common gull or was there something more........

unfortunetly not it was just a common gull above my school. as it flew over i thought it must be a ring billed gull but after serious anlysis i have decided against it. how very heartbreaking :-(

Scope..which to buy ?

Having been enthused about birds again by meeting members of this forum whilst moffing, I have now decided to go the whole hog and buy a scope again after many years without one. I wonder if I could ask advice from members of this forum before looking through the plethora of scopes advertised. At the moment I cannot afford a top of the range scope, but don't want a cheapo one either. Is there a consensus on a decent scope that wont break the bank ? I can manage for the time being with my bug watching bins which though small have decent optics, but I remember from my past bird watching days a scope makes a big difference to the range at which one can safely ID birds.

Soil Hill
Two Snow Buntings there this afternoon - male and female - 3-4 p.m. They were among the stones in the area on the top beyond the long 'pool' which is straight ahead from the path in.

Whiteholme area - 12-30pm - 3pm

Whiteholme - 1 peregrine over, > E. 2 goldeneye on res'. 1 fieldfare over. 2 twite on beach, (1 un-ringed, 1 with pink on left leg)

Warland - No twite at all. 3 mallard on res'. 1 wren alarm calling.

Ryburne - 8+ goldcrests in woods, 1 dead canada goose that had been dragged from the moor to the res' edge by a fox / Gordon Dennison / both in partnership. 11 bh gulls. 3 mallard, and LBB / GBB gull at a distance (see photo, click on it to enlarge - any thoughts?)

Another walk on the Wildside 6.50 am to 7.45 am

I set off early this morning as I was not meeting up with Les Midgely, so still well dark at 6.50am when I set off down the towpath. Nothing much seen or heard until I emerged below the trees at Rawson's Pool. I then heard various Robins in full song staking out their territory. I stopped off at each tree and left a small handful of Pin Head Oats in a clear spot for each bird. I used to count Robins on my way home in the dark after a nightshift at Firths Carpets at Bailiff Bridge(bloody hell that's nearly 30 years ago now!). I think the maximum I ever bagged on the route home back to Rastrick was 36 different Robins.

The sky had lightened up by there time I arrived at Brookfoot loop but still not much bird sound at all, very quiet. I dropped some seed & pinhead oats off at the pontoon bridge between Brookfoot and Tag Loop and by the time I climbed over the barrier a Robin had nipped down for breakfast. I took the centre track up to the top of Tag and topped up feeders and threw out some more Carrots for the Roe Deer. I then scattered seed, nuts and oats by the large seating stone on the top of Tag, the usual crow dropped down to feed as soon as I moved away.

I then made my way across the top of Tag Loop towards the Alders running around above the disabled path. I heard, then spotted a nice flock of Siskins here, probably 20 or so. It was still quiet gloomy and hard to pick them up in the dark background. Not sure if any other species were mixed in with them as I only managed to see Siskin. The dog and I then made our way around the disabled path towards the Calder, nothing much about apart from a few Woodies and Jays. Just after the settling pond on near the path I heard something in the bracken under the trees and picked out the shape of a Roe Deer no more than 20 feet away across tag cut browsing amongst the bracken. Gradually I picked out three deer in total all totally oblivious of me and the dog. I watched them for around 5 minutes but then as I have a bad case of bronchitis at the moment I coughed and they were up and away within seconds. This is a good area to get close to Roe at the moment as they seem to be looking for fallen acorns amongst the bracken.

I then walked out onto the river bank and immediately noticed that the Mallard were back in the this section. This area has be totally devoid of waterfowl since I spotted the mustelid a couple of weeks back. It has now perhaps moved out the area ? Walking back up towards the metal footbridge I had Dipper, Heron and heard a Kingfisher. Also had Chaffinch and Greenfinch in the hawthorn hedge.

Walking back up the canal towpath home I had Fox and Roe deer (one) in the field below Knowles pipe works dump. I spotted two flocks of Bullfinch with around 5/6 in each flock. Nearing home I was watching a flock of Great, Blue and Great Tits in the woodland between the Calder and canal when I rather luckily spotted a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker under a Sycamore branch of all places. Sheer chance played a great part in it had I not been looking through the bins at the tit flock I would never have noticed the pecker.

Nothing seen that would get on the grapevine and have people hurrying down to view, but nevertheless a very satisfying 55 minute walk. I bet not many people in Calderdale are even aware if the deer in their midst and I got to watch them so close I could almost touch them. Its amazing how little most people see when out walking in the countryside. I suspect most naturalists are always on the lookout even when in supermarket car parks but even walkers seem to blunder past without seeing even large mammals. I often see deer and fox in an afternoon when taking the dog down the canal towpath but watch groups of walkers coming towards me who have obviously no idea what they are missing on the opposite bank. Why is it that despite the plethora of "wildlife" programs on telly most people never use their eyes when out, do they think nature only occurs on TV !

Soil Hill

1 Snow Bunting still there this afternoon at 15.30. In the NE corner on the most exposed area - c10 meters and no closer - still there at 16.00. No other birds around other than 1 Meadow Pipit over >N. Tried to digi-bin the Snow Bunting and got a few blurred shots but the wind was too strong to keep the camera still.

seo

1 was flushed on soil hill and guess what its my third new bird in 2 days. just a quick flush but obvious to tell what it was (plus there were other birders up there). i wonder what will come next. im back to school tomorrow so i wont be able to see much more stuff.

Caption Competition Time Again

Taken on a recent trip to Spurn, anyone care to comment? Keep it clean, remember the group's image.

Mystery Garden Visitor

Taken by my Dad on Saturday, my thought is Harris Hawk but don't have a guide book with it and think perhaps on the small side any ideas chaps? Also I'm afraid no further info on id only other thing is it flew off right.

snow buntings

what could make this day better. 1 jack snipe my first and now 3 snow buntings at the same site.
got a text about them from the grapvine and went up in less than 5 mins. nothing else presant probably because it is too dark.

Soil Hill

Walk round at 2.15pm.Put up six snipe which flew off towards Oxenhope. Four snow buntings still present which were feeding towards N E Corner. Nothing else except two crows.Puddles still had a thin ice cover on.

jack snipe

1 up on soil hill this morning about 9.30. also there was about 6 red legged partridge, 3 mipits (flyover jobs) and also 3 flyover golden plovers. 1 sparrowhawk flew in from the SE. my personel first jack snipe and good to see it on home turf instead of on holiday which is where most of my best birds are eg honey buzzard. flushed twice but lost it the second time.

no snipe on the pools this morning although the meadow pipits flew over. besides that the pools were deserted. no snow buntings either (or shore lark or purple sandpiper or lapland bunting but hey).

Out of area

It's south of our area boundry, but a little auk was reported at Blackmoorfoot Res', Huddersfield at 8:30am today.

11th November

Roils Head
2 Stonechats, 1 Redpoll, 5 Meadow Pipits, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Kestrel.
Highroad Well Moor
1 immature Herring Gull flew west, 40 Lapwings and 7 Common Gulls.
Moor End Road
1 superb adult male Sparrowhawk.

Soil Hill

11/11/2007 a.m.
Soil Hill comes up trumps again on Rememberance sunday with
3m and 4f Snow Buntings found by Chris King and rang through
to me by Mark Doveston who was at Barden at the time but got
back onto the hill in record breaking time. Thanks for that Mark.

Just 2 Goldeneye at Fly Flatts early on. BS

XMAS Social get together

Following the relative success of the last get together it has been suggested that we have another to give old and new members the opportunity to meet and generally have a good night out.

I have several suggestions as venues and would welcome some input as to a favoured spot over the next week. I suggest a date of Thursday 29th November.

Possible venues incl The Works (Sowerby Bridge), Old Bridge Inn (Ripponden) or the Pump Room (Halifax) the last of these I would recommend a change to a Wednesday night as they have a quiz on a Thursday unless of course some of you wanted some friendly competition on the night (it's not a genius type quiz - trust me I've come 3rd twice - not out of 3 no!!)

Anyway let me know and I'll post the final venue time and date next Sunday.

Book Raffle

Raffle tickets sales are going reasonably well, some people are being very generous, others are conspicuous by their absence so far, come on chaps as one buyer put it "the cause is a good one and the book(s) brilliant"

Ringstone and Scammonden Today

Ringstone Edge R.
10.20 - 11.30 & 14.20 - 15.35
Cormorant 1 flew straight thro West
Wigeon 1 fem
Teal 4 males 1 fem
Com Snipe 8
Lapwing 29
Good numbers of gulls coming in mid afternoon
Common Gull 220
B h Gull c300
Starlng 250+
Pied Wag 1 male

Scammonden Dam
viewed dam from car only
10.00 - 10.15 & 15.40 - 15.50
Little Grebe 1
Cormorant 1
Kestrel 2
Common Gull c200
Bh gull 80

Soil Hill

10/11/2007 1530hrs Strong W>6
Hoping for a repeat of last years Purple Sand.
Conditions exactly the same minus the bird.
4 Mipits
1 Skylark
1 Kestrel
6 Grey Partridge.
Got plenty seed down. BS

We walked down from the Wind Farm to Ogden Reservoir this morning - slightly wondering whether we should have found some alternatice entertainment because of the weather - and were rewarded with good views of two (at least) Goldcrests among a mixed Tit flock (in the trees on the left just before you get to the reservoir). There were a few Blue and Coal Tits but most were Long-taileds - not sure how many, too busy looking at the Goldcrests, but guess at least 25-30; they clearly have done very well this year as there seem so many around.
Bill Halling

Ringstone Edge Today

Calderdales 'Martin Mere' Ringstone now the hotspot for Whooper Swan but thats were the similarity ends as this was the only species of waterfowl on the reservoir
also
common Snipe 8
Stonechat male & fem North wall

BTO Atlas Survey

Continued into another Tetrad today which includes part of Castle Carr/Dean Head Res'rs and Fly Flats moorland. Still pretty hard work to cover the various habitats but just about managed a 2 hr stint. Many thanks for the permission of the landowner to go through the estate.

2 Dippers at Dean Head and 60 Fieldfares in the woodland. 2 Twite at Fly Flats (one of them pink ring on left leg) were the highlights, also the number of Reed Buntings about is encouraging especially in moorland grass/juncus habitat. 2 f Goldeneye, 6 Stock Doves, 9 Red Grouse and a Kestrel at Fly Flats.

Outside the tetrad 3 Stonechats, 3 Reed Buntings and 1 Meadow Pipit on Castle Carr Road and 2 f Goldeneye on Cold Edge.

Ogden/Fly Flats

Hard work today in the driving wind and rain this morning. Couldn't find much at all other than 1 female Goldeneye at Cold Edge this afternoon and that was about it but for a very hardy Kestrel at Fly Flats.

High Royd sewage farm

A brief visit this afternoon.
16 moorhen
15 teal visable (on the water I could see - almost certainly more there)
Water rail heard
5 pied wagtail on the new settling beds
4 mallard
26 bh gulls

I dont beliveeeeee it

The blogg gods have let me spaak,thank you all.female Sparrowhawk killed feral pigeon off next doors roof and landed in field in frount of House today.

Cromwell Bottom Sighting

Morning all
Spotted a large water loving Mustelid by the weir between North Bank Loop and Tag Cut Loop on the river Calder at CB this morning (7.45 am). The animal was hunting below the weir sill and then disappeared into vegetation on North Bank. It reappeared some 5 mins later above the weir and swam off strongly upstream towards Lowfields Business Park. I had the animal under observation through bins for a good 10/15 mins and am certain of my ID. For obvious reasons I have not named the creature on a public forum and hope that anyone wanting to see such animal will be discreet and remember that the animals safety and well being comes ahead of anyones understandable wish to view it. I suspect a good place to look would be to park at Lowfields and walk downstream on the right hand bank of the river in the direction of Brighouse.

WALSHAW DEAN 7:30 - 10:30

1 of 6 individuals who added to the pleasure of this mornings walk.

An early morning stroll upto the first res and then on past the plantation up the left hand side produced probable Mealy Redpoll, very light individual in the plantation amongst a large flock of Siskin and with Coal tit,Great tit,Blue tit,Goldcrest,Chaffinch, 4 Teal and 6 Mallard on res, min 10 Red Grouse, 2 Kestrels, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Jay, 14 Woodpigeon and a Stoat.

4 Roe Deer in fields in front of my Dads house before setting off added to a great morning ruined only by the need to get back and goto work.

It was also a pleasure to meet Terry from the Burnley side who was followed by the legend that is the Guru. Hope you had a good day guys.

Ogden/Fly Flats

New bird for me at Fly Flats this afternoon (thanks for the tip off John!) A Dipper in the cut by the bridge near the sailing club. It flew off toward the Withens around 2 pm.

5 Goldeneye on the res'r and one Twite at the feeding station. Bitterly cold wind there this afternoon but good to share seeing the Twite and Goldeneye with Bill who I havn't seen since we saw the Shorelark at Soil Hill - last December.

BTO Atlas work in the Tetrad west of Ogden Res'r this morning. One hour was a bit of a push to cover the various habitats (woodland/upland pasture/moorland/windfarm area/golf course and bog! However the BTO have an option for a further hour (separate count) so I made good use of that. I mention bog because I went through the area from Withens Road to Ogden golf course - very wet but rewarding with 5 Reed Buntings there!

Even more rewarding were 2 Woodcock - one flushed on the golf course by a golfer who was thrashing about in the rough, looking for his ball - nice one as it flew right across the golf course towards Cold Edge (I dont think the golfer even noticed it!)! and the other flushed in Skirden Clough/Ogden plantataon - they don't half go with a rush when disturbed.

I am still coming to terms working the Tetrads out and how to record as the fieldwork instructions. I would encourage everyone to get involved. If you dont fancy Tetrad timed counts then there is an option to send into the BTO records from wherever you are. If you are not sure then www.birdatlas.net tells you all you need to know - its running from Nov 2007 till 2011.

EGP - 08:45 till 10:15

Short walk round not much about, 2 Goosander on the river, Great Spotted Woodpecker up towards Rawsons pool, (Paul whats the story with those wooden houses?) small flock of 7 Siskin flying around and a seperate pair also, plenty of Blue/Great and Long Tailed tits only picked up one Goldcrest but sure there were more about. 1 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush and loads of Blackbirds, Little Grebe also on the river.

Paul can you also give me directions to your feeding stations, cheers.

Raffle update!

Received from Paul today....

I have added a copy of SHOREBIRDS, an identification guide to the waders of the world by Hayman, Marchant & Prater (Helm HB) and a three volume set of Cowards British Birds and their eggs to the Harrier book to boost your chances of selling some tickets. The Coward set goes for around £15 and the Shorebird book for £20 as its in mint condition. I have also just dug out a copy of the New Atlas of Breeding Birds of Britain and Ireland 1988 1991 and added that to the pile so its well worth spending a fiver on raffle tickets. Only thing I ask is that the buyer collects the job lot.

Come on chaps, with a prize like that a fiver is nowt (and its for a good cause).

Harrier Book

Ticket sales going OK but we need to sell as many as possible to raise a significant sum, the guys in Malta are delighted we are doing this and want tickets themselves, lets not let them down!

Ogden/Fly Flats

Not a lot about today - lots of rain early afternoon and then a howling gale at Fly Flats.
Ogden - just a large group of Long-tailed Tits (c20) along with Coal, Blue and Great Tits, 6 Goldcrests, Treecreeper and Gt Spotted Woodpecker.

Also checked Soil Hill but if anything was there it was keeping down in the strong wind - just 1 Meadow Pipit there.

Fly Flats - 2 fem Goldeneye and a fem Merlin sheltering behind the embankment wall out of the wind. Unfortunatley it flushed and flew down into Luddenden Dean but nice to see. Merlins are special!

Sightings

I know it's not all about numbers, but in the last 48 hours, the site has had over 400 visits. There's some brilliant stuff to look at too, so thanks to all who have posted and made comments.

Ringstone and Scammonden today

Digiscoped shot - look Sean you just dont need all that equipment

Scaup on Scammonden today with 4 tuftees refused to pose for photo

Ringstone Edge R
Mallard 1
Teal 4
Goldeneye 5 only two present at 08.00
Greylag Goose 1 08.00
Whooper Swan 2 ads came in at 11.32 from the South. Probably these two swans were seen Fling North over Holmirth a few minutes earlier by Dave Pennington.
Sparrowhawk 1 male flushed everthing off North shore early morning
Lapwing 180+ mid afternoon
Com Snipe 11 on shore early morning
L B B Gull 1 flew W
Common Gull 45
B H Gull 185
Rock Dove 1
Stonechat 2 Fem/imm North wall
Raven 1 very distantly over the hillside to the West
Reed Buting 4
+ al the finches etc at Sean's restuarant

Scammonden Valley
Scaup 1 fem
Tufted Duck 3males 1 fem
Sparrowhawk 2
Kestrel 2
Little Owl
Redpoll 6 SW
Short-eared Owl was hunting on Cupwith Moor just South of the Calderdale area at dusk.

Hen Harrier book

Paul Talbot has generously offered us a first edition copy of "The Hen Harrier" by Donald Watson to raffle to raise money towards optics for the ALE in Malta (that's Administrative Law Enforcement not beer money!). The current value of this first edition is thought to be between £80 - 125 so it could turn out to be quite an investment as well as an interesting read. Tickets are priced at £1 each and can be obtained from me, I intend to circulate details of this raffle to as many local birders as possible so please pass the word round. The draw will take place at the end of November.

Many thanks to Paul for his continued support of all things birdy in Calderdale, please repay this generosity by visiting his Pennine Books website (see links) when buying natural history books, remember he has also offered us a donation for every book sold.

Fly Flatts

04/11/2007 0700-0945 Bright, cloudy sunshine N>1 turning WNW>2

Vis Mig :- all movement before 0800hrs.
STARLING.................................515 >N
WOODPIG.................................626 >SW
REDWING..................................48 SW
MIPIT.........................................8 >S
Other :-
6 Goldeneye on water
No Twite.
BS

Ringstone and Scammonden today

Ringstone E Res. 08.20 - 09.10 and 14.20 - 16.50
Teal 5
Peregrine 1
Kestrel 1
Lapwng 85
Golden Plover 6
Common Snipe 16
Com Gull 5
B h Gull 120
Woodpigeon 400+ SW am
Scammonden Valley/ Dean Head Res. 11.00 - 13.45 and 17.00 - 17.35
Pink-f Goose 220 suprisingly went North
Peregrine 1
Kestrel 3
Sparrowhawk 1
Oystertcatcher 1 Flew low thro valley SW
Short eared Owl 1 prob 2 hunting in the valley at dusk
Woodpigeon 250 SW
Meadow Pipit 16
Fieldfare 115
Redwing 20
Siskin 3

Ringstone hide rates

For those of you who have been following the hide rates saga I can now confirm that the application for a full rate relief has been successful, we will not be paying rates. Next step is to get the hide delisted completely.

Shibden Valley

03/11/2007 1530hrs
Green Lane Top
5 Brambling
8 Chaffinch
4 Greenfinch
2pr Bullfinch
1 Green Wdpecker
Sev Fieldfare and Redwings in Holly Bushes.

Soil Hill 1500hrs poor.
1 Stonechat
Corvids seem to be clearing seed
BS

grey wagtail

saw 1 on my bike around bradshaw which is strange because there isnt any fast flowing water

High Royd

Called down there this morning and was urprised to find two of the lagoons had water in - this after all the settling beds have been dried out all summer - the other beds looked quite muddy without any standing water. 12 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Coot, 8 Moorhen, 12 Mallard, 1 Pied Wagtail and 48 Carrion Crows - so thats an improvement!

Jumble Hole 9:30-10:30am

Had a relatively productive hour at Jumble Hole this morning.

11 siskin over > NE
1 twite over > S (an uncommon bird for Jumble Hole)
Min' 250 redwing over > west, in small parties
45 fieldfare
5 bullfinch
3 chaffinch
1 greenfinch
1 goldfinch
2 heron
1 green woodpecker
Loads of tits feeding - more or less equal numbers of long-tailed, coal, blue and great
2 pheasant
1 kestrel
And to finish, a house sparrow in my garden - again not that common here.
Also a neighbour on Underbank Avenue reports a nuthatch as a recent and very regular visitor to his bird table

Ogden Water

Woodcock in Skirden Clough this morning was a treat. Nothing much else about other than usual woodland spp.. with 30 redwings >N and 2 Fieldfares. Siskin still around the plantation but no sign of Crossbills. The res'r has been very quiet this week - could do with some duck -maybe when the weather deteriorates!

Ogden/Fly Flats

A single Swan sp.. heading high over Back Lane at Ogden this morning towards Thornton Moor at 08.35 also 2 unid Grey Geese heading in more or less the same direction at 08.37. Thanks to Brian Sumner for contacting HC on the Bradford side who also had the swan over soon after and confirmed it was a Whooper but had no sign of the geese. Many thanks.
Also Redpoll and Siskin over Back Lane but nothing much on or around Ogden Res'r other than 70+ B H Gulls and 35 Common Gulls.

Fly Flats very windswept this morning - just 4 B H Gulls and 2 unringed Twite at the feeding station.

Booth Wood Res'r

2 Cormorants there this morning on the old stone walls on the far side by the edge of the res'r. They seem to have been quite regular there this last two months. Also c12 Fielfares in the big hedge near the quarry feeding on hawthorn berries.

soil hill

all sorts of birds up there this evening 6 grey partridges were around whilst about 20 golden plover were on the scrapes and in the air. 5 feildfares showed up and hung around even though they didnt land

Cromwell Bottom this morning

The feeding station on Tag Loop is now getting plenty of activity, but unfortunately not from Yellowhammers yet :-(( I topped the feeders up again this morning and spotted Blue, Great & Coal Tit around the feeders. Green Woodpecker disturbed from below the feeders as I approached (I thought they only fed on inverts ?). The open feeding area had a flock of finches which took off long before I got close enough to see which species they were. The most regular bird in the open area near the large stone is a Crow. It is waiting every morning in a small tree when I get to the feeding area, as soon as I scatter the food and move away it nips down for breakfast on a small pile of nuts and sunflower seeds I leave on the stone for it. I also take a bag of cheap carrots with my every few days and pile these under the trees near the feeders. Roe Deer like the carrot "feeding station" as the carrots are always gone the next day and I often see them moving away as I and the dog approach in the mornings. I aim to move the carrot feeding station around as I don't want the deer to become too used me and the dog as not everyone keeps mutts under control around wildlife and we do get the odd "Great White Hunter" on site now and then unfortunately.

I spotted a weird "flying ball" going over the river to Brookfoot loop and when I got the bins out it turned out to be a Jay minus tail ! It seemed to fly OK but I don't give much chance for it performing acrobatics until the tail grows back ! I also spotted a Little Owl flying across the top of Tag Loop, only my second sighting of one at CB. Not much else around this morning apart from Kingfisher, Dipper, Little Grebe and Heron on the river section.

WATER RAIL

Last week a dead water rail was found on the moor at Lumbutts, not far from the road. It hadn't a mark on it - except it was dead! The guy who found it works with my son but couldn't identify it and took it to someone who could.

Sandra

Fly Flatts feeding station

For the benefit of Bill . This is the feeding station area from the reservoir banking. See comment on
your Fly Flatts report. BS

Fly Flats 10.30-12.15

A beautiful morning for a walk though not very much about - but just to prove (to myself) that I can make a (first) post -
6 Black-headed gulls
1 Kestrel
3 Stonechat
5 Red Grouse
1 Crow
I didn't spot any Twite - though I did meet a Bradford birder looking for them.
Question - I believe there is a Twite feeding station there. Where do I look for it?
Bill Halling

Ogden Water

2 Crossbills there this morning 08.45 in the plantation on the west side of the res'r and flew towards the traditional area in the pines near the 'Giants Tooth'. Also several Siskin over the plantations and some Redpoll heard as well. Also 3f Bullfinch, 2 Gt Spotted Woodpeckers and 2 Sparrowhawks over.

Back Lane - 18 Fielfares and 2 Redwings >W, 140 Starlings >W (in small groups), 30 Chaffinch >W over the moor. 1 adult Lesser-black Backed Gull >NE and 2 Kestrels and Red Grouse heard on Ovenden Moor.

BTO Bird Atlas 2007-11

Those of you who attended the last CBCG meeting will know all about the new BTO atlas project which starts in November, for those that don't take a look at www.bto.org/birdatlas/about.htm
There are several local observers already signed up for this latest BTO initiative, its a brilliant way to make your everyday birding count.

Posting sightings

This weekend, like most others, the Calderdale Blog has had well over 300 visits. Please keep posting any sightings you have, then the visitors have something to look at! This time of year is not the best in Calderdale, but please keep the information coming, even if it's fairly run of the mill stuff. The site relies wholly on people posting sightings and information.
Many thanks.

Soil Hill

28/10/2007 1500hrs
8 Golden Plover on scrapes
14 Blogging Mipits
2 Skylark
Full 3kg bag of seed I put down last light
yesterday has completely gone, possibly
washed away this a.m.
BS

Fly Flatts/ Cold Edge Dams

28/10/2007 0700-0900hrs
Early fog and drizzle. W>5 then Torrential rain.
Fly Flatts :-
1m Goldeneye
2 Stonechat
22 Lapwings >E
29 Golden Plover >W

Cold Edge :-
14 BH Gulls
3 Mallard
1 Moorhen
1 Stonechat
2 Redwing in trees
Will try get dried out now. BS

SOIL HILL

27/10/2007 1600hrs W>5 Fog rolling in, drizzle.
2 Chaffinch, a site tick for me up there, could be grounded movers
18 Golden Plover on scrapes. BS

Walshaw Dean, twinned with Royston Vasey.

Walshaw Dean

80 then 30 fieldfare over Widdop Road
2-3 redwing over plantation
Siskin calling from plantation
1 Kestrel
5 stonechat
1 mallard on Lower Walshaw
2f 1m teal on Lower Walshaw
1 tufted duck on Lower Walshaw
2 red grouse
1 pheasant
1 reed bunting
Loads of shoreline on the res's but nothing there today

24th October

Back to reality after yesterdays trip to Flamborough.

Roils Head
Either 3 different Woodcocks flying into West End Golf Course or the same bird being repeatedly flushed. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Stonechats and a Kestrel.
High Road Well Moor
35 Lapwings the first of the autumn here/

Ringstone

320 Lapwings there this afternoon along with 28 Golden Plover. Also 4 Teal, 1 Wigeon, and 1 Great Crested Grebe. 65+ Jackdaws at Barkisland.

Ogden

Very quiet there this week - usual spp this morning plus a Grey Wagtail, 1 Wigeon and a Lesser-black backed Gull over.

High Royd

Does anyone have any info on the water levels at High Royd? Following on from a post some time ago by Matt expressing his concern over the apparent drying out of the settling beds I have made several attempts to find out what is happening from Yorkshire Water. Despite being promised a reply I have not received any useful info. I am considering making further attempts to contact them but before doing so thought I'd better check out the latest situation.

Fly Flats

It was pretty cold there this afternoon, must be getting soft in my old age! - 5 Twite (1 with pink ring on left leg) at the feeding station. 2 Ravens at a distance over the moor, 2 Kestrels, 1 Stonechat, 6+ Red Grouse and a solitary Meadow Pipit.

Withens Gap - 6 Canadas and 8 Greylag Geese over Cold Edge but no sign of the Barnacle Goose today.

Ringstone

Golden eye
www.nsdphotography.co.uk

Soil Hill

21/10/2007 1600hrs.
Very quiet.
2 Carrion Crow, 2 Magpie, 4 Starling on seed.
2 Snipe flushed ,one near seed,one on top scrapes
BS

Fly Flatts

A hazy sunrise at Fly Flatts
21/10/2007 0730-1000hrs Hazy sunshine with low mist . Blue skies above. S>1
A poor morning with an early rush of birds, probably overnighters from Paul Clough
then not a bird of any description in the area after 0845.

VIS MIG :-
PF GOOSE...........................................2 >E
GREENFINCH...................................16 >W
CHAFFINCH.....................................178 >W
BRAMBLING.......................................4 >W
SISKIN................................................7 >W
ALBA WAG........................................21 >S
WOODPIG..........................................84 >S & SW
GREAT TIT........................................1 >S low over water

Other :-
3 Greylag
1 Stonechat
12 BH Gulls on water
Nothing on seed. BS

Luddenden Dean/Wainstalls

Luddenden Dean - this afternoon - 180 or more Fieldfares in the dean - mostly feeding on holly and rowan berries. Also a few (c20) Redwing, a similar number of Blackbirds and also c25 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Song Thrush and 2 Bullfinches.

40+ Greenfinch on the area on the east of the dean near the bottom lodge (where all the rabbits are) feeding on blackberries. Also 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers in immaculate plumage and 6 Siskin over.

Castle Carr Road - 4 Grey Partridge, 2 Kestrels, 1 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting and 60 + Jackdaws.

19th October

Heath Hill Road
5 Grey Partridge, 1 Green Woodpecker, 15 Fieldfare,2 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush.

Roils Head
Stonechat, Kestrel, several Long-tailed Tits and Blackbirds present.

Moor End Gardens
7 Long-tailed Tits and 3 Goldcrests.

A walk on the wildside

I did my usual walk down the canal towpath this morning and despite the gloomy weather found plenty to enjoy.

Just above Rawson's pool on the canal I heard the unmistakable sound of Nuthatch. I have only ever seen these once before in this area of Calderdale. I watched one bird creeping down an oak tree just above the "neck" before Rawson's pool. I heard at least two birds calling for definite but I think there were more. My observations were disturbed by Jay alarm calls, thinking it was me or the dog they had spotted I ignored them. A movement at the corner of my eye distracted my attention from the Nuthatch and there was the reason for the alarm calls, a Fox was making its way along the landing area at Rawson's pool. By the time I looked back the Nuthatch had disappeared and although I could still hear them I couldn't pick them out in the gloom (7.30 am). I moved on down the towpath and heard both Green and Great Woodpecker calling but couldn't pick them out. Looking over the field just below Knowles pipeworks "dump" I picked out two Roe deer making their way to some heavy scrub, presumable to rest up after a nights feeding.

When I got to cross the iron bridge between North bank loop and tag loop at Cromwell Bottom I paused on the bridge to see what was about on the river. I picked up a Heron, five female Goosanders fishing "Pelican" fashion. They were swimming upstream through the shallows in a line abreast, presumably to drive any small fish into a small pool at the top of the shallows. Each Goosander paddled along with its head underwater with just the occasional lift of the head to check its bearings. Once they reached the pool they all dived to feed, so I left them to it and walked up to the feeding station on Tag to scatter some more seed. I then walked back around the disabled path on tag back towards the river. When I got to the large pond I heard a crow mobbing call behind me, looking back I watched a Crow chasing a Little Owl into some scrub before breaking off its attack, my first ever Little Owl at CB all thanks to a Crow !

I made my way back up the river bank to the bridge and was rewarded with good views of Dipper and Kingfisher along the river. I then saw and heard a Green woodpecker which landed in a large Ash just by the bridge and gave me some clear views before it flew off onto Tag.

Walking back up home I was well pleased that in an hours walk within two hundred yards of one of the busiest roads in Calderdale and in an area lined by various working businesses I had seen birds and wildlife that most people in Calderdale don't even know exists on their own doorstep. I for one think its bloody marvellous that even such large animals as Roe deer and foxes can exist in even small areas we manage to save from being built on, bulldozed and abused all in the name of profit. Who was the richer man today ? The man who owns the factory and sees nothing or me with not much cash but a love of nature, I know what I would chose every time.....and no its not the cash for the cynics amongst you :-))

Ogden/Fly Flats

Ogden - am - Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 36 Fieldfares >W at 08.30.
Back Lane - 4 Snipe and 1 Reed Bunting.

Fly Flats - pm - 10 Twite (1 with a pink ring on left leg) and another (same colour ring) feeding in the wind-farm car park with c36 Meadow Pipits.
1 Wheatear still , around the rocks near the track to the Twite feeding area. 2 Ravens high over High Brown Knoll, 12 + Red Grouse and 2 Kestrels.
Also 1 f Goldeneye on the top res'r above Castle Carr Estate.

Ryburn/Baitings/Booth Wood

Checked all three site this morning - nothing much doing - c15 Siskin at Ryburn and 2 f Goosanders at Baitings.

More PFG

After having 500 pink footed geese over Shipley on Sunday 14th Oct and more on Monday, a skein of 100-200 heading SE over Ovenden at 9.15am this morning.

Cold Edge/Fly Flats

Dead Tawny Owl at Withens Gap this afternoon. Not sure if it had beeen shot - lots of damage around the chest and neck. Maybe it had flown into a telegraph wire or a fence line?

Cold Edge - 6 Red Grouse, 30 Mallard,1 Kestrel, 1 Reed Bunting, 30 Meadow Pipits, 22 Canada Geese along with the Barnacle Goose in the fields. 23 Fieldfares >S towards Luddenden Dean

Fly Flats -1 Raven on a fence post with a Stonechat 2m away on the fence wire - what a combination - shame I couldn't get a photo but it was raining heavy at the time!

20 Twite and 12 Goldfinches at the feeding station. 2 Red Grouse on the moor and 1 Kestrel over. 6 Stonechats together down the track to the sailing club, occasional mipits and 2 additional Stonechats near the wind farm car park.

Ogden

One Wheatear this morning along the walls on Syke Lane.

Usual flocks of tits/Goldcrests around the res'r plus 12 Siskin over.

15th October

Fly Flats
Visited with DJS this pm. 14 Twite and 12 Goldfinch at the seed, 2 Kestrels and 1 Red Grouse. 4 Stonechats on the walls + another one at Withens Hotel and another picked up dead in the road.
Cold Edge Dams
1 Barnacle Goose in with several Greylags and Canadas.

Roils Head
2 Stonechats, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Kestrel.

Ogden Water

Walk round today at 4.00pm. Black headed gulls,common gulls,mallard and a pair of wigeon on the water. Small flock of blue tits,great tits and long tailed tits in the bushes on the edge near Skirden Clough

Feeding Station Visitors

I set up the beginnings of my first feeding station at Cromwell Bottom on Thursday last week. I intend to set up three areas in total on various parts of the reserve as I get the time. When I walked up to the top of Tag Loop this morning to top up the feeders and scatter some more seed on the track this morning, I was surprised to spot two Roe deer feeding under the feeders. I assume they were looking for spilt sunflower seed and some pinhead oats I had scattered under the feeders for ground feeding birds and small mammals. As they crashed off they obviously awoke a sleeping fox who shot out of the undergrowth and disappeared off over pontoon bridge onto Brookfoot Loop. The feeders are obviously getting some attention from birds as well as they were nearly empty after being filled on Friday morning. All of the seed and oats from the track had gone, hopefully to finches but as I spotted two crows scavenging around the path I assume they all also feeding on the sunflower seeds.

Soil Hill

Met Andy C. at Soil Hill this tea time, he was just leaving as I arrived and you were right Andy ,there were no birds up there other that 5 Grey Partridge. Last nights Skylarks must have left today.Anyway, we are re-starting feeding in the SE corner over the rest of autumn and winter with a hope of attracting buntings, twite or anything else will do. Last time I used a mix of wild bird seed and nyger to cut down the expense so if anyone going up there fancies taking a pocket full of seed to throw down it will be greately appreciated. The seed is being put down in the SE corner by the single white boulder then when the Snow Bunts come they will sit on the boulder for their photos taken !. BS

Fly Flatts

14/10/2007 0715-1045hrs Early mist and drizzle clearing, slight rain. Calm
A MORNING TO REMEMBER.

VIS MIG
Meadow Pipit.................................72 >S
Chaffinch.......................................31 >S
Brambling.....................................2 >S
Siskin............................................11 >W
Alba Wag......................................4 >S
Jay................................................5 >W
Woodpig........................................7 >S
Wigeon.........................................7 >E after nearly landing
PF Goose...................................700+ >E
Other
2 Raven >E
1 Wheatear
2 Blackbirds
1 Ring Ouzel
1pr Goldeneye
18 Twite and 48 Goldfinch on seed.
1 Stonechat
2 Wrens.
The geese came over low and in 2 skeins , these were also seen by DCB at Oxenhope
and MD at Denholme. DCB and MD also had another 2 skeins.
You should have heard the language from the 3 sites when these were coming over,
it was like something off Darrells blog. BS

ring ouzel!!!!!!!

i just think i saw 2 of them on the pilons above my house. they were big thrushes but couldnt get those bins out in time to have a good look. they flew like thrushes and had a call like a laser gun, which i know is an element in a ring ouzels call. do you think it could be????

Ogden and Mixenden Res'rs

Checked both sites early this afternoon but not a lot about - loads of mud at Mixenden but just BH Gulls(c60) and Common Gulls (c20).
Usual sps.. at Ogden plus Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
2 Stonechats down by the golf course and Green Woodpecker and Grey Wagtail at Mixenden.

SOIL HILL

Scrapes looking good on the Summit
13/10/2007 1600-1745hrs S>5 Heavy drizzle and low cloud.

6 Grey Partridge
2 RL Partridge
8 Skylark
2 Snipe
4 Mipits
1 Kestrel
1pr Mallard
BS

Apology

For some reason, that I can't understand, there are one or two people who's access to the blog is problematic, as well as not being able to post directly, any comments they make end up "held back" until they can be cleared by a moderator. I keep forgetting this and then when I remember to check for waiting comments occasionally find several on hold, apologies to those affected by this. There are currently two moderators to this blog, perhaps we need a third!

Can I remind any Grapevine members that the deadline for the next fiver has now passed, if you want to remain on the list and haven't already paid please pass your fiver through to me or Dave Sutcliffe ASAP.

Hardcastle Crags etc.

Thick mist on the tops all afternoon in Crimsworth/Walshaw and Shackleton. Just 2 Nuthatch in the crags car park along with 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Jays and 1 Sparrowhawk at 3 pm just when the mist started to lift.
Apart from the usual tit flocks/Goldcrests and Treecreeper the only other birds of note was a Little Owl in Crimsworth Dean and a Tawny Owl singing mid afternoon in a small clump of trees at Shackleton Knoll - it must have thought it was night it was so dismal!!!! and 1 Meadow Pipit!

Ogden Water

Thick mist this morning - just a Grey Heron, 1 Redpoll, 1 Grey Wagtail and Siskin heard overhead along with lots of Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits in the plantation.

Cold Edge

47 Canada Geese, 8 Greylag Geese and Kestrel, Moorhen and 14 Mallard and that was it this afternoon.

Ogden

2 Redpoll and 2 Siskin today along with a number of mixed tit flocks, Goldcrests and Treecreeper.

2 Stonechats on the walls just past the plantation on Back Lane - also Kestrel and Sparrowhawk on Soil Hill.

Woodpeckers

I bagged all three species of woodpecker on my walk down the canal towpath and Cromwell Bottom this morning. First was Lesser seen in its usual haunts (usual as in 2 or 3 times a year!)on the dead trees at "Rawsons Pool" on the canal towpath below Knowles Pipeworks. Great was seen and heard calling near Freemans Bridge on the Water Ski lake side of the canal bank. Green was heard calling on Tag Loop at Cromwell Bottom. This walk is an excellent walk if you want to watch Roe deer as they move around this area regularly, its not unusual to see them swim across the canal one way or the other. Has anyone any tips for finding Lesser spotted ? I have only ever seen them by chance in the Rawsons Pool area mentioned above as I walk the area most days and always check the dead trees in this area in the hope of spotting one. The only time I have ever seen them regularly was when I had feeders up in the garden and they regularly came to feed on lard and peanuts. I no longer feed in the garden as my neighbour now has three very active bird hunting cats and I didn't want to set up a feeding station for them rather than the birds !

The Goosanders have all disappeared from the Calder near Cromwell Bottom at the moment and the two Cormorants that appeared a few weeks back on the Ski Lake have also gone elsewhere at the moment.

Buzzard update

Les Midgleys son had four Buzzards in the sky flying together over Bradley Hall Farm at the weekend. They always appear from the direction of Armitage estate. Is this group likely to be a family group from this year ?

Booth Wood Res'r

1 Great Crested Grebe still there from last week, also 2 Cormorants preening, then both flew off >W at 10.30. This is the third week running Cormorants have been there - I wonder if they go over to Hollingworth Lake to fish during the day then come back to Booth Wood to rest and preen? Have you seen them over Green Withens Darrell?

10th October

Roils Head
1 Chiffchaff, 3 Redpolls, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Kestrels and a couple of Common Gulls.

OVER THE BORDER

I know it's not in Calderdale but near enough to be interesting: 1 mandarin has built up to 5 mandarins on the top Cliviger fishing ponds. Yesterday.

Ogden

Area between Soil Hill and Ogden this afternoon 12.30 - possible Hobby through - just didn't get enough on it! Medium sized falcon just looked dark all over couldn't get any plumage detail at all as it headed into the light. Long pointed wings/medium tail - size between Peregrine and Kestrel. It just shot through at speed, no deviation heading >SE towards Swales Moor/Ploughcroft. Another one that got away - so frustrating!

Green and Gt Spotted Woodpeckers and Treecreeper/tits and Goldcrests in Ogden plantation.
Also 3 Chiff-chaffs (1 on the west side of the res'r giving short bursts of song and 2 still in the willows down near the stream below the golf club-house) and 2 Siskin.

Ogden Water

Arctic Tern (juvenile) this afternoon seen at 14.20. Flew around all the time, harrassed by B H and Common Gulls but still managed to catch several small fish. Flew off at 14.45 towards Mixenden Res'r. Checked this site with Nick Dawtrey soon after 15.00 but nothing doing.

Sparrowhawk and 2 Gt-spotted Woodpckers at Ogden + Goldcrests. Also 1 Gt-spotted Woodpecker at Mixenden plantation.

Cold Edge Dams

Reed Bunting eyeing up a Mipit on the island, from Sunday. BS

Castle Carr Road

Just 2 Stonechats this afternoon and a fem Goosander overhead towards Cold Edge and that was it!

Fly Flatt/ Cold Edge Dams

A very still Fly Flatts
07/10/2007 0715-1015hrs Very still with hazy sunshine
VIS MIG
MEADOW PIPIT......................................268 >S
ALBA WAG..............................................18 >S
SISKIN......................................................9 >S
JAY..........................................................2 >W
CHAFFINCH.............................................42 >S
REED BUNT...............................................12 >W
FIELDFARE...............................................2 >E
WOODPIG.................................................72 >SE
GT SPOT WD PECK.......................................1 >W
MISTLE THRUSH.........................................3 >W

Fly Flatts had 6 Blogging Stonechat
Cold Edge had 4 Stonechat, 1 Whinchat and 4 Reed Bunts
+ all usual sp.
BS

Buzzards

Les Midgeley told that his son Richard fishes the length of canal that runs between the Calder at Birds Royds and Cooper Bridge (not sure of the name of the short canal length). Twice in the last 3 weeks he has seen two Buzzards flying over the area together above the land near the Old Corn mill (now a nightclub I believe). What do you guys call this area and has anyone else reported these ?

Yellowhammer feeding station

A feeding station has been set up at Bradley Hall Farm targetting Yellowhammer (2 there today), many thanks to Sean Johnston who has agreed to keep it topped up. Whilst in the area we also dropped off a 25kg bag of feeder seed for the lady who lives at Jay House Lane and on whose land our few remaining Tree Sparrows occur. All records of both species are gratefully received.

Ogden

3 f Teal on the res'r this am and Sparrowhawk female over twice. Also 2 Siskin over and 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers together near the cottage - 2 flew off >W and went high over the golf course.

2 Chiff-chaffs in the willows by the stream near the golf club-house in among a tit flock and a Grey Heron nearby along with 1 Stonechat on the edge of the golf course and 2 Linnets at Stodfold.

Also a few Redwings about today including some in Shroggs Park feeding on Whitebeam and Mountain Ash berries.