Monday, April 16, 2007

16th April blog problems

 
Sorry I know I said I wouldn't put many moth pictures on, but I can not now blog unless I put a picture on and this is all I have of late.
All I get now when I click blog this is a page saying HTTP STATUS 500
APACHE TOMCAT/4.1.24-E, whatever that means.Any way a quick walk this evening over Roils Head Mount Tabor brought 3 Redpoll, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 first summer male Wheatear, 2 Swallows, a kestrel caught a rodent, 1 LBBG, several Greenfinch and 2 Goldfinch. Oh by the way the moth is a Brindled Pug I think ? Posted by Picasa

All quiet on the Westerly front

Nothing stays the same, Soil Hill was all change this afternoon. No Ring Ouzel seen. 2 Wheatears, usual Mipits, Skylarks, Linnet, Lapwing, Curlew, Reed Bunting, Swallow, 2 LBBG. Am I allowed to say this? WE NEED SOME RAIN!

Hardcastle Crags

BOG reported a pied flycatcher at Bolton Abbey today, so when I had a spare hour I dashed up to the Crags, but no luck as yet. Only got about half way anyway. Nuthatch, treecreeper, pheasant, swallow, plus usual stuff.

Shibden Park - Sunday am

Usual species plus 1 canada goose, 2 moorhen, 1 coot on the lake. 1 nuthatch and one GS woodpecker by the hall. 2 singing chiffchaff.

Also the first house martin has arrived at the nesting sites at Godley Gardens.

Ian Scott

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Fly Flatts

Hobby reported yesterday 9:15am (Bradford Birders website)

Garganey

A pair of Garganey have been reported by East Lancs flying West over Widdop this a.m. No further sign in our area or in East Lancs. This is the first Calderdale record since 1993.

Soil Hill

15/04/2007 1730
1m Ring Ouzel by mast
2 Wheatear by mast
4 Linnet
+ usual sp.
No Waders. BS Posted by Picasa

Bonus day at Fly Flatts


15/04/2007 0800-1000hrs slight >W. Hot sunshine
Just like being at Fairburn, the busiest day for a long time
with Canadas,Greylags, Curlew, Lapwings and Goldies
displaying.
2 Grey Partridge
7 Wheatear
1m Reed Bunt
1 Shelduck,kept flying but always returned to water
2 Redshank
11 Twite, 4 Linnet on seed
1pr Stonechat
4 Goldies
+ usual sp. BS Posted by Picasa

Wheatears

Morning all
First two Wheatears of the year this morning on Norland Moor. There now seems to be a possible two pairs of Reed Bunting breeding on the moor.

Yesterday

Pair of Ring Ouzel at Gorple, photo's to follow. Having not seen them in this historic nesting location last year it's great to see them back. Maybe the Maltese had the sun in their eyes as they came through this year.

Withens Clough instant success with the twite feeding station with 2 birds in the area yesterday, one of which was colour ringed dominate colour was pink (suggesting Lighthazzles bird) but didn't get combination before they flew off.

Not much else up Withens, although GD who I shared a wlk round with had a Willow Warbler near the car park.

Stonechat present at Withens.

Ogden - Sat 14th

3 chiffchaff and 4 willow warbler. Pair of goldcrest with one, presumably the male, displaying his crown to the other. Male sparrowhawk. Pair of goldfinch. 3 pairs of coal tits gathering nesting material. 1 treecreeper. Pair of goldeneye on the reservoir. Grey heron. 3 canada geese and 1 barnacle. Large numbers of blue, great and long tailed tits. 4 mistle thrushes and 5 song thrushes.

From the stone circle - 4 curlew and 2 skylark.

Wood pigeons, blackbirds, robins, wrens and chaffinch all in reasonable numbers

Reported by Ian Scott

Saturday, April 14, 2007

WhitbyBirding returns

...... from a very damp Mallorca. Photos posted in next few days. Sorry I can't get to the do on Thursday. Very pleased that my posting rights have been restored, clearly a glitch has been fixed. Must order a bird report - how much are they again?

Kestral

Cycling past an old mill on the canal towpath just above Elland we spotted that Kestrals appear to be nesting their again this year. The mill is just past Lockwoods Carpets above Elland Basin. Kestrals have nested there in the past I belive ?

Roils Head

1 Wheatear, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Redpoll, including 1 taking a bath in an old mop bucket with a Chaffinch.

Ring Ouzel

3 male Ring Ouzel at Soil Hill

Friday, April 13, 2007

Whiteholme

Ringed plover (from Wildlife of Rochdale web site). Also 4 shelduck yesterday.

Fly Flats

Visit this afternoon produced 2 Wheatears, a pair of Stonechats and 17 Twite at the feeding station. Also a pair of Redshank along with Golden Plover and Curlew around the moor.

Gorple - 4 - 5:30pm

4 greylag geese (Lower), 40+ pairs of canada geese (30 Lower, 10 Upper) 2 pairs tufted duck (1 pr Lower, 1 pair Upper) 12 mallard, 15 pairs of black headed gull (Lower) 3 red grouse, 1 kestrel, 2 ring ouzel (1m, 1f) 3 skylark, 12+ mipits, 4 pied wagtail, 2 goldcrest, mistle thrush, pheasant, collard dove, 4 lapwing, 4 oystercatcher, 12 curlew.

Sunny Vale - 13 April

Reported by Chrs Sutcliffe
6.30 - 7.30am
From Badger Lane to end of lake and return)

Great Spotted Woodpecker (at least three drumming)
Green Woodpecker (heard further down the valley)
Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Robin, Song Thrush, Coal Tit, Collard Dove, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Jay, carrion crow, Jackdaw, Chiffchaff (at least 2)
Canada Goose (could only see one but there were a pair last Saturday), Moorhen (pair), Coot (pair), Mallard (4 males, 1 female), Goldcrest (pair in the garden)dunnnock, magpie

Lots of Celandine
Bluebells just about to burst into flower
1st Ramson flower

More boxes arrive

 
Thanks to Mike Sharp and friend for supplying eight new boxes designed for Redstarts. We now have 14 Redstart boxes which we hope to put up in the next few weeks in the upper Luddenden Valley. Redstarts have been known to breed here in the past but numbers have been gradually falling, it is hoped with careful placement of boxes with a 32 - 35 mm hole we can encourage them to nest. Any other boxes would be most welcome.

3 Redpoll at Roils Head this pm, 1 in song flight. Posted by Picasa

Thursday, April 12, 2007

12th April

 
 
Only 1 swallow of note today over Moor End Road. Caught my first two moths of the season an Early Grey and a Hebrew Character. I know its a bird site but there are an increasing number of birders taking up mothing and I thought I would share my first moths of the year, promise not to do it too often.
The years first Common Sandpiper has been recorded at Ringstone Edge today. Posted by Picasa

Calderdale birders get together

Whilst I have access I just wanted to remind everyone of our proposed social night for Calderdale birders next Thursday (19th), I have sent E mail or text invites to all those I have contact details for, if anyone has been left out please accept my apologies and if you want to come along E mail me at midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk for further details. Based on the feedback I have received so far it looks like it should be a good turn out, chance to meet friends old and new and share a couple of beers whilst chewing local birding fat (so to speak).

Seeds Project meeting

Spurred on by the success of other Blog members who now seem able to post I thought I'd give it a try, hope this gets through! Last night saw a meeting of those interested in the Calderdale Seeds Project with Ann Blackburn giving us an update on where we are with the project. To cut a long story short it now looks as if we will see the first seed being sown within the next month and hopefully the scheme can be rolled out to other landowners in the Luddenden valley, if anyone knows a landowner in the valley who might be interested in taking part please get in contact with me.

Ogden Res

Superb spring day in almost non existent E breeze at times. The place was rocking with birdsong, migrants arrived: 3 Chiffchaff, 5 Willow Warbler, Swallow (my earliest for some years)

Pr Goldeneye giving great views, 10 Canadas, the feral Barnacle happily chompin on bread. Goldcrest, pr Long tailed Tit, GSW, pr Mistle Thrush and so on.

Wheatear on roadside wall at Soil Hill on way up.

Withens - Twite feeding

By some miracle I've managed to get on here for the first time since goodness knows when (being a reluctant convert to the new Blogger). Two early morning trips to Withens Clough during the last week. On 5th April very misty and a stiff breeze but 4 Swallow passing through, 10 Teal on the Res. Today, two Twite on the feeding station (no rings seen), a very elusive male Wheatear and a male Goldeneye on the Res. For me, hirundines (only one over Greetland so far) and Wheatear have been in very, very short supply and I was disappointed not to get Ring Ouzel today. Work to convert the Water Treatment Works at Withens to a house is now underway (the Plans were approved), but Yorkshire Water's Plan to convert the Toilet Block at Baitings to a house were refused!
Morning all
I have seen at least one pair of Stonechats on Norland Moor most mornings over the last couple of weeks and thus assuming a breeding pair ? Same situation with a pair of Reed Buntings, again possibly a breeding pair ?

Interesting invertebrates around on the moor at the moment (apart from a few micro moths) are Green Tiger beetles, Cincadela campestris. This is the only site in Calderdale I have ever seen them and they can occur in some numbers in a good spring/summer. The larvae live in long vertical burrow and prey on any insects unfortunate to wander over their jaws which rest in the tunnel mouth and snap shut on prey items.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Ton up, a day late

A week ago I stood at 97 for Calderdale this year, within easy reach of getting 100 in 100 days. Unfortunatly that was before I caught the flu bug from UTUMNO. Vis mig site abandoned I can only immagine what I have missed. A short walk yesterday got me Chiffchaff at Ovenden Wood and took me to 98, then today a short visit to Roils Head got me 3 Willow Warblers (4 days earlier than last year) and a Wheatear at last. Also nice to see were 2 Redpoll, 1 in song flight. 100 in 101 days, if it wasn't for the curse of Mandos I would have easily achieved Gordons challenge.

Quick round up

Last Thursday there was a female Goldeneye on Withens Clough Res.

Also a pair of Raven up Widdop.

Today pair Oystercatcher at Ringstone also Grey Heron several Lapwings, a swallow and 2 Linnet near the feeders.

A Nyjer seed feeding station has been set up at Withens Clough Res on your right hand side as you walk up to the Dam wall, the flat area of short grass and stoney land.

Willow Warbler

My first Willow Warbler of the year at EGP Tuesday 10/4/07 plus usual. Also the culprits who allegedly stole part of the railings there have been spotted and reported.

Bruce

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Shibden - Easter weekend

Received from Ian Scott -

Usual blue, great and long tailed tits. 3 bullfinch, 2 greenfinch and quite a few chaffinch.

3 chiffchaff - one gave good views and a display flight as it moved back and forth between 2 trees.

2 green woodpecker nesting. 4 drumming GSW.

A pair of sparrowhawks hunting together. I've seen them several times over the past few months. Also another 2 sightings of female sparrowhawks that I think might be a different invidual to the pair.

Tawny owl calling this evening by the Shibden Mill Inn at around 8pm

Ogden Water


2 pairs of Goldeneye this afternoon and that was about it!

Wheatears

3 Wheatears on Soil Hill and most of the usual suspects, at lunchtime.

Monday, April 09, 2007

Erringden - Callis Bridge

Little owl, 3 skylarks, 19 mipits, 3 curlew, 2 lapwing, 5 pied wags and 4 swallows at sewage works, 2 gsw in Callis Wood. 8 mallard ducklings on river.

Gloomy Cold Edge Dams

09/04/2007 0800-0945hrs Cool W>4 Heavy Drizzle .Fly Flatts fogged out.
1 Redshank
1 Snipe
4 Golden Plover
+ usual sp. BS Posted by Picasa

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Swallows

Peckett Well - 1 Swallow there 10:00am
Callis Bridge - 2 over the sewage works this evening

Fly Flatts


08/04/2007 0800-1030hrs Cold W>5 Sun, cloud to the W.
18 Twite on seed,later put up by raptor and left high and directly >W
in direction of Cant Clough?
Steady flow of Mipits >N 50+
1m Reed Bunting
2 Pied Wags
still no Wheatear.
+ usual sp.
Several Bumble Bees,>N ( Bombus )
BS Posted by Picasa

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Various sightings

Ringstone - Saturday. 2 LRP, 2 oystercatcher, 1 redshank, 15 lapwing (many displaying) 18 linnets. Andy C
Northowram - Saturday. 1 sand martin over (north), 1 starling mimmicking green woodpecker, golden plover (display flight call) and lapwing (display flight call) from back garden. Andy C
Lower Gorple plantation - Friday. 7 brambling, sparrowhawk (John Crawshaw, reported via the blog).

Soil Hill

Several Meadow Pipit and Skylark, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Grey Heron, Kestrel, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Lapwing, 2 Curlew, pr Grey Partridge, 10 Linnet, 2 Wheatear, 3 Reed Bunting, Stonechat.

Further comment: http://queensburybirder.blogspot.com/

Osprey

A report on the Bradford website of an osprey over Fly Flatts yesterday.

Friday, April 06, 2007

Jumble Hole

Woodcock roding up and down tonight (8:30pm - 1st of the year so far). Also chiffchaff calling today.

Last Call for records.

Could I please have any records for 2006 asap, so I can make a start on the next Bird Report. There are still a few people out there who promissed records, but have not as yet subbmitted them.
The new 2005 bird report is still available at Woodlesford News Agents at Moor End Road Pellon.

Fly Flatts

06/04/2007 0800-1000hrs Cold N>4 Sunny
10 Twite on seed, only 1 ringed ( FF )
Flow of moving Mipits all a.m. 150+ >NE
1 Golden Plover
+ usual sp. BS Posted by Picasa

Well, Hello

Thanks for the invite Matt. In order to post this, I opted to create a new user id on the old Blog version, seperate from the Google account for my Birdbrain blog. Having 2 accounts isn't the most painful thing in the world, at least I can report to Calderdale Birds once again.

Good Birding

Nigel Kerwin

2007 WHAT A YEAR SO FAR

I was looking at Sean's posts and it made me think what a year we are having both in terms of bird sightings and positive work.

The year started with a flurry with the Shore Lark closely followed by Purple Sand, Willow tit, Green Sand, Snow Bunting (all in no particular order). This seems to have kick started the biggest listing race locally for sometime.

Then of course only the other week the Scan Rock Pipit seen by a lucky few pursed by twice as many, incl myself.

Regular sightings of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, the return of the Buzzards and LRP.

The ongoing success of Ringstone, the superb protection work of Peregrine, I mean they're in the town centre now!! come a long way since the RSPB pulled out, just goes to show what a difference a committed and active group can make.

The Tree Sparrow nest boxes have produced instant results, looking forward to Sean's House Martins returning and Pied Fly and Redstart for more nestbox success?

Nick D's LEO survey is turning up birds and the Twite ringing continues a strength turning up interesting results and invaluable data.

There is plenty more to do, nestbox sites need surveying, more LEO to find, Twite ring colour combinations to check, general observation and recording.

The coming month is bound to turn up more good birds for the listers.

I only hope the momentum is carried on through out the year, with more important finds and discoveries and even greater success.

Well done to everyone and Happy birding.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

4th April

My local watch point produced a pair of Ravens, 3 sightings of Sparrowhawk and four of Kestrel and my first Swallow of the year.
A LEO search with Steve Cummings produced what we think may have been two females calling (will have to have a listen to some better tapes)as these were not the normal calls. Also 2 Tawnys calling and 1 Little Owl, 1 roding Woodcock, 2 Dippers, Grey Heron, Kestrel and Golden Plover.

Hard Work brings Instant success.




All your hard work at Jay house lane is already producing results with at least 2 of the new nestboxes being used by Tree Sparrows.

Also today a female Wheatear by the Horse manure and my first ever Lesser Spotted Woodpecker a female showed really well for approx 10mins in Avocet Wood.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

More peregrine news!!!

Steve Blacksmith witnessed an amazing event today. After hearing the 'peg' news, he went down to the Square Chapel to see the peregrines (13:30). They were both out, mobbing a very low flying buzzard over Halifax train station (almost as low as Eureka's windmill). After defending itself a few times, including upside down, the buzzard flew off in the direction of Boothtown.

Chiffchaffs

1 calling at CVS plumbers merchants, bottom of Jumble Hole, 2 more calling along the railway line at Mytholmroyd, more or less beneath the cragg.

Monday, April 02, 2007

Blog probs

Whilst some people experience no problems at all in posting on the blog, others have clearly got varying degrees of problems. Whilst we are trying to resolve these with the least disruption to the blog, remember as a temporary measure you can always email me at the hotmail address on the header of the blog, and I will post it and credit you. This the system that groups like Bradford run for their blog on a permanent basis, and though ours is much more inclusive, it would provide a short term answer.

2nd April Castle Carr

Castle Carr- Luddenden Dean this evening- 9 sightings of at least 2 Woodcock roding probably 3 between 7.57 - 8.20PM. Also Tawny Owl heard, 20+ Pheasants, 2 Redwing, Song Thrush and Kestrel.
Roils Head this afternoon, 1 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting, 5 Common Gulls east.

Osprey for Andy C.

I know this is,nt an Osprey but Im running out of photos to use as
it seems to be the only way on at the moment.
From Andy Cockroft :-
02/04/2007 1010hrs
1 OSPREY >NW up Shibden Valley.

MARCH... 101.
A grey and wet start to the month was broken on the 3rd with a bright sunny
afternoon and I eventually caught up with Treecreeper,( Lesser Pecker and Nuthatch
before Treecreeper,funny how it goes sometimes).At least 10 Chiffchaff at EGP
and 14 Whooper Swans ( clawed another one back) at Ogden on the 27th.
On the 28th,a male Shoveler,4 Redshank and 2 Sand Martins>N at Cold Edge
dams closely followed by 3 cracking male Wheatear at Soil Hill was 100 for the
year.A Scan. Rock Pipit,a real crippler at Blackstone Edge on the 30th was a
first for me taking my Calderdale list to 191 and year list to 101.
A very good March. Andy C.
BS. Posted by Picasa

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Rock Pipit ID

Photo by Sean Gray
Sorry to use your photo Sean but Andy Cockroft asked me to put this comment on
the Blog and the only way on at present is with a photo.
This message will probably have Nick D spitting feathers.
AC says.... Many thanks for the finder of this Scan. Rock Pipit,in my view,now
that Ive studied the photos,(nice one again Sean) the main features are :-
dark malar patch,strong super behind the eye,grey mantle/blueish tint
strong smudged flanks,dark legs,and the main featureis the outer tail feather,
although its off white at the edge it turns grey at the centre of the feather
(it would be all white in a Water Pipit. An excellent find and only the 2nd Calderdale
record,I think.Are there any photos of the Green Withens bird for comparison.
Andy C. BS Posted by Picasa

Soil Hill

Soil Hill looking >NE
01/04/2007 1500-1600hrs cool ENE>4
9 Skylark
2 Twite
4 Linnet
4 Woodpigs
m Pheasant
Sev Mipits
no sign of Wheatear.
Could only get on blog using photo,; blog this; was,nt working ?
BS Posted by Picasa

Fly Flatts

01/04/2007 0800-1015hrs cold NE>5 Bright.
52 Woodpigs >NE .movers.
32 Canadas
2 Greylag
1m Reed Bunting
8 Twite on seed
1m Pheasant
1 Raven
+ usual sp. BS Posted by Picasa

Saturday, March 31, 2007

2nd Rock Pipit

Darrel Prest reported a second Rock Pipit at Green Withens Reservoir yesterday evening. It was present at the same time as the Blackstone Edge bird.

Friday, March 30, 2007

Osprey - Blake Dean

A report of an osprey around lunchtime over Blake Dean.
Martin Hayes.

Rock pipit

I happened to look at the Rochdale Wildlife website today, and there's a report (and photos) from yesterday of a rock pitit, of the race littoralis from Blacksone Edge res' yesterday.
http://www.wildlifeofrochdale.co.uk/

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Today

c200 Golden Plover in North field at Ringstone at approx 14:30, also a Grey Heron over. nothing on the Res.

2 Little Owl together along Widdop Rd nr Packhorse Pub

Near Widdop Res Pair of Stonechat and further along a single male.

Tawny Owl found roosting in the plantation at Widdop Res yesterday.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

PICTURES FROM TODAY



Shame about the late evening light still this Kestrel was hunting on Davey Lane Blackshaw Head.



1 of c15 along Widdop rd this afternoon feeding in rd side fields.



c50 Golden Plover nr Cross Stones Todmorden this evening.



Little Owl on Widdop Rd this afternoon.



Barnacle Goose at Ogden, surely we're not counting this one are we guys?

Cold Edge 28th March 2nd attempt

 
 
 

Male Shoveler, Pochard, Goldeneye, 2 Tufted Duck, 11 Greylags, 2 Grey Herons, 1 eating a huge frog, 4 Redshank, 15 Golden Plovers, 2 Curlew, 40 Lapwing, 2 Sand Martins north, Kestrel and a Meadow Pipit with a very short tail doing a goood immpresion of a Wood Lark(birders beware).

3 Wheatears reported on Soil Hill. Posted by Picasa

Castle Carr 27th March

The 15 Whoopers that were at Ogden flew west over Castle Carr just before 7.30PM (hard luck Dave).15 sightings of at least 3 roding Woodcocks between 7.46 - 8.10PM.Also Tawny Owl and Little Owl heard, Green Woodpecker, Song Thrush and Kestrels.
A Long-eared Owl search at last years breeding site proved fruitless.
Missed out on the Whoopers tonight. Had a quick look at Ogden at 7.30 pm but they had gone!

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

OGDEN


27/03/2007 1800hrs
15 Whooper Swans
1 Barnacle Goose
This sighting for me thanks to grapevine. BS Posted by Picasa

Today'S Garden bird

This was here for a few minutes looking for tea, talk about panic i had to rush to set up my camara and got about 20 shots

green withens 26 03 06





this evening produced 2 male goosander on the res which were a nice patch tick.
also 2 lapwings flew north.4 curlews and the usual.

Monday, March 26, 2007

26th March

A 2 hour watch from my watch point produced all the usual suspects, noteable was a large flock of Fieldfare that flew east.
This evening visited Castle Carr with Gordon in the hope of seeing roding Woodcock - we were not disapointed with at least 3 birds in display flight, it may have been as many as 6 individuals ?. We had between 15 and 20 sightings between 7.45 and 8.05 PM. It was the best night I have ever had for this species in Calderdale.
We also checked out the woodland where permission has been given to put up nest boxes in the hope of attrackting Redstarts. We will need many more boxes to cover the area well, if anybody could nock some together it would be apreciated.

Nesting Time again 2

Another picture of long tailed tit . Looks more like a fan dancer dont you think Posted by Picasa

Swales Moor

Shore Lark still present this afternoon at Pule Hill and looking good. I am surprised it is still there after all this time but guess it will be on it's way before long???

Great records of Whooper Swans in last two days with Bruce's 62 over Illingworth yesterday morning is unprecedented and another 16 reported from Elland and presumably the same group heading over Shibden Valley this morning.

Nesting Time again

Had this long tailed tit and partner in the garden today lining a nest in a conifer with bundles of feathers. At times you couldnt see the bird for the feathers . Lets hope they have a some success . Posted by Picasa

Mystery nest...


This is one of the nests we removed from previously placed boxes at the Crags yesterday. It was made up primarily of grass, and was significantly different to the others we removed.
Any ideas in terms of identification??

Whooper Swans

There were 62 Whooper swans flying in formation with ocasional calls NW Sunday 25/3/07 at 11 am over my house (Bradshaw) at no more than 80 foot high. - awsome sight!

Bruce
testing testing will this work?