 GC Grebe and unconfirmed wigeon and teal on far bank. Planning an early morning trip up to hopefully get some confirmation on what may have stayed the night. Here's hoping it's dry and lighter.

7th October

2 Chiffchaffs at Moor End Gardens this afternoon. Sparrowhawk tried to take a Stonechat at Roils Head PM. Yesterday at Cold Edge Dams 6 Stonechat, 1 Goosander, 2 Teal, 4 Greylag Geese and 30+ Goldfinch.

Jumble Hole Clough - 9:30

Chiffchaff, green woodpecker, g.sp. woodpecker, dozens of long-tailed tits

Booth Wood

The steep sided valley leading up to the M62 from the road bridge above Booth Wood produced 4 Stonechats and a female Sparrowhawk on a telegraph pole this afternoon. There seem to be a lot of Stonechats about!

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,