Sand Martin at EGP 17/03/09

3 over the ski lake from 08:30 until 09:15 at least this morning. In addition were:
2 Little Grebe
6 Cormorant (5 1st year & 1 sinensis type looking adult)
1 Grey Heron
2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull
20 Lesser Redpoll feeding on alder

Elsewhere, lots of earth moving taking place at Ringstone and 3 Mallard on the water

A pair of Goosander at Deanhead and 1 tough Little Grebe that has been on Scammonden Water since last autumn, 4 Grey Heron still around that have been nest building (or attempting to) in trees on the west bank for the past week or so plus 2 Oystercatcher on a boating holiday.

Elland GP.AM

Looks like Chiffchaff taken over by Tag Cut this morning thought it was a Willow Warbler at first.Mike Stead missed it by 5 mins

Ospreys on the move

While you are all busy counting rooks in the rookeries (or not as the case may be for some of you) please remember to keep a watchful eye out for the returning ospreys. Roy Dennis is reporting that one of the birds he is tracking(Beatrice) is already on the move and in France. More information on his Highland Foundation for Wildlife website. Let's hope she flies over Calderdale.

Fly Flats/Cold Edge

4 Twite back at Fly Flats this afternoon (3 had BTO rings on right but colour combinations on left hard to see with the strong wind up there)

1 Redshank

1 Oystercatcher

Cold Edge
5 Goosander

1 Redshank

Not a sign of a Wheatear anywhere!

Todmorden garden - Lesser Redpolls

4 male Lesser Redpolls feeding in the garden this afternoon, all looking stunning in their breeding plumage.

Soil Hill - 15 mins at Lunchtime

Lots of small bird activity:-

Whetear(M) x1
Stonechat x 1M and 1F
Mipits c10
Skylarks c6 (Displaying)

Kestrel x 1 (initially pretended to be my first Merlin)
Lapwing x 3

Brighouse Garden again

Photo of one of the L/T/Tits that has been taking lichens from roof of bird table for a few days and today taking away feathers so they are busy building a nest.

Copley - Sun pm - Rookery Survey

Didn't find any Rooks or Rookeries at Copley between The Rish and the old Wireworks. If anyone knows different please let me know. What is Dave's e-mail address for the Rookery survey?

Otherwise:-

Dipper x 2

Long Tailed Tit x2

Bullfinch x 1

Mistle Thrush x 2

Plus Corvids (not Rooks!), usual Tits, Chaffinch, Mallards.

Rookeries

Had another tour around today to check on the rookeries we located last time, surprisingly quite a number of them have increased the number of nests, perhaps Andy was right when he said he thought we were a bit early on the original visit. I would suggest those doing the survey carry out several visits to be sure they get the full compliment of nests.

Lumbutts to Withins Clough to Stoodley Pike

This was yesterday's walk but couldn't post until today:
Fieldfare - 34 (Lumbutts in fields by Top Brink)
Goosander - 4 (Lee Dam, 2 male and 2 female)
Grey Heron
Moorhen
Kestrel
Reed Bunting - 5 (Withins Clough by farm building)
Curlew (above Withins Clough)
Skylark - 3 singing between Withins Clough Res and Stoodley Pike
Meadow Pipit - 2
Still quiet on the moors around Stoodley Pike, but at least the curlews are returning. I expect Meadow Pipit and Skylark numbers to increase significantly over the next two weeks or so, and eagerly anticipate the return of Wheatears, followed by Twite.

Nick - question. Do we post sightings of "sensitive" species on the blog?

More nestboxes anyone?

Following on from last weeks successful nest box day at the Crags we still have some boxes to clean out in the Luddenden Valley and as time is rapidly moving on would like to do this next weekend. There aren't as many boxes and the job will probably only take half a day but if anyone fancies it on Sunday let me know.

First migrant

A Wheatear this morning on Soil Hill (N Kerwin)

Elland G P

Fairly quiet,Ski Lake had 2 Gadwall,4 Little Grebe, 7 Tufted(5m 2f)20+BHGulls,4 Cootand 4 Mallard.Around the old pits 4 Siskin,1GSWoodpecker,40+LTTits,4Coot,10 singing Wrens,6 singing Robins and usual Blue and G Tits.

Fly Flats/Cold Edge

1 Oystercatcher at Fly Flats today and 2 at Cold Edge
Gordon D also had a Redshank at Cold Edge
No sign of any Wheatears today (Crimsworth Dean also checked) and no Twite yet at Fly Flats although some Nyger seed has been put down for when they do arrive.
Lots of Curlew

Rook Survey

A first check from Sowerby Bridge to Rishworth and Mill Bank on Saturday 7th March produced only 63 nests in 5 sites (most occupied)

Dave has full details.

At Pike End SE028,179 there was 1 skylark in song and c50 Fieldfare.

Ringstone site meeting

Now that phase 2 of the Ringstone habitat project is underway we will be holding a site meeting at 10 am on Saturday morning to review progress to date, any CBCG member who wishes to attend is welcome.

Redwing Pictures

A couple of photos from this morning. One thing that struck me was how prominent the red markings were. Normally the ones I see in early winter don't have much colour.

Also the GS woodpeckers are drumming away in the park. Plenty of coal tit and nuthatch calling too.

Returning Redwing

Shibden Park - 8:30am

Flock of about 20-30 redwing in the trees by the dry stone wall area moved into the fields by the top car park. Can't be long before the first of the summer visitors start arriving.

Caption competition

Andy Huyton running the auction at last Fridays raptor evening at Rishworth school, surely we can think of some appropriate captions??

Rookery Survey 2009

The survey is going very well so far but there are still a few gaps if anyone else wants to get involved.
We still need help to check the following sites (nil returns are still important);
Cragg Vale
The valley from Hebden Bridge to Midgeholme (crags car park)
Colden Valley
Luddenden Foot to Boulderclough (49 nests in 1964)

I will put a summary on the blog of where we are with counts later this week as initial counts are coming in most days.

Active rookeries seem to have birds in residence all the time now, however it has also been noticed that new nests are still being built (maybe by late comers or non-breeders having a go?) So late checks before the leaves come on are most important.

No matter if you check sites where someone else has checked as it's better to double up than not at all. Many thanks everyone.
Dave

Raptor Calendar sale

Now that we are three months into the year the decision has been taken to offer the Raptor calendars at a reduced price of £5, this is exceptional value when you take into account the fact that this is an eighteen month calendar taking the coverage through to June 2010. The calendars feature superb, high-resolution, rich-colour photographs of raptors (supplied by Sean Gray amongst others). All money made from the sale of these calendars will go directly and specifically to raptor conservation in Calderdale, they can be obtained from me via midgleybirder@yahoo.co.uk or leave a comment on this post.

Brighouse Garden

Not able to get out so spending time in the garden and after 16 months at last captured a decent shot of male Sparrowhawk,well worth the wait.

Crags nestbox cleaning

Many thanks to all those that turned out today, considering the, at times, appalling weather this was a great effort. All the 47 boxes were checked and those with nests were cleaned out , the nests are to be passed on to Andy Cockroft for their contents to be checked for moth larvae, pupae etc. I am waiting for results from three of the boxes but of the remaining 44 there were complete nests in 31, part completed nests in 5, 7 without nests and one we simply couldn't open! The majority of the nests were similar in appearance and were considered to be Tit nests but interestingly there was one nest which contained addled eggs which may have been from a different species, photos were taken and the eggs will be checked against reference books, watch this space, could this have been one of the target species? One of the unused boxes contained Tit feathers and was thought possibly to have been used as a roost site and another had a dead adult Blue Tit in it. It is important to bear in mind that this is the first time the boxes have been cleaned since they were put up in Spring 2007 so they have had two breeding seasons prior to todays work.

Thanks are expressed to Drew Marsh of the National Trust for their continued support and to those that turned out who were

Chris and Daniel Branch

Paul and Jan Johnson

Nick and Sandra Carter

Amy Fitzmaurice

Steve Cummings

Steve Blacksmith

Jane Uttley

Andy Huyton

Tim Walker

An especially warm welcome to Amy who joined us as a result of Fridays raptor awareness evening at Rishworth.

Collared Dove on nest.

Here at home. I think there's probably eggs/ an egg, but haven't seen the nest unoccupied yet to look. (Found one in late January once.)

Invitation.
All birders/ naturalists are invited to attend Halifax Scientific Society's monthly indoor meetings.

This Tuesday, 10th March, the title of the talk and slide show is "Humbugs and Honeybees" to be given by John Phillips of the Beekeepers Association. 7.15pm for a 7.30 start at the Calderdale Central Library, Halifax, downstairs.

Recent publicity about the plight and the paramount importance of wild bees to our ecosystems (inc. birds ) and our agriculture makes this a topical subject. It only struck me lately that if there were no bees, we would have not only no fruit, but hardly any plants which depend on bees to pollinate them. That is we would only have wind-pollinated grain and grass crops, a few nut trees, etc.
It follows that many species of birds that rely on seeds and insects which live on flowering plants
would also go extinct.

Walshaw Dean Res L/M/U and Gorple (L/U)

A good morning's birding around 5 reservoirs. Bracing weather but back home before the hail and snow set in.

Curlew - 2
Oystercatcher - 9 (2 at Walshaw Lower and 7 at Gorple Lower)
Lapwing - 15 (flying over)
Fieldfare - c. 20 (flying over)
Red Grouse - 7 seen and lots more heard
Pheasant - 2
Goldeneye - 2 (male and female)
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose - 17
Mallard - 31
Goldfinch - 4
Mistle Thrush - 2
Kestrel
Meadow Pipit - just 1

Spring is here!

Not birds but up to a hundred frogs in my pond yesterday & lots of spawn today.

Cold Edge

Above - 1 of 2 Pink-footed Geese at Cold Edge yesterday

Also present 37 Canada Geese, 6 Greylag Geese and 27 Curlews flew in from the east and landed to feed on the moor by the lower dam

Nestbox cleaning

Final reminder for tomorrows work party to clean out the nest boxes at Harcastle Crags, we are meeting at 9am in the Lodge car park. If anyone has tools that might be of use eg hammers, screwdrivers, cordless screwdrivers etc please bring them along.

Raptor evening

Last nights joint CBCG/Rishworth and Heathfield schools Raptor Awareness evening held at Rishworth school was a huge success with between 70 and 100 people attending. As well as an excellent presentation by Steve Downing on our raptor work which produced a great deal of interest and support the evening also included entertainment provided by the school, quizes, a raffle and an auction as well as a bar and buffet. All in all the evening will have raied a significant amount of money to help continue and extend the raptor protection work currently ongoing in our area. Thanks are due to the PTAs of both schools, the staff and pupils of the schools themselves and of course those of our members who have put a massive amount of effort into making this a success. The evening was the culmination of several weeks events and would not have happened had it not been for the enthusiasm and efforts of in particular Steve Downing and Tim Walker, my personal thanks go to them for not just this but all the other hard work they do "behind the scenes" a lot of which never comes to public knowledge, we are very fortunate to have two such dedicated and enthusiastic local birders. Thanks also to Andy Huyton for so capably running the auction, I reckon he could sell an RSPB tea towel to a twitcher! Hopefully there will be some photos of the evening available soon and I will post a couple on here.

The final total raised is yet to be determined but will be announced in the near future when an official presentation will take place at the school. Thanks again to all involved and to those members that attended on the night.

Nick

PS Don't forget tomorrows nest box event at the Crags!

Eyes down....

It's obviously still very early, but there was wheatear at Grassington, North Yorks today. Might be worth keeping an eye open.

Probable reason for the missing farmland insectivores.

On "Home Planet" Radio 4 last Tuesday 15.00, a listener asked about a hen that died after eating one maggot from a rat which had been poisoned by Difenacoum. The expert thought it unlikely to be the cause, as it would have had to have a larger dose, and even then it would have died from haemorrhaging, which is not a fast death. It had been tested on poultry, and only half of the sample died. The other half recovered. It had also been tested on owls ( I suppose because they are likely to eat dying rodents,) and they did get sick, but all recovered in the test.

But then, and this is what I thought was apposite to our bird populations, he said that farmers routinely dose their stock with insecticide, which passes through them and so effectively are spreading insecticidal dung.

If all the sheep on the moors are dosed, it's no wonder we have far fewer Whinchats, Ring Ouzels, Cuckoos and Wheatears than we used to have. It seems the farmers are killing the insects via their stock.

I know organic meat is more expensive, but the more people demand it, the cheaper it should become.

Ringstone to Sowerby Bridge

Wednesday pm, sunny with occasional blizzards.

Ringstone Resr, from the road
Numerous starling, lapwing, carrion crow (30+ each)
400+ common and blackheaded gulls. About 50/50; (arrived in mixed flocks of up to 20, performed amazing aerial display with lapwings and starlings, then left en masse.)
2 goosander, pair
1 greenfinch
pheasant (heard)

Krumlin
GSWpecker

Barkisland
2 goldfinch

Norland moor and town
Stonechat, m
2 Mistle thrush
Kestrel, m
pheasant, (heard)
20+ rooks

Sowerby Bridge
LTTit, blue tit, great tit, blackbird, robin, dunnock, mallard, canada goose.

Fly Flats/Withens Gap/Cold Edge

Fly Flats;
3 Golden Plover
3 Stonechats (1 male 2 females)
20 Canada Geese and 1 Greylag
c12 Red Grouse

Withens Gap; (Withens Head Farm)
15 Golden Plover (1 northern form)
5 Lapwings
2 Stonechats (pair)

Cold Edge;
1 pair Goldeneye
25 Canadas and 2 Greylags

No Skylarks or Meadow Pipits

Cromwell Bottom area pm

River:
13 Mallard
2 Moorhen
Cormorant
Little Grebe
Goosander - female
plus 2 Bullfinch and GSWoodpecker by car park
Lagoon:
Little Grebe - nest prospecting, hopefully
2 C00t
Lake:
4 Cormorant
2 Goldeneye
3 Goosanders, including 2 mating

Nestbox Survey/Clearing

As discussed at the last meeting we are having a work party this Sunday 8th March, meeting at 9am at Hardcastle Crags Car Park.

The purpose of the work is to survey/clean out/bag any old nests from the nestboxes in the Crags.

With over 40 boxes to clear we need as many hands as possible equipped with ladders/plastic bags/rubber gloves(to avoid flea bites)/recording equipment ie:- sticky labels for the bags/cordless screwdrivers/claw hammers/manual screwdrivers.

Please add your name to the comment list - NB If you can't make it for 9 but want to be involved please let me know as mobile signal is poor so we need to arrange to meet in advance.

Please use the top car park if you are not a member, if you are bringing a car if you let me have your reg number I'll see what I can do re arranging free parking for the cars we won't be using to drive to the sites.

Any queries please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Cheers Andy

Rookery Survey 2009

Great response so far - well done for committing to the survey in March/April this year!

The 1964 list (number of nests in brackets) is more or less all covered now except for;
Hebden Bridge area -Hawksclough (16) , Albert Street (10) , Mytholm Church area (27).
The only other area from 1964 is the Luddenden Foot to Boulderclough area (49)
Please let me know, or post on the blog if you can take any of these on.

There are also some other general areas where we have no previous records of rookeries. We could do with some careful checks and counts of 'active nests' of these areas as below. Again please let me know if you can take any of these on.

Cragg Vale
Hebden Bridge to Midgeholme, Crimsworth Dean and Hardcastle Crags
Hebden Bridge towards Todmorden
Colden Valley from Hebden Bridge
Norland
Shibden Valley - upstream from Shibden Park
Brighouse/Clifton (east of Brookfoot as far as Kirklees Hall/ Cooper Bridge)

BTO advise that if colonies are 100m apart then we should class them as seperate colonies.
Many thank's everyone.
Dave

Ogden/Cold Edge

Ogden
1 G C Grebe there today in full breeding plumage
1 drake Goldeneye (and Barnacle Goose still there)
2 Grey Partridge and 2 Lapwings by the golf course
1 female Sparrowhawk at Stodfold

Cold Edge
2 drakes and 1 f Goldeneye
2 Oystercatchers
30 Canada Geese and 6 Greylags
1 Skylark over
1 Curlew over
1 Meadow Pipit

Colden / Blackshaw Head

Numbers of gathering fieldfare now 220+. All feeding in one field between Colden and Blackshaw Head.

back again

incredibly large numbers of redwings on manor heath yesterday
amongst them were song thrushes

2 feildfares on the pylons above my house

Colden - 9:00am

In the fields ajoining Colden School:

- 26 curlew whirling around in one pack
- 150+ fieldfare battling against the wind

Sowerby Bridge, unidentified raptor

Milner Royd, river bridge near the tip & allotments, at dusk on Sunday.

15-16 inches, long and sleek, shiny blue/black back and tail, red on bib or chest, brown/orange or red legs. Face not visible.

Perching on a log, watching river, allowed me to get quite close (6m?) then swooped fast and low to river and took something from the surface, making a splash.

I’m not too good on raptors and it was getting dark. Definitely not kestrel or peregrine. Any ideas please?

I had an interesting day at Jerusalem Farm yesterday filming Mick Chatham of Calderdale Countryside Services training volunteers in the art of hedge-laying. Yes, we do have hedges in Calderdale although many have become neglected over the years. With proper, sensitive management we can improve what we have, making them more suitable for wildlife. The finnished video should appear later this week on TheBaldIbis channel as the first of many about conservation in Calderdale. Thanks to Mick, Eddie, Chris and the Friends of Calderdale Countryside. The channel is available at http://www.youtube.com/TheBaldIbis

Sowerby Crow Hill and Blackwood Common c10.30-12.30

4 skylarks
5 lapwings
c 25 fieldfares
1 snipe being pursued by a raptor, possibly a merlin
Plus the usual corvids, tits and finches.

Also, 1 brown hare and 4 rescued greyhounds; not in the same field.

Good to be out.

Rookery Survey 2009

Many thanks to those who have already offered to take part.
Several areas are now allocated but we need more help with the following areas from the 1964 survey which was undertaken by Halifax Scientific Society. (1964 nests in brackets)

Sowerby Bridge to Triangle (49)
Millbank (7)
Denton Bridge area (357)
Rishworth (88)

Hawksclough (16)
Hebden Bridge - Albert Street (10)
Mytholm Church (27)

Luddenden Foot to Boulderclough (49)

Exley Bank (17)
Exley - Chevinedge (4)

Elland - Elsinore Avenue (2)
Greetland (31)
Holywell Green (44)

Rastrick - Delf Hill/Crowtrees Lane (25)
Rastrick - Field Lane/Tofts Grove (130)

Other areas may have colonies but there is no reference in the 1964 survey so the following also need to be checked. Nil counts are just as important;
Copley, Stainland, Barkisland, Shibden Park and the valley up from Stump Cross, Sowerby/Beechwood, Cragg Vale, Hebden Bridge to Midgeholme, Hardcastle Crags, Crimsworth Dean, Colden Valley etc.

The 1964 survey did not include areas up the Calder Valley beyond Hebden Bridge. As this is part of Calderdale it would also be good to cover;
Hebden Bridge to Todmorden, Todmorden to Cornholme/Portsmouth (Burnley Road), Todmorden to Walsden, Todmorden - Harley Wood/Woodlands Avenue etc. etc.

Birds are starting to be active at colonies now so it's a good time in March to start having a look and take initial count and then count again before the leaves come on in April/May.
Q 1 - is there a colony present?

Q 2 - Estimated number of 'Apparantley Ocuupied Nests' (this is the criteria suggested by the BTO)

Q 3 - Precise location (grid reference if possible but not essential as I hope to be able to forward all the information to the BTO Atlas survey at the end of the season)

Please email or text or post a message on the blog as soon as possible if you can commit to an area and thereafter forward all the information to me. The more volunteers take part, the better.
Many thanks on behalf of Calderdale Bird Conservation Group.
Dave

Song thrush

Very encouraging news on the Song Thrush,I have had 3 singing locally this week including this one on the back lawn.Anybody else noticed an increase this year.??
Ringstone yesterday held 133 Lapwing,5 Snipe,1 Goldeneye.2 Gooseander,1 Oystercatcher,10 Goldfinch and 4 Stock Dove

Rishworth school/CBCG raptor evening rescheduled date

Following the unfortunate postponement of the above event earlier this month due to the bad weather it will now take place on Friday 6th March. The evening event is part of Rishworth and Heathfield schools' continuing support of the CBCGs efforts to protect raptors locally. The event will be the culmination of a full days fund raising effort by the schools and will include a presentation on raptors by Steve Downing, musical entertainment provided by both the school and a barber shop quartet, a quiz, finger buffet, auction and bar. Tickets are priced at £2.50 for adults with children free and can be obtained from myself or Tim Walker. In addition to the attractions listed there will also be a raffle so if anyone wishes to donate prizes these will be gratefully received, the main prize will be a framed photo of a Short-eared owl generously provided by Sean Gray. As many will know the Schools and their PTA's have already funded the production of the raptor calendar which continues to sell well, those local birders who have still not got theirs can obtain them from me or from the Bridge Inn at Ripponden.

Ogden

1 Great crested Grebe in full breeding plumage
1 female Goldeneye
120 Mallard
1 Greylag Goose >S
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
35+ Chaffinch and 1 Bullfinch
c80 Goldfinch by the 'Causway Foot' singing in the sycamores and probably a pre-roost flock

Brighouse to Hartshead

3 Grey Wagtails at Bradley Hall
3 Mistle Thrushes
6 -at least-Song Thrushes singing
Magpie nest building at Cooper Bridge
Goldfinches and Goldcrests near Hartshead
Pheasant calling near Kirklees Hall
Yellowhammer - a cracking male, in hedgerow near Hartshead - about a mile out of our area !

Digital Photography Starter kit

Anyone looking to set themselves on the road to digital SLR photography then I may have the kit for you. I'm selling a Nikon D80 12mega pixel DSLR with lens (can't remember exact spec on this but i think it's 28-135mm) 3 SD memory cards (1x1gb jessops card & 2x4gb SanDisk Extreme III), 2 Batteries, Battery Charger, USB lead, all boxed and in good working order.
I plan to put it all on ebay in the next week but thought I'd see if anyone wanted it in the group first. Prepared to sell for £300, extra memory cards and batt alone are worth £100+
If your interested either leave a message or contact me on my email or text me on 07500059036.

Longfield Dam 10am

The male goldeneye was the only waterfowl on or near the pond. On the south of the road in the wet field - 38+ meadow pipits and one skylark.

Sunday AM.Elland GP.

3 Reed Buntings(M) in layered hedge,6 Chaffinch,+ blue,great and long tails, 4 Grey Herons and one pair building nest near Lafarge Concrete Plant otherwise quiet.

Sunday - Todmorden

Nice clean male Goldeneye on Longfield Pond. Also about 20 Canada and a few Mallard - some males being very protective of their females.

By the way - I was away on the east cost last week and saw some ducks on the sea at Filey that stumped me - Good sized duck but not an Eider shape - Dark all over - except for a white chest - remined me of one those mallard/domestic crosses but 100 yard offshore was an unlikely habitat - any ideas ?

Midgley

Two Skylarks over this morning

Red Kite Elland GP

Text came through on the grapevine to say Darrel had a Red Kite at Elland GP at lunchtime today.

Crimsworth Dean

Little Owl at Crimsworth Dean this afternoon. 2 Siskin over, 1 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit, 25 Lapwings over the moor.

Fly Flats

A Curlew flew over Warley Moor reservoir c.2.40, flying south eastwards. Otherwise very little - 2 Canada Geese, a pair of Mallard and a Kestrel.

17 Goldfinches looking at the niger seed I've started spreading on the lawn since the hard frosts, but only a couple brave enough to come down from the big trees to join the greenfinches and chaffinches, so far...

Saw today's pink-footed goose passage from Northowrham (9.30ish) and more at Skircoat (lunchtime). This year is exceptional.

A tawny owl calling repeatedly and visible in silhoette at Marldon Rd., Northowrham at 18.02.

Fly Flats

Thick mist there this afternoon but rewarded with c60 Pink-footed Geese on the res'r (obviously come down in the fog and reluctant to move on until it cleared). We first heard them flying in, calling at the far end of the res'r then we saw them briefly on the water, through the mist near the boat- house end. Still there at 16.00.
Nothing else there other than several Red Grouse calling on the moor.

Swales Moor/Ringby

c342 Pink-footed Geese west over the top at 12.33 today followed by another c70 over Pellon direction heading west 5 mins later, the latter thanks to Andy Cockrofts message! cheers Andy.

1 Skylark on the top along with 1 adult L B B Gull, 13 Common Gulls and later 1 juv Gt B B Gull >N

Sean Gray photo of the week

Congratulations to Sean Gray for winning this weeks Birdguides picture of the week (again), superb photo of Sparrowhawk with prey, as seen on this Blog!

http://www.birdguides.com/pictures/default.asp?v=1&f=193990

Walsden

A green woodpecker 'yaffling' away in the middle of the afternoon up Ramsden Wood Road - but not at the very top where they used to be, and where the new development now is. Sounded to be in the trees near what was the tripe works. So close to the back of our house I thought I should be able to see it.

Gorple and Walshaw Dean etc

Lower Gorple -1 Redwing, 1 Bullfinch

Upper Gorple - 1 Skylark

Widdop - 1 Kestrel, 2 Lapwings over

Walshaw - 2 Siskin over, 1 Common Buzzard >W, 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Kestrels

Blake Dean - 1 Treecreeper with small tit flock

Lots of Red Grouse calling on the moors and Canada Geese settling in on the res'rs and getting noisy. Mistle Thrushes singing

R.Calder, Milner Royd, Sowerby Bridge

3.15

3m, 2f Goosander

Calder and Hebble Confluence

Went down to the Calder and Hebble confluence today.

On the river were 3 prs Goosander, paired up,
1 pr Mallard
Kingfisher
Moorhen
Little Grebe
with a Heron nearby not a bad selection of water-birds.
Song Thrush singing

(Tree Sparrows used to nest - one pair - in the stonework of the railway viaduct, but no sign today.)
The bright red fungus, Scarlet Elf-cap, Sarcocypha austriaca, a colony near the beehives, was showing well.

High Royd S/B

20 Teal
2 Moorhen
2 Grey Heron
12 Woodpidgeon
Corvids feeding on filter beds
Lots of mxd Tits
All seen from the canal side

2 Roedeer as well

Willow Hall Dam

1 GSW (F)
4 Mallard
Lots of mxd Tits

Fly Flats

Res'r completely frozen over this morning

Pink-footed Geese

Big movement of over 1,000 birds reported this morning over our area - all heading west

c70 Sowerby Bridge 9.35
c200 Elland G P 10.05
200+ Fly Flats 10.30 (over towards Oxenhope area)
c100 Northowram 10.35
125 Northowram 10.38
180 Northowram 10.40
c40 Fly Flats 10.40 (over towards Oxenhope area)
c70 over Midgley Moor from Fly Flats 11.00
64 from Soil Hill direction and over the Withens (from Fly Flats) 11.10

Gratrix Lane/Sowerby Bridge

Mill pond - no sign of the Ruddy Ducks today
1 Kingfisher and 1 drake Goosander there

2 Dippers, 6 Goosander, 1 Cormorant and 3 Grey Herons on the river to Sterne Mill and 1 m Sparrowhawk over.

Luddenden Dean

This afternoon;
1 m Sparrowhawk
1 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Redpoll over
2 Stock Doves

Gratrix Dam,S/B

2 Ruddy Duck
3 Canada Geese

Mytholmroyd

A dipper seen in the Calder this morning from the bridge near the church. Its sound alerted me. It was really making a racket.

Swales Moor/Ringby/ Holmfield

Nothing doing on the top today other than 2 Stock Doves

2 Snipe flushed by dogs in the old army camp at Holmfield and 1 Grey Heron there

Beacon Hill & Shibden

Walked home from Halifax over Beacon Hill, mainly to get sunset photos over the town centre. Flushed what I think was a partridge (judging on the size, shape and way it flew) from Barrowclough Lane.
1 little owl at the top of Pump Lane.
6 wrens
4 robins singing
Then, in Shibden Park, I saw something I hadn't seen before - one of the local moorhens roosting in the trees. It flew off to another tree as I walked by, then back again as I progressed past the lake. I'd always assumed they roosted on the lake with the ducks.

Bradshaw

whilst walking home today i noticed 3 waders fly out of the grass opposite the bradshaw tavern. as you may know it is rather boggy and horrible on that side of the road. i only saw them fly away and they flew much like waders

suggestions please
thank you

Swales Moor/Ringby

7 Sparrowhawk sightings in an hour and a half this afternoon on the ridge - min of 4 individuals in perfect conditions for raptors. 1 Kestrel and 1 Little owl near the ski-slope.

Waxwings at Sowerby Bridge

About 20 were feeding for an hour this afternoon on the canal bank opposite the Moorings pub.
Could be back tomorrow as some fruit left. (Said to be rosehips.) From C.Priestley, a boat dweller there.

Ogden

3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers today at the lodge feeders. Bullfinch's there too along with a good number of tits and Chaff's. No Redwings or Fieldfares now, they seem to have moved off the high ground and Goldcrests have gone! 148 Mallard and 8 Canada Geese still there.

Moorland between Halifax G C and Cold Edge Rd

A short eared owl was quartering this moorland pm today. At one stage it dropped to the ground but no binoculars so could not see what if anything was caught.

Jay House Lane Sun AM

Fairly quiet. 4 Tree Sparrows, 6 Chaffinch, 4 Greenfinch, 9 Lapwings and feeding on manure heap were 1 Wren, 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 male and 1 female Stonechats.

Coach Road pm

A short walk up Coach Road revealed 2 Nuthatches on the same tree - females or juvs, I think, and a male GS Woodpecker ,and then another Nuthatch - a male calling loudly in the trees about 100 metres further up the track.
2 Mistle Thrush nearby, where about 40 Redwings were seen the day before.

Brookfoot to Lockkeepers House

Short walk this morning canal dead apart from 1 Grey Wagtail.River and fields produced 2 Dipper, 3 Goosander, 48 Canada Geese, 1 Nuthatch, 1Grey Heron, 6 Mallard, 3 Robins all singing, 1 Kestrel(male), 1 Sparrowhawk(female), Heron in photo looked fed-up.

Cromwell bottom

Had to get out such a lovely day!
Walked along canal from Brookfoot; not a dicky bird to see; but soon I started to pick them out.
Eventually finished up with about 25 species
On the ski lake:-
4 little grebes
c300 gulls BH, herring, common
10 tufted ducks
3f. gooseanders+ 1 male
c20 coot
6 canada
c30 mallards
2 herons
a possible pochard? sighting difficult not ID!
On the river
1 dipper
1 grey wagtail (rest must have been at Callis mills)
The usual corvids, robins, blackbirds, blue and great tits (the latter singing )
3 bullfinches
Stopped at lay-by on main road and whilst counting 20 lapwings feeding in the fields a male stone chat flew into view and 2 mistle thrushes.

Callis Bridge sewage works - 1:00pm

Lots of birds feeding on the filter beds

- 35+ pied wagtails

- 32 meadow pipits

- 4 grey wagtails

Also, 1 grey heron, 3 jays over, 1 gs woodpecker heard in Callis Wood.

SUNDAY CANCELLED

Due to the overwhelming evidence that this maybe a bad time to clear the boxes Sundays work party is cancelled.

The next work party will therefore be Sunday 8th March, can people please register their interest and availability asap in order that we can pick a project to suit the numbers.

Sundays job would have been very difficult regardless of the weather due to a poor uptake, I'd encourage anyone to get in touch as these regular work parties could have a real impact on the amount of work the group can do throughout the year.

Many thanks to those who were prepared to turn out on Sunday, hope you can all make it on the 8th.

Many thanks


Andrew

Little Owl

Little Owl at Hippins Bridge, at the very top of Jumble Hole Clough, just below Staups Moor.

Haven't seen one anywhere in what feels like ages.

Ogden

Mostly frozen over but still some open water
2 Goldeneye
144 Mallard
8 Canada Geese
1 Bullfinch, Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Chaffs and Greenfinches on the lodge feeder
Woodlands very quiet

Re: nestbox cleaning out

In the latest copy of Bird Table, the magazine for contributors to the BTO/RSPB Garden Birdwatch Scheme, Mike Toms writes that Wrens, Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits all sometimes roost communally in nest boxes. (I'm doing this from memory, as I've lost the mag., which someone passed on to me.)

Might it be detremental to possible cosy roosting to clean them out at this point, considering the weather? Cleaning them I agree with to make them more likely to be used for breeding in spring, but maybe we should wait a few weeks.

(I'm not wussing out by the way, there's no place I love more than Hardcastle Crags in the snow!)

If we do go ahead, I can bring a 14ft. ladder, camera, bags and labels.

Birds Bins and Bullets

There is now a trailer available on You Tube for Steve Cummings' documentary on the work of Birdlife Malta and volunteers who have taken part in recent Raptor Camp and Springwatch camps on the island. Several local birders have been involved in this work and fund raising events were held to provide optics for the local Police force to help with their surveillance work.
See
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlIigrVcjcQ

Steve has now set up his own website where copies of the full documentary are available plus some of his other work including the Waldrapp Project, see
http://www.stephencummings.co.uk/

Raptor event postponed

Tomorrow evenings planned raptor awareness and fund raising event at Rishworth school has now been postponed until either 6th or 13th March due to the adverse weather, apologies for the late notification but the school has just informed us.

Sundays Work Party

At the last committee meeting it was decided that this coming Sunday the monthly working party head into Hardcastle Crags to clear out the nest boxes. Unfortunately due to prior arrangement I'm unable to attend however if those of you who are prepared to help out with this very important work would like to leave your names in the comments section I'm sure we can get a good turn out.

You will also be in need of Ladders, cordless screw drivers/drills(with screw bits), manual screw drivers (in case your batteries run out), claw hammers for any that are rusted in. It was also suggested that the contents of each box be bagged and labelled in an effort to try and work out what has used each box, of course that means sealable plastic bags and sticky labels and pens.

Can I also suggest rubber gloves to avoid flea bites and a digital camera for photo's of you all and anything unusual that may turn up.

If you can each leave your name and pledge to bring an item of kit, further more could I suggest a 9.30 start meeting at the top car park, (if your taking a car let me know and I'll email Drew from the NT to arrange leaving them FOC).

Tim/Nick/Matt does one of you have a copy of the map showing the location of the boxes? If so could you kindly email a copy to anyone and everyone who leaves there name saying that they will be there.

For those who think I'm copping out I'll be leading a group up Stoodley Pike on a 12mile hike.

I look forward to seeing a nice list of volunteers, if you have difficulty leaving your name etc on here email me at andrewhuyton@hotmail.com and I'll make sure everyone else knows you'll be there.

Cheers Andrew.

Monday

Halifax - Out of the window at work (by the Hebble Brook below Sainsbury's) - a flock of siskin about 25 - flying through the snow !

Reminder

CBCG/Rishworth school Bird of Prey evening
As part of Rishworth and Heathfield schools' continuing support of the CBCGs efforts to protect raptors locally they are hosting a Raptor Evening at Rishworth school on Friday 6th February beginning at 7-30pm. The event will be the culmination of a full days fund raising effort by the schools and will include a presentation on raptors by Steve Downing, musical entertainment provided by both the school and a barber shop quartet, a quiz, finger buffet and bar. Tickets are priced at £2.50 for adults with children free and can be obtained from myself. In addition to the attractions listed there will also be a raffle so if anyone wishes to donate prizes these will be gratefully received, the main prize will be a framed photo of a Short-eared owl generously provided by Sean Gray.As many will know the Schools and their PTA's have already funded the production of the raptor calendar which is selling well, those local birders who have still not got theirs can obtain them from me or from the Bridge Inn at Ripponden.

Brighouse Garden

Been in my garden since 1400 can someone give me a positive id 3 photos enclosed more if required many thanks

Halifax Town Centre/Wheatley valley

1 Grey Wagtail over Broad Street car park this morning
1 Kestrel over Dean Clough

c20 Fieldfares and 6 Redwings >S over Shroggs Road and 1 Sparrowhawk over
50+ Goldfinch and 20+ Greenfinch on garden feeders at Jackroyd

Swales Moor/Ringby

2 Skylarks and 1 Meadow Pipit on the top this afternoon

Copley Woods Sunday a.m.

A similar area to Muxy, but up in the woods. These are called Spring Wood on the map, with no spring, and Long Wood, confusingly with a spring at the western end.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
Nuthatch, getting regular here.
Cormorant, full adult, flying east down the river
There is always a pair or two of Carrion Crows, living within the wood.

Hollys are colonising, as they are under many of our oak woods. Or maybe they are recolonising?
More worrying are alien Cherry Laurels. Foxes swallow the laurel fruit in gardens and then crap in the woods, depositing the stones. I counted 24 medium to big bushes.

I had a fox in my garden Saturday night. It ate a female pheasant and left the wings left and right, in their proper positions, but upside down.
I think pheasants are released by a guy down Dudwell Lane, as they have been in the garden several times. A Red-legged Partridge on one occasion got flushed out, which looked odd in a tarmac, suburban environment.

River Calder - Copley to S Bridge Sun p.m.

Not much about:-

1 x Heron
1 x Moorhen
c10 x LT Tits
1 x Robin

Plus Chaffinch, Corvids, Mallard, BHGs, Great and Blue Tits.

Feeders

I was having a problem at home with squirrels and jackdaws emptying my feeders within minutes of me putting them out. Of course, it's great to see jackdaws doing do well, but 120 can clear your birds table and feeders in a blink.

So, I bought 2 hanging baskets from Wilkinsons (99p each!) and used thick garden wire to wire them together, and it works a treat!

Callis Sewage works - 12:00

38 pied wagtails
3 grey wagtails
6 meadow pipits
1 robin
100+ BH gulls
c40 jackdaws
14 long tailed tits