Tree Sparrow Main Colony

Two of us were replacing repaired nest boxes and painting numbers on as many as we could today. With thanks to Paul, countryside volunteer, for the repairs.

The one on the big oak at the top had had a dead fledgling in last autumn but today there was a fresh nest (of hay and straw.) No eggs.

There were plenty of sparrows about.

A big weasel , no black tail-tip - so not a stoat, crossed the road.

Strait Hey, Erringden and Swillington

A walk over the hills this morning looking for Wheatear and finding none. I didn't really expect to find any as my earliest record up here is 20 March in 2005. Still, you never know these days. Plenty of other birds around though:
Curlew - 2
Reed Bunting
Skylark - 5 (4 singing)
Mipit - 7
Red Grouse - 5

Luddenden Foot etc

We walked along the river this afternoon along the cycle-way to Mytholmroyd and returned on the canal. At least it was less foggy in the valley than on the tops !
A pair of Dipper were along the river along with 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail and 3 Goosander as well as Grey Herons.
35 B H Gulls, 1 Common Gull and 1 L B B Gull went over heading east and that was about it.

Swales Moor

I tried again in the thick fog this morning - usual species plus 6 Meadow Pipits were new arrivals

Lee Mount

1 Tree Sparrow again (same time as yesterday at 1 pm but is was only seen for about 5 mins today) . The bird was also seen by a neighbour who said she had seen a different looking sparrow on her garden feeders this afternoon with a chestnut crown !

Next CBCG meeting

The next meeting of the CBCG will be of a slightly different format to previous meetings in that it will include two short presentations that will hopefully be of interest to all birders (not just CBCG members). The first will be by Giselle Murison of West Yorkshire Ecology who will give a brief resume of the findings of the moorland fringe surveys which were undertaken by WYE in our area last year. The purpose of these surveys was to increase the information they currently have on the distribution of breeding birds in the important, yet largely unprotected, area that borders the moorland SPA, without this info it is difficult to actively challenge planning applications etc in this sensitive habitat. If there is sufficient interest Giselle has also offered to bring colleagues from WYE to explain the way the organisation works and the importance of them holding as much info on local bird populations and distributions as possible. This will be an ideal opportunity for any local birders who have reservations about the sharing of information with WYE to come along and discuss their concerns.
The second presentation will be by Edie Jolley of Pennine Prospects who will be accompanied by Phil Sanderson (West Yorkshire Police), Edie will give full details of the recently set up Moorwatch website (www.moorwatch.com) and the way it can be used to report damaging activities on our moors.
There will also be the opportunity for local birders to discuss the Wildlife Sites Criteria that will be in the consultation period by then, the CBCG has already submitted comments but this will give non members an opportunity to have their say.

As the above issues are likely to be of interest to all local birders the meeting will be open to anyone who wishes to attend and will be held at the offices of the Calderdale Council Countryside Unit above the library in Mytholmroyd on Tuesday 5th April and will begin at 1930.

Anyone requiring further details please get in touch.

Lee Mount

1 Tree Sparrow at 1 pm on garden feeder, hung about with a House Sparrow for half-hour then flew off towards Boothtown. The previous Tree Sparrows here were 3 on 14th and 15th November 2010. Previous to that - none.
Keep a check on your feeders. If they can turn up in Lee Mount they can turn up anywhere!

Swales Moor

Thick mist but usual suspects still there;
15+ Skylark
1 Reed Bunting
3 Twite
18 Linnet
1 Pied Wagtail
Not many corvids recently up here - wonder if someone has been taking them out!

Various sites today

Eastwood - River Calder
Dipper
2 Grey Wagtail
Eastwood WTW
5 Pied Wagtail
Great Spotted Woodpecker in woods opposite
Warland Res
2 Curlew
1 Mipit
1 Skylark
1 Pied Wagtail
Gaddings Dam
7 Skylark
3 Mipit
1 Lapwing
1 Redshank
2 Goldeneye (pair)
1 Goosander (female)
Lee Dam
4 Teal (2 pairs)
2 Mistle Thrush
1 Pied Wagtail

Withens Head/Fly Flats

Fly Flats (pm)
6 Goldeneye (3 males)
2 Oystercatchers
2 Mistle Thrush by the Twite feeding station was unusual for Fly - feeding in the heather. No Twite but Niger seed put down in anticipation!
2 Curlew
30+ Canada Geese
6+ Red Grouse
No mipits or Skylarks

Withens Head
4 Lapwing
1 Kestrel
39 Starling
2 Curlew
6 Rook
Also unusual at this elevation was a Grey Squirrel by the former Withens pub

Hartshead area

3 Yellowhammers
Skylark
Little Owl
Sparrowhawk
2 Pheasant
4 Bullfinch
c12 Siskin

And a hare
But no sign of Buzzards so far..

Ogden Garden

This morning a flock of six waxwings in exactly the same tree as yesterday.Three magpies perched higher up did not appear to worry them.

Ripponden etc

Saturday

Very brief visit to Flints & Ringstone produced:

Flints:

Curlew - 4
Lapwing- 8 (probably more as plenty displaying towards Waterstalls)
Golden Plover – 20+

Ringstone:

Grebe – 2 (Displaying)
Oystercatcher – 2
Moorhen - 1

On the fields –

Canada Geese
Lapwing
Curlew
Golden Plover
BH Gulls

Sunday

Only item of note was a Buzzard and a Kestrel in the Soyland area.

Swales Moor etc

Shibden Head produced a Green Woodpecker this afternoon. Not much else found there other than 6 Bullfinch and some nesting Stock Doves.

Swales Moor
19 Skylark
3 Twite
12 Linnet
2 Reed Buntings
1 Pied Wagtail

Ploughcroft
1 usual Little Owl
6 Common Gulls
2 Sparrowhawk

Strait Hey this afternoon

Went in search of Kestrel and found one at last - a male. First one seen here for about 6 months.
72 Fieldfare and a Redwing in the three hawthorns. When the Fieldfare flew off a single bird was left, and it was the Redwing.
3 Mipits
Peregrine over

Buzzards- Sun pm

Think I was near Nick D's raptor area and had:-R

Buzzard x 3

Raven x 2

Kestrel x 3+

The Buzzards were very vocal and all three were up together with the 2 Ravens and 1 Kestrel. It was great to see so close to home.

Ogden Garden The one that got away

I was watching the birds on the feeder just now when suddenly a male sparrowhawk swooped in and took a male blackbird from a nearby bush. It flew down onto the lawn and sat motionless for several seconds guarding its catch with open wings. Then a second sparrowhawk zoomed in with tallons blazing and attacked the male. In the confusion, the blackbird- which I had imagined would be a goner by now - took its chance and flew off, seemingly unharmed! I have never seen a bird escape before. The male sparrowhawk seemed dazed and bedraggled and spent several minutes hopping round the lawn persued by two magpies, before eventually flying off.

Bird mag back copies

I have quite a large number of birding magazines which I am looking at recycling to create some space, if anyone has any gaps in collections of Yorkshire Birding, Birdwatch or British Birds let me know I might be able to plug them.

Ogden Garden

A flock of 9 waxwings on the same tree as yesterday in the garden of our neighbour this morning. Probably the same flock. They flew off in the direction of Syke Lane.

Fly Flats/Castle Carr/Cold Edge

Fly Flats
1 Goldeneye
2 Oystercatchers
several Red Grouse
1 Reed Bunting
(still no sign of any mipits up there this morning)

Cold Edge
6 Golden Plover
6 Curlew
2 Oystercatchers
1 Kestrel
1 Goosander
1 Little Owl at Withens Head - (usual one Jeff )

Castle Carr Road
6 Lapwings
Sparrowhawk chasing a Skylark
6 Skylark
2 Curlew
2 Golden Plover

Ogden Garden

A flock of 9 waxwings perched in the tree in our neighbours garden this morning. They were present for at least one hour.

Ring Necked Parakeet West Vale

They've been mentioned couple of times before, but briefly saw a Ring Necked Parakeet while driving through West Vale/Greetland yesterday morning.

It flew in to trees on the railway embankment behind a modern development of flats on Rochdale Road opposite entrance to Clay House.

Bradley and EGP today

Went over to see if the Yellowhammers were about over at Bradley. As I arrived I saw a male in one of the mature trees and later I saw a male and female fly over. The male returned and landed just above me -

It was singing intermittently and flew off into the scrub after about 30 seconds or so.

Also present were a pair of Bullfinch, a Sparrowhawk and a small flock of finches including Goldfinch and Lesser Redpoll.

Would I have time for a quick look at EGP on the way home and risk being late for the dreaded shopping trip? Well, there's always time isn't there.

EGP - Ski Lake
6 Goldeneye (3 pairs)
3 Cormorant
c. 50 BH Gull
3 Common Gull
Great Crested Grebe
Coot

Plenty of Tits about all over the place including 5 Long-tailed; just 3 Goosander (2m 1f) on the river by Avocet; a Little Grebe calling and a Coot were on the lagoon, and another single Coot was on the fishing lake.

Peregrine

Today - 11th

My son was driving his mail van off his street onto Burnley Road just before the railway bridge the Tod side of The Glen. A peregrine was on the white line in the middle of the road hunched over a pigeon and plucking it. It was disturbed by another car and both birds took off. The peregrine chased its prey at bonnet level of cars and disappeared somewhere by Bobbin Mill.

Ogden/Mixenden/Cold Edge

Late posting for Wednesday - I went out to check some res'rs in case of wind blown Kittiwake etc. but nothing doing!
Mixenden Res'r
3 returning Meadow Pipits
120 B H gulls
30 Common Gulls
2 Canada Geese

Ogden - Back Lane fields
1 L B B Gull
14 Curlew
c20 Lapwing
3 Common Snipe
6 Stock Dove
40 Woodpigeon
c230 Starling
1 Skylark

Ogden Res'r
Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch and Great-spotted Woodpecker near the car park but nothing doing on the res'r!

Cold Edge (pm)
2 Curlew
30 Golden Plover
55 Canada Geese and 5 Greylags

Ringstone Res'r

This afternoon
c180 Golden Plover
2 Oystercatchers

Shibden valley and Swales Moor

This morning;
Green, Great-spotted Woodpeckers and Nuthatches calling in the upper valley
1 Siskin flyover
1 Kestrel
3 Stock Doves
1 Goldcrest singing
2 Tawny owls singing on each side of the valley at the same time - mid-day!

Swales Moor
17 Skylarks
1 Reed Bunting
c30 Linnet
2 Twite
1 Pied Wagtail

Ploughcroft
1 Little Owl
1 Common Gull
20+ Woodpigeons

Red Kite and White Stoat

Distant shots of a Red Kite I had this PM heading towards Cold Edge, also had a White Stoat in the same area, a first for me.

Cold Edge Road/Fly Flats

Fly Flats (pm)
2 Oystercatchers
1 female Goldeneye
c50 Canada Goose
1 Skylark
6+ Red Grouse

Withens Head
2 Little Owls
1 Grey Heron
2 Curlew

Soyland Area

Wander around Soyland area Sunday afternoon produced:

Skylark at London Springs/Blue Ball Road junction.

Coal Tits & Chaffinch at Soyland Plantation.

17 Lapwing on Flints Dam wall. Heard but not seen Curlew.

Blue & Great Tits, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Brambling – Kennel Lane above Cottonstones.

Little Owl just below Cottonstones – first for this location and made up for not seeing any in the usual locations on this walk.

Kestrel in usual area between Kebroyd woods and Cow Lane, Soyland.

The Rookery at Mill Bank is very active early evening with large numbers congregating before the majority move off to roost over toward Ryburn Reservoir.

No sign of either Grouse or Mipits on Soyland Moor.

Robin with eggs

Found this nest at third attempt. First noticed nest material being carried on 11th Feb.

There are 4, possibly 5 eggs. A wren also once brought young off from a nest in this hole, a few years back, where a stove pipe comes through the wall of the outhouse.

Today flushed the robin inadvertantly. She was back on the nest 15 minutes later.

Scammonden

Out and about near Scammonden this afternoon

Tree Creeper near the Scout hut (also plenty of finches)

3 Kestrel

15 Curlew by Dean Head (flew off and landed near Nont Sarah's)

3 Goldeneye on Cupwith (1F, 2M)

1 GSW

Ogden Water

Four Whooper Swans on the water this am.

Cold Edge

I did check Cold Edge Road area again yesterday morning but unfortunately there was no sign of Thursdays Snow Bunting - just 3 Skylarks, 6 Reed Buntings and 1 Golden Plover.

Elsewhere 17 Skylarks and 1 Reed Bunting were present at the Swales Moor site on Friday afternoon.

Various Sites

Cracking day for a walk and hoped to see Skylarks and Mipits back on the hills.

Lee Dam
5 Goosander - 2 pairs and a spare redhead
4 Teal - 2 pairs
3 Mallards - 1 pair and a spare drake

Green Woodpecker at Lumbutts Clough

Gaddings Dam
A pair of Goldeneye
1 Skylark

Longfield Dam
1 Goldeneye - drake
7 Black-headed Gull
23 Canada Goose
1 Lapwing

Also a Goldcrest flew onto one of the garden bird feeders this morning, had a look at the sunflower hearts and flew off into the fir trees from whence it came. A male Reed Bunting and 3 Lesser Redpoll (2 male, 1 female) were the only other birds of note.

Out of area - just

Great grey shrike reported on Birdguides at Paul Clough, Oxenhope, 10:00 this morning.

Sowerby Bridge/Copley planning application

The application has gone in see ref 11/00200/FUL via the Calderdale Council website (under planning). As already decided the CBCG will be registering an objection, there is a facility on the website for other bodies, individuals etc to make representations should they wish (either for or against)

Other news today

7 Whooper Swans were reported this morning at Baitings Res'r
c150 Golden Plover with the Lapwing flock at Ringstone Res'r
2 Oystercatchers at Booth Wood Res'r
All reports thanks to Steve L

At least 2 Mute Swans were still on the mill pond at Triangle on Tuesday.

Cold Edge Road/Fly Flats etc

We headed off from Mixenden Res'r in the mist this morning to walk over the moors to Hebden Bridge. Despite the mist, and frost over 1,000 ft we had a very interesting day.

Nothing much of interest on Mixenden but as we walked up Cold Edge Road towards 'The Withens' we disturbed 2 birds, just over the wall in the field. I followed one bird which landed nearby and turned out to be a Skylark. Jen followed the other bird which landed nearby in the opposite direction (glad she did especially when she said it had large white flashes on its wings) and it turned out to be a Snow Bunting. The bird took off again calling about four times with it's 'pr r r rt' and 'piu' but we lost sight of it in the mist and were unable to relocate it - it could still be there though (?) Another nice job for tomorrow!

Later on in the day we found a Stoat 'in ermine' not often seen one of these! It stood out in the fields as it was hunting along walls and rabbit holes - what was even more surprising was that it came out of a rabbit hole with a half-grown dead rabbit in its jaws, ran across the field into a banking and stashed the rabbit. It repeated this process twice more with half grown rabbits and stashed them in the same place. We wondered if it was a female feeding young (or do males hunt for females?)or was it just stashing them for later? A very exciting experience which left us with a few interesting questions.

The Stoat was just starting to lose some of the white around the head and nape. It did look bigger than normal probably due to the extra thick fur.

Elsewhere there was a flock of 300+ Fieldfare

Several Golden Plover and 2 Curlew starting to sing on the moor where there were 20+ Red Grouse.

2 Dippers were together in the river near Hebden Bridge

Cold Edge and Fly Flats

Fly Flats - very quiet (no sign of any Mipits, Skylarks or waders)
43 Canada Geese
2 Goldeneye
2 Red Grouse

Cold Edge
Very quiet here too - not a sign of any waders, mipits or raptors other than 1 Little Owl
1 Skylark around the chicken coup at Withens Gap
7 Golden Plover were resting in a field just up Cold Edge Road in a field above Nolstar kennels - unusually they just sat there in the field 50 m from us. We expected them to be off (as they usually do) but perhaps they were recovering from a long flight (?)

At least 6 Brambling were still with the finch flock at the back of the 'Delvers' the males are starting to look good

Various sites (am)

Swales Moor
There was a flock of 27 Skylarks there yesterday but only 20 there this morning.
25 Linnet
2 Twite (including the colour ringed bird)
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Reed Bunting

Ploughcroft
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Little Owl

Sunny Vale
3 Teal
3 Coot
4 Moorhen
1 Treecreeper
1 Great spotted Woodpecker drumming

Butterfly at the Barge & Barrel

A Small Tortoiseshell was sunning itself on the stone wall next to the towpath by the the 'Barge' at Elland Bridge this morning. Flies in early March ? Then this was a really early one !

WYE local wildlife site designation criteria - update

Thanks to everyone for their comments re the critieria for designation of wildlife sites proposed by West Yorkshire Ecology. I have forwarded them onto Hugh Firman who is meeting WYE today where this issue is likely to come up, hopefully these recent comments plus the general comments I submitted some time ago will be taken into consideration. This is a good example of where the CBCG can influence important decisions that affect local wildlife and habitats and a measure of the respect in which our opinions are held, I would encourage all members to continue to take an active part in the Group, we are making positive inputs into the conservation of local birds.

Nick

Blackbird behaviour

We observed a few days ago a strange display by a blackbird. We have an arbour a few yards from the kitchen window and a male blackbird came and stood on one corner. A few seconds later another male stood on another corner. Nothing odd there, but instead of the usual noisy fracas, the first bird lowered its head opened its beak slightly and proceeded to sway its head from side to side five or six times, much like an avocet does when feeding. Another male arrived on another corner and the first bird did this action again, all three stood in silence until a female arrived and spoiled things. bird one followed by bird two, then three, and finally the female flew off in silence. It looked like a submission display to us. Anyone seen this behaviour before?

Wainstalls and Luddenden Dean

We found just 1 Brambling behind the Delvers this afternoon (6 there earlier in the day thanks to NK) but the finch flock was very flighty.

1 Merlin paced through north as we neared the 'caty' but the rest of the dean was fairly quiet until we got to the lower lodge area and the eastern hillside where there were loads of Blue and Great Tits, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Green Woodpecker and 2 Nuthatch along with Chaff's Goldfinches and Coal Tits - probably all being helped with the feeders in a nearby garden.

10+ Reed Buntings were around the top lodge at the end of Castle Carr Road but there were no sign of any waders on the moor as we walked back to Wainstalls.

Luddendenfoot Bat

As promised, and thanks to Steve Greenbank for the photo, here is the bat that thinks it's a bird. Photo was taken around midday over Luddendenfoot Heronry.

Cold Edge and Fly Flats

This afternoon at Cold Edge;
1 male Stonechat by Moorlands Farm
1 Curlew singing
1 Golden Plover
6 Lapwings
25 Fieldfare
4 Greylags and 4 Canada Geese
1 pair Tufted Duck

Fly Flatts
1 Red Grouse
1 pr Canada Geese
6 Carrion Crows - and that was it!

Nests and Territories

Apart from our local Herons....anybody seen any other nest-building or territorial activity?

Various sites

Swales Moor (am)
12 Skylark
c25 Linnet
1 Twite
1 Reed Bunting
1 Pied Wagtail

Ploughcroft
1 Green Woodpecker

Mixenden Res'r
1 Goosander
1 f Goldeneye
1 Green Woodpecker

Shroggs Road (reclaimed landfill site)
50+ Siskin + 1 Lesser Redpoll
7 Redwings

Cold Edge (pm)
3 Oystercatchers on the top dam
2 Tufted Duck
4 Greylag Geese and 2 Canadas
1 Peregrine over

Withens Head
1 Little Owl

Herons 'n' Bats

Filming Herons building their nests at Luddendenfoot this morning. Looks like 6 active nests this year...certainly 5. Only one pair building as the others were sitting already with their partners out fishing somewhere.

Interestingly, the pair that were building had a third bird perched by the nest playing gooseberry. I assume that this was one of last years youngsters as it didn't appear to be competing for the attention of either of the two nest-builders.

Even more curious was a day-flying bat that I first saw around 11.45 flying above the tree canopy. I didn't manage to get any footage unfortunately, but a visiting birder, (S. Greenbank), managed to get a still as it cleared the trees. The bat was quite large with a rufus body and was still in the air at around 2.00 in the afternoon.

I have asked him to try to post a picture after he returns home.

Mixenden Res'r

1 female Goldeneye

4 Goosander

1 Cormorant

2 adult L B B Gulls with 20 Common Gulls and 40 B H Gulls

Mixenden Res'r

1 female Goldeneye
4 Goosander
1 Cormorant
2 adult L B B Gulls with 20 Common Gulls and 40 B H Gulls

Swales Moor

Usual suspects this morning including the colour ringed Twite still there, but no Linnets.

Moving birds
1 Curlew >SW
1 Sparrowhawk >NW
12 Common Gulls >NW

Ogden Garden

A flock of 20 Waxwings in a tree in next door's garden this afternoon.

Todmorden today

7 Lapwing at Longfield Pond along with 8 Mallard and about 20 Canada Geese.

A Kestrel was being mobbed by a Crow over Gauxholme, and a Raven flew over Ramsden Clough reservoir going West.

Round and about....

3 Mute Swan at Triangle,1 Shelduck , 25 Lapwing and a peregrine at Ringstone

Mixenden and Ogden (golf course)

3 Tufted Duck were on Mixenden res'r this afternoon along with 2 adult L B B Gulls and 40 mixed B h and Common Gulls
1 Green Woodpecker
6 Stock Dove
c60 Woodpigeons

c25 Waxwings were feeding on insects from the tree tops near the old fish-farm pond just below Ogden golf course. These probably included some of the birds seen earlier in the day at Ogden car park. They flew back towards Ogden late afternoon to roost.

Various sites

Swales Moor (still in the thick fog this morning - it seems to have been foggy all winter up here!!)
The colour ringed Twite (present at this site since 28th Dec 2010) is still there with 4 Linnets today. Sean Grey came back to me on the bird's ringing origin - it was ringed at Heysham in 2010 - many thanks Sean.
Also present
10 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Reed Bunting
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Grey Partridge
c60 carrion Crows

Moving birds >NE included 1 Skylark, 4 Golden Plover (2,1 and 1) and 1 Curlew

Green Woodpecker over Ploughcroft

Huddersfield Birdwatchers Club

I have received an invite today from Alf King (Hudds BW) for members of Halifax Birdwatchers Club to attend their next meeting on 8th March to sell our report. The meeting will be held in The Old Court Room in Huddersfield Town Hall beginning at 7.30 pm and will include a talk by Paul Hobson entitled "The Wood".

Brighouse & Hartshead

Male Mandarin on the canal.

Grey Wagtail & G S Woodpecker in Wellholme Park

2 singing Yellowhammers near Hartshead

2 Little Owls at Kirklees Park

2 pairs of Bullfinches

c40 Siskins with a few Redpoll in amongst

Waxwings and Curlew

About 20 Waxwing were in the car park area at Ogden this lunch time. (P.R.)
Also a curlew flew low overhead calling. (B.H.)

Tree Sparrows hit the Press

Press release from Calderdale Council re Tree Sparrow Project at Jay House Lane. Not sure about the "hundred or so" but I believe a visit last week estimated 40 to 50 so maybe our box work is paying off.
www.calderdale.gov.uk/council/news/pressreleases/detail.jsp?id=24054&ref=index

The Birds and the Bees

Can I bring blog readers attention to the next meeting of the Halifax Scientific Society which will be a talk by Edie Jolley and Charlotte Weightman covering hay meadow management (particularly in the in-bye areas) and the value of these habitats to wildlife including birds and bees. As CBCG members will know Charlotte worked with us on the Seeds Project and is now working with RSPB on the Twite Recovery Project which is continuing this work. The meeting will be held on 8th March at Halifax Central Library meeting room (downstairs) beginning at 7-15pm.

Bird Report update

Apologies to the birder who visited Woodlesford News today for a report and they didnt have any, they had just sold out. Ive now delivered a further 20 copies. Im now starting to work on the 2010 report so if anybody hasnt subbmitted there records yet then do so asap.

Lee Dam Pochard

I took a few photos of the drake Pochard at Lee Dam as it was a new species there. Here's one of them. David T suggested it may be a hybrid as I'd stated in my previous post that its plumage wasn't as I'd expect at this time of year - what do people think?

d

Swales Moor

I braved the site in the mist again this afternoon - surely it will turn up a Snow Bunting soon!!
10 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Reed Buntings
2 Grey Partridge
No sign of the Linnet flock or the Twite today and the Little Owl spot was shrouded in mist!

Lee Dam

A drake Pochard in patchy, eclipse-like plumage (a bit late for eclipse I'd have thought but it was not the usual resplendent male plumage you normally see in late winter) at Lee Dam - a new species for this site. One redhead Goosander also present.

A Mute Swan flew over the Rochdale Canal near Lobb Mill, Todmorden, heading towards Hebden Bridge.

Ogden

Goldeneye

1 pair Goldeneye showing well at Ogden despite the gloom.
BS

Oystercatcher 20/02/11

1 at Elland Gravel Pits this morning being given a hard time by the Black-headed Gulls present.

Shibden Valley

Saturday 19th February 9:00 - snowing.

Shibden Park

6 Jackdaw, 1 magpie, 2 woodpigeon, 1 grey wagtail.

On the lake 77 mallard, 6 moorhen, 45 BH gull and 1 canada goose.

22 long tailed tit, 1 great tit, 2 blue tit.

6 treecreeper including 3 on one tree.

6 goldcrest, 3 wren, 1 robin, 4 blackbird, 2 GS woodpecker.

Cunnery Wood & Beacon Hill

1 jay, 1 kestrel, singing bullfinch.

Sunnyvale

It's difficult to check the lake out now as the owner has stopped public access to the area. The only views are from the footpath overlooking the lake.

3 teal, 1 moorhen, 1 coot.

2 GS woodpecker, 1 jay, 3 magpie, 2 robin, 7 long tailed tit, 2 carrion crow.

Beer, biriyani and birds

Just a reminder about the night out this coming Friday (25th). All still welcome. The plan is to meet around 6:30 - 7:00 for drinks in the Brandy Wine pub at Luddendenfoot (HX2 6AD for all you sat' navvers) then upstairs to the New Moonlight Indian Restaurant around 7:45 - 8:00.

The more the merrier. And again, if you are not able to make it this time we can of course do it again, either at the same location or a different one.

Swales Moor

This morning in the mist;
The single colour ringed Twite is still there in the Linnet flock of c35 birds. This Twite has been there since at least 28th December 2010. I haven't had any information back from the BTO yet on the origins of this bird!
10 Skylarks
2 Reed Bunting
2 Grey Partridge
1 Stock Dove

Out of area

The Hawfinch has been showing well all week at St. Ives, Bingley. Best seen near the kids play area/near the mansion house.

Forest sell off plan abandoned (?)

See link below, well done to everyone who took the time to sign petitions, write e mails to MPs etc. and I guess well done to the government for listening to the people. Lets not take anything for granted though and keep an eye on this one, we don't want something similar sneaking through a back door quietly in the future.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20110217/tuk-forest-sell-off-plan-abandoned-6323e80.html

Home to Hebden Bridge (and back)

41 Redwing in the field on way to Strait Hey this morning
over 150 Fieldfare in fields by Pennine Way towards Lower Rough Head, mixed in with about 100 Starling

Little Owl on wall about 1/2 mile further towards Hebden Bridge
5 LT Tit, 13 Pied Wagtail and a Grey Wagtail at Eastwood WTW

Not much else of note apart from bumping into Mr and Mrs Sutcliffe, Mr Dawtrey and Mr Walker later on. I recovered OK from the bump.

Fishing Lake.Brookfoot

Brighouse Angling has decided to revoke my membership on the grounds that it is not for birdwatchers but for fishing only. The fact I have had recent words with the shooter Alan Pounder has nothing to do with this decision. All birders in this area should be aware they have a permit to shoot 2 Cormorants per annum but the bailiff and Pounder are of the opinion that if it eats fish they will shoot at it. Pounder has also been seen to take pot shots at birds just flying over and I am not sure if this is allowed Any comments welcome by E/mail or on the blog.Finish off with 2 Recent Blackbird shots in the garden.

Mixenden Res'r

1 drake Goosander and 1 drake Goldeneye and that was it there this afternoon apart from c70 Black headed Gulls and c40 Common Gulls

Luddenden Foot

3 Dippers together this morning below the bridge over the Calder, singing like mad and chasing about.
1 Grey Wagtail and a Peregrine nearby but not much else on the Calder or the canal.

"Local Wildlife Sites" - a new designation

West Yorkshire Ecology our Local Records Centre have been asked to review the criteria used for selecting areas that are considered of value in the sub-region. A revised system for designating “Local Wildlife Sites” will replace the existing systems for Sites of Ecological/Geological Importance (SEGI), Sites of Scientific Interest (SSI), Bradford Wildlife Areas (BWA), Site of Wildlife Significance (SWS) and Wakefield Nature Areas (WNA). Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) are sites that are less important than SSSI, SPA etc. and are being named LWS to replace the multiple names that are currently used for such sites in West Yorkshire. The benefits to be derived from designating these sites are:

The planning process – an assumption would be made that they will not developed
Grant funding – stewardship etc. would be more likely to be allowed on such sites
They should be sites local groups should all concentrate on, be this for birds, mammals, plants etc.

The proposed criteria for designating these sites have been published on the WYE website see
http://www.ecology.wyjs.org.uk/wyjs-ecology-ls.asp
The CBCG intend to comment on these criteria but we would welcome input from all local naturalists, once set this system will be applied to any site considered of value to see if it qualifies for designation therefore it is very important that the criteria are correct. Closing date for representations is 21st February so I would appreciate any comments before then.

Thanks

Possible Mealy Redpoll?

There were 9 Redpolls in the garden this morning consisting of 3 male Lesser Redpoll, 5 female Lesser Redpoll, and this one below the Goldfinch on the feeder. It didn't hang around very long so only managed 2 photos through the window. The other photo was useless so haven't posted it:

Given the overall paler colouring I thought it could be a Mealy Redpoll. On the other hand it may just be a leucistic Lesser Redpoll - but the red patch on the head is the right colour so perhaps this rules out leucism? Comparing it to a Lesser Redpoll (top left of the photo, out of focus) it is obviously much paler. It also appeared slightly larger than the Lesser Redpolls, but this may be because it was lighter and stood out from the rest so markedly. I'd appreciate your thoughts please.

In the field behind the house were about 150 Starling and mixed in with them were 31 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing.

Swales Moor etc

17 Skylark in a single flock on the former manure field was a nice surprise this afternoon
1 Twite
c35 Linnet
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Reed Bunting
1 Grey Partridge
1 Little Owl at Ploughcroft was a first there this year

Yesterday afternoon I had a look at High Royd SF - it was a poor afternoon and could only find;
4 Teal
2 Coot
5 Moorhen
10 Mallard
200+ Jackdaws headed over towards a roost

Bird Report 2009

At last the bird report is out, it seems to have taken an age this time but I hope its been worth waiting for. Ive used Sean Johnsons Yellowhammer on the front cover, it won most peoples vote. Many thanks to all who submitted records, Im sorry if I missed anybody out of the contributors and sorry if your photos dont make it but I can only use so many. At the moment its on sale at Woodlesford News Agents at Pellon / Mount Tabor and Matt is going to sell them at Flying Saucers at Hebden Bridge, Nick Carter will be selling them by post when hes picked them up from me. Now all I have to do is to make a start on the 2010 report, here we go again. Good birding to all for 2011 and thanks again if you contributed

EGP

Very quiet this morning.
Ski Lake. 5 Goosander, 6 Cormorant, 1 Goldeneye(M), 2 Little Grebe, c75 B/H/Gulls, 9 Common Gulls, 1 Grey Heron.
Reedbed Lagoon. 2 Little Grebe singing, 2 Coot, 3 Reed Buntings.
Cromwell car park had 2 Nuthatch extracting peanuts and hiding them and the tip top about 20 Redpolls.

Ringstone

20 Golden Plover + 46 Lapwing in East Field. 3m + 8f Goosander; 6m + 2f Mallard; c60BHG on res.

Three Woodcock flushed from the moor at Great Manshead Hill, Soyland this afternoon. Not much else about but four Grouse & Corvids.

Todmorden Waxwings

Late post, I'm afraid, but 8 Waxwings were on Wellington Road at 1630 on Friday 11th.
Could not spot them there or in the town centre this morning, however.

Lesser Spotted woodpecker

A lesser spotted woodpecker was herd today several times calling in one of the woods near EGP  about 3.30.and a Water rail was herd alarm calling at dusk on lagoon 1.

Ogden Water

A raven flew over this morning and departed in the direction of the old Withens pub

2009 Report

Nick D has asked me to post on the blog that he has just got the 2009 Halifax Birdwatchers Club Report back from the printers this afternoon.

From this Sunday they will be available for £5 from Woodlesford Newsagents, Moor End Road near Mount Tabor.

Further details will follow for anyone needing any to be sent in the post.

Well done Nick

2009 Report

Nick has asked me to post on the blog that 2009 Report has arrive d from the printers this afternoon

Various sites

This morning - in the mist!
Luddenden Foot
2 Dippers on the Calder and several Goosander

Mixenden Res'r
2 Goosander

Swales Moor
5 Skylark
1 Reed Bunting
No sign of the Linnet flock

Elland GP
4 Little Grebes and 7 Cormorants on the ski lake and a few Goosanders
On the planted landfill site the Alders and Birch's were busy with feeding Redpolls (mainly Lesser but several Mealy Redpolls in with them) also lots of Siskin, a few Reed Buntings and Goldfinch - in all probably around 150 birds. This flock is well worth a look at!

Shroggs - former landfill site
I tramped across the large flat boggy grassland this afternoon to check for Snipe, or possibly Jack Snipe but there was nothing doing.
A bonus was 3 Brambling along with some Bullfinch in the scrubland near Brackendbed Lane.

Hartshead hedgerows

There were 7 Yellowhammers in the hedgerow (right on our boundary) below Hartshead this pm; then 5 flew from the bush - and 7 were still there. So a dozen was an unusual total for this site. Plus a pair of Bullfinches in the same bush.
The traditional site at Bradley Hall is only a mile and a half away, and the hedgerow there has been savagely cut back, leaving little cover: maybe some of these birds were displaced from there ?

Brighouse canal

A cheeky Dipper was trying to hitch a ride on a narrowboat in the canal baisin this morning, (sorry about the blurred photo) but then had second thoughts and ran across the mooring rope to the bank.
A few yards away a male Mandarin was putting on an impressive (and noisy) display to the Mallards; maybe it will find a willing female again this year.
A total of 131 Mallards were on the stretch of canal through the town centre.

Crimsworth Dean

Very quiet for birds in the dean today even though the weather picked up a bit from 11.30 ish

92 Pink-footed Geese headed west at 11.05
1 Green Woodpecker
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
1 Nuthatch
2 Grey Partridge higher up the dean
19 Fieldfare
10 Mistle Thrush (and singing)
1 Common Buzzard at a distance high over the moor

Greetland and Ringstone Res'r

30 Waxwings in trees opposite Sunnybank Drive in Saddleworth Road, Greetland at 3.15 this afternoon, by the school.
c40 Lapwings at Rigstone Res'r

Wainstalls/Cold Edge

Wainstalls
10+ Brambling there around 09.30 in with the finch flock of around 80+ behind the 'Delvers' but nothing there when we returned at 12.30!
1 Common Buzzard >SE towards the Calder Valley around 12.15

Cold Edge
9 Greylag Geese
3 Fieldfare
25 Starlings
3 Skylarks high >E plus another in a field near Cold Edge Road near the Withens
No Little Owls

Copley development - CBCG vote re objection

Of the 15 people eligible to vote on this issue, 2 didn't reply to requests, 2 abstained and the remaining 11 all voted for the CBCG to formally object to the planning application. Many thanks to those that took part, the CBCG will now formulate an objection.

Please note that individuals can support or object to any planning applications via the planning pages on the Calderdale Council website.

Mixenden and Swales Moor

Getting a bit repetative up this end at the moment!!
Mixenden
3 Goosander
1 f Goldeneye
25 B H Gulls and 2 Common Gulls
18 Magpies together

Swales Moor
c40 Linnet still about on the top but it was too windy to locate any Twite with them
5 Skylark
2 Meadow Pipits
2 Reed Buntings
1 Grey Partridge
1 Kestrel

Langfield and Gaddings Dam

Walked over to Langfield and up to Gaddings this morning while there was a "fresh wind" blowing but no rain. Nothing to speak of around Langfield, not even a Wren, but when I reached Gaddings I was surprised to put up 2 drake Goldeneye that had been on the water in the calmest part of the dam. As I left I got wet with the spray that was blowing over the dam wall, which was OK as it prepared me for the rain that started soon afterwards.

 A Goldcrest and a pair of Canada Geese were at Lee Dam. Two female Goosander were there yesterday.

A pair of Bullfinch, 8 Redpoll, 5 Greenfinch, 13 Goldfinch and 10 Chaffinch were in the garden earlier, keeping their heads down out of the wind.