Cold Edge (late posting)

Hunter Hill watchpoint
Friday 7 October 2011
Counting period: 7:30 - 9:45
Weather: wind NW4, cloud-cover 6/8, Cloud to the west and brighter to the east with some breaks in the cloud. S or S/W unless stated.
Grey Heron 1
Skylark 7
Siskin 11
Pink-footed Goose 3
Meadow Pipit 351
Lesser Redpoll 4
Hen Harrier 1
alba wagtail sp. 5
Crossbill 18 and 7 north
Merlin 1
Chaffinch 9
Reed Bunting 2 north
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 1 north
Greenfinch 5
Woodpigeon 48
Goldfinch 2

Totals: 477 individuals, 16 species, 2:15 hours

Present: Goosander 3, Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 3, Grey Partridge 12, Woodpigeon 80, Green Woodpecker 1, Jay 4, Magpie 2, Jackdaw 35, Carrion Crow 20, Starling 6

Comments: A Merlin through north at 07.40 wa a nice one to start with. A steady flow of Meadow Pipits throughout with birds coming SW at all elevations. 2 Siskin flocks heard but not seen. 3 Pink feet through SW at 09.20 with another skien at 09.15 heard but not seen probably in the valley over the hill. Crossbills, with 18 south and 7 north were a treat. I had to get home for 10am but as I got back to the car I got a call from Howard at Oxenhope via Brian at Queensbury to say a Ring-tail Hen Harrier had just passed through their watchpoint and it was on its way in my direction. I did not hold out too much hope as it could take a number of directions but I was elated when it came through a few minutes later (09.40)over the fields with Carrion Crows in attendance, then it flew over Hunter Hill quarry and down towards the Calder Valley. Without the call I would have missed it so many thanks to the Oxenhope and Queensbury faithful.

Jumble Hole/Underbank

Very similar mix to yesterday.
- 3 chiffchaff and 1 goldcrest were moving with a mixed tit flock
- 2 f. siskin, with others calling unseen
- nuthatch calling
- male sparrowhawk
- 2 grey heron over

Manx Shearwater

There's been a report of a Manx Shearwater picked up dead about 2 weeks ago at Flints by a game keeper we all know and love! does anybody know anything about it ?

Jumble Hole 8:30am

A quick walk up the Pennine Way at Underbank found bushes full of finches where they are normal full of warblers in Summer. Autumn has truly arrived.

- 2 very smart siskin feeding in a hawthorn (other unseen birds were passing over)
- 25+ goldfinch (many of which were juvs)
- 20+ greenfinch (ditto)
- 3 bullfinch
- 9 chaffinch
- 1 chiffchaff
- 2 nutchatch
- 3 song thrush

Shibden Valley and Mixenden

Late morning still at least 2 House Martins feeding in the shelter between Shibden Mill Inn and back of the ski slope along Hag Lane.
Birds moving along the hillside SW included 1 Crossbill, 55 Meadow Pipits and 15 Chaffinch. Also at 12.15 a single Pink-footed Goose headed up the valley struggling in the blustery wind. Surprisingly a single Pinkie flew NW at 12.45 over Mixenden Reservoir! Also at Mixenden a juv Great-crested Grebe and 2 Goosander

Frogs!

Coming down off the M62 tonight 1/4 mile down from J22 on the road towards Rishworth, what looked like 2 Common Frogs were crossing the road in the pouring rain. Dangerous tactics as there looked to be several squashed ones as well. Looked like they were heading down to lower ground off the moor near the Green Withens. Never seen this before at such elevation, and in the autumn and I have used that road regularly over a long number of years.

Various sites this afternoon

Shibden Valley - at least 6 House Martins in a sheltered part of the valley opposite the Shibden Mill Inn and a Sparrowhawk also seen there. Lots of Beech mast arround so could be good for Chaff's and Bramblings in the coming months!

And from Tony M and Steve L
c100 Golden Plover at Ringstone this afternoon
12 Grey Partridge and 2 Swallows at Scammonden
A large raptor was also reported by some walkers from Elland GP today - it headed up towards the Shibden Valley but we have no further details.

Hunter Hill (watchpoint)

'Early doors'over Windy Bank with the Canada's heading south

 Poor shot I know of this male Merlin this morning - not often seen in the top of a bush!

Tuesday 4 October 2011
Counting period: 7:00 - 11:00
Weather: wind WSW5, cloud-cover 7/8, temperature 10 ℃
Birds heading S or SW unless stated


Canada Goose 12
Black-headed Gull 15
Chaffinch 6
Goosander 1 S 3 N
Common Gull 2 S 2 N
Greenfinch 3
Sparrowhawk 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 7
Goldfinch 2
Kestrel 1 N
Stock Dove 4
Linnet 3
Merlin 1
Woodpigeon 13 3 N
Crossbill 15
Hobby 1
Meadow Pipit 1278
Snipe 2
alba wagtail sp. 5 2 N

Totals: 1382 individuals, 19 species, 4:00 hours

Present: Great Crested Grebe 1, Mallard 6, Goosander 12, Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 5, Woodpigeon 60, Little Owl 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Wheatear 1, Jay 2, Magpie 2, Jackdaw 13, Carrion Crow 22, Starling 18


Comments: Hunter Hill watchpoint. I had to find a spot out of the blustery wind and it paid off. Meadow Pipits on the move from 07.30 gave a good count of 1,278 for this site. Hobby at 08.30 due south and a male Merlin at 10.00 heading north took a break for a minute in the top of a thorn bush. 15 Crossbills were heard before being seen and came right over the top of me with some stunning males showing bright red rumps as they flew on. A poor show on other finches today. Unusual was 12 Canada's heading high to the south (they usually drop in, but kept on going this time.) A decent selection of other birds around the site and on Mixenden res'r. 2 Brown Hares also together on the moor.

Fly Flatts/Withens Head

Twite sheltering from the wind - they seem to show much more contrast in the plumage this time of year especially showing more white as on this shot.

Unusual conditions up there this afternoon, so warm at 24c along with a strong blustery westerly F7.
There were 19 Twite at the feeding station including just one colour ringed bird. This is our highest count there this year so there may be more turn up in the next few weeks (if the weather stays favourable)!! as October seems to be the best month for numbers up there. No Wheatears today.
4 Stonechats just down the track from the feeding area flew off across the moor towards Dean Head
1 Red Grouse
c15 Meadow Pipits

2 Red-legged Partridge just down the road from 'The Withens'

Lee Mount

Signs of early movement first thing this
morning
2 Siskin s
9 Mistle Thrush w
2 House Martin s
1 Great-spotted Woodpecker s
12 Greenfinch s

Castle Carr Road

This afternoon as the weather deteriorated
2 Littl Owls (vocal)
7 Grey Partridge
9 Mistle Thrush
2 Meadow Pipits and that was it!

Bridestones, Todmorden. 12:00

- A flock of 35 pink feet flew up the valley from Hebden Bridge to Todmorden, then appeared to turn to fly up the valley towards Cornholme and Cliviger
- A late wheatear was a nice surprise. It looked noticably big & bright. Is a Greenland still a possibility at this time of year?
- A raven was around most of the time
- 2 juv herring gulls flew west
- Lost count of meadow pipits! 90+, certainly

October

had my first ever Calderdale october swallows this morning, 2 sat on wires near the Bradshaw tavern. Also a chiffchaff singing and a jay at north dean woods

Vis-mig Hunter Hill

7.00 - 9.15 ideal conditions today with clear skies and a light south-westerly but only small amounts of birds were moving, however there was an interesting selection

all moving south-west unless stated

Meadow Pipit 84
Goldfinch 48
Greenfinch 5 + 1n
Chaffinch 88
Crossbill 6
alba Wagtail 2
Starling 3
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 n
Swallow 3
Woodpigeon 28
Lapwing 15
Snipe 1
Mallard 1 s

other birds included the usual corvids and BHG's a Kestrel, Little Owl and Merlin (this kept appearing around the quarries). No sign of any pipits or finches around the quarries today maybe this was because of the Merlin.

Vis Mig - Hunter Hill

Sunrise over Queensbury this morning (digiscoped)

Cold Edge, Halifax (W Yorks, England) Hunter Hill warchpoint
Friday 30 September 2011
Counting period: 7:00 - 10:30
Weather: wind South1, cloud-cover 0/8, Very warm, little or no wind and not a cloud in the sky - unprecedented at this site!
Observers: David Sutcliffe, Martyn Hayes
All south or south west unless stated

Grey Heron 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull 31
Chaffinch 102
Greylag Goose 5 north
Woodpigeon 12 and 2 north
finch sp. 17
Mallard 1
Skylark 12
Greenfinch 14
Kestrel 1
Swallow 32
Goldfinch 33 and 3 north
Hobby 1
Meadow Pipit 366
Siskin 2
Lapwing 45
alba wagtail sp. 37
Linnet 5
Black-headed Gull 7
Jay 3
Crossbill 2
Common Gull 6
Starling 1

Totals: 742 individuals, 23 species, 3:30 hours

Present: Great Crested Grebe 1, Mallard 6, Goosander 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 1, Partridge 2, Black-headed Gull 35, Common Gull 5, Woodpigeon 30, Little Owl 2, Meadow Pipit 60, Jay 5, Magpie 1, Jackdaw 23, Carrion Crow 15, Starling 12

Comments: Nothing moving at all until 07.30 then a continuous steady stream of movers mainly south and south west until around 10.00. The highlight was a Hobby powering south at 09.15 with 2 Crossbills about the same time. Alba wags were interesting with a group of 16 together at 07.35. A nice move of Chaffinch's and unusually 3 Jays high overhead from over the wind farm heading south east which we followed until out of site. Suspect we missed some Siskin groups high overhead. A Great Crested Grebe and 1 Goosander on Mixenden reservoir, just below the watchpoint, and Little Owls calling nearby early on, along with 2 Grey Partridge. 60 Meadow Pipits were feeding in the fields around the quarry area.

Jumble Hole - 8:00am

4 chiffchaff calling this morning.
2 bullfinch
2 nutchatch.

A raven flew over calling on Wednesday.

Various sites (am)

Lee Mount - The day got off to a cracking start with 8 Crossbills over the back garden and away over Shroggs Park heading west at 7.30 and giving lots of noise.

Then just after 8 am I got a call from Andy to say 22 Pink-footed Geese had just gone over Northowram heading west - a few minutes later they were coming over to the west of Swales Moor heading over Ovenden. (Thanks Andy - I gather you got a Crossbill over as well)

Swales Moor mid to late morning did not disappoint either. As I got towards the top it was evident there were things still on the move with c20 Chaffinch, 12 Greenfinch and 8 Skylarks all heading over >S as well as a few Mipits. This looked a good time to get the scope out on the top with the weather looking and feeling so good. I stayed till after 12 and moving birds included
c150 Pink-footed Geese over towards Ogden and the wind farm, heading west at 10.20
3 Cormorant north at 10.30 towards Thornton Moor
5 House Martins south
3 Common Buzzards very high heading south and a Hobby (looked a juvenile) went straight over me at 11.45 again drifting south towards Beacon Hill and beyond.

In comparison Cold Edge was very quiet this afternoon but it was good to see 3 Peacock and 6 Small Tortoiseshell butterflies near the Withens. 2 Wheatears were at Withens Head and a Little Owl along Cold Edge Road.

Hunter Hill

Vis Mig 7 till 9 this morning
All heading south or south west unless stated
408 Meadow Pipits
43 Swallows
84 Chaffinch
4 Siskin
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Common Gull
3 alba wagtails
2 Crossbill north
8 Starling
2 House Martin
4 Reed Bunting
3 Redpoll
1Merlin (female)

Also present were 1 Wheatear, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel and 23 Goosander on Mixenden Res'r

Various sites

Today's reports from TM and SL
1 Golden Plover with Lapwings at Ringstone late morning.

Lots of mipits moving through Scammonden and Dean Head as well as Wheatear and Stonechat there

A single Crosbill was over Rastrick earlier this morning from Jim W

Fly Flatts

Twite at Fly Flatts this afternoon

Wheatear at Fly Flatts this afternoon (the posture and brightness and size of this individual suggests a Greenland bird)
This afternoon
3 Twite
8 Wheatears
2 Raven
1 Sparrowhawk
14 B H Gull
3 Kestrel
Lots of pipits but no Swallows up there today

Cold Edge and Withens Head

Cold Edge (this afternoon)
4 Lapwings
4 Tufted Duck
25 B H Gulls
2 Common Gulls
2 Wheatears
Lots of blogging mipits
3 Swallows >S
2 Reed Buntings
4 Linnets
1 Little Owl

Withens Head (opposite the wind farm car oark)
4 Wheatears
1 Red Grouse
Lots of blogging mipits
1 Kestrel
18 Goldfinch
And in the distance - 1 Brian S on Soil Hill getting blown away - again!!

Optolyth TBG80

I don't know if this is frowned upon but i have an Optolyth TBG 80 with 20XWW eyepiece & stay on case for sale i am looking for £175 & thought i would let local birders have a shout before putting it on ebay.

Discovery Friday

Delayed report of Friday morning/early afternoon spent with Jeff Cox discovering new sites, whilst neither site is entirely new both were new to me. We started off at Green Withens and immediately noticed large numbers of Mipits moving through and flocks of upto 30 birds at a time were moving through all the time we were there. On the reservoir it's self a lone little grebe and shelduck further round 2 Wheatears were also present and 2 Ravens announced their prescence before dropping down on the shore line, which is extensive. After an enjoyable few hours we moved off down the road to Derby Delph quarry where we were treated to great views of Twite approx 50+ birds present spending most of their time on the quarry wall. We then moved down to Copley and decided to explore North Dean Wood and what a good decision that was with Nuthatch heard calling almost immediately, the path takes you up the edge of the wood with open fields on your right. These fields have established hawthorn and other bushes and it is here that we had the most joy, the highlight being a Spotted Flycatcher. Also present min 2 Chiffchaff, 2m 1f/juv Bullfinch, Great tit, Blue tit, Long tailed tit and min 2 Goldcrest, several Jays very noisy and active, large flocks of distant hirundines were being troubled by a sparrowhawk. As we left a large flock of c40 House Martins were feeding around the tree tops before moving on and a pause by the river produced a fleeting glimpse of a Kingfisher. We both agreed that this site is worthy of further visits in the near future.

Crossbills

excellent views today of the Crossbills in Walshaw plantation with a feeding flock consisting of six males, nine females and two juveniles. I also managed a good count of the flock while they were flying, 37 birds. These birds have been present from at least early July when at least half of the birds I managed to see were juveniles, most of these will have moulted by now (Crossbills retain juvenile plumage for a long time, some even breed in this plumage) all the males were in body moult.

Interestingly one of the juveniles was fed twice by a female, this was not a recently fledged bird as it had a fully developed crossed bill takes 6-8 weeks to develop

also present 3 Siskin, 8 Goldfinch and 2 Redpoll also numerous Coal Tits and Goldcrests and a single Chiffchaff.

Hunter Hill - Vis Mig

ideal conditions this morning, light South-westerly, 10/10 cloud, I was expecting a big movement of Pipits but it did not happen, the joys of vig-mis, at least it stayed dry

all moving SW

Meadow Pipit 459
Goldfinch 13 (4/3/6)
Greenfich 11 (3/4/4)
Song Thrush 1
Starling 3
Woodpigeon 8
Swallow 19 (4/6/5/3)
Snipe 2 west

not much else about except the usual corvids and BHG's

Dave can you put these on Tek please

Supermarket sweep

In the interest of fair competition we heard and saw a dipper fly over the car park at the newly refurbished Halifax Sainsbury's yesterday morning. I nearly missed it as I was scanning the ridge for ospreys but I think I have missed them this year.

Tesco's really do have everything

Well the Sowerby Bridge store does although I hope the Robin which couldn't find the bird food aisle wasn't for sale. It was however a plesant surprise and brought a smile to my face as I searched for the mundane essentials. Another bird putting on a show today was a Peregrine which was on the wing near Eastwood opposite Duke St at approx 14:00 today, it had a real go at something in a hillside field though I couldn't tell what.

Hunter Hill - Vis Mig

not great conditions today with a quite strong westerly wind,

all moving SW unless otherwise stated

Meadow Pipit 358
Pied Wagtail 2
Swallow 39
House Martin 1
Greenfinch 14 W
Goldfinch 71
Chaffinch 7
Stock Dove 2
Woodpigeon 5
LBBG 3 N

also in the area 2 Wheatear, 2 Kestrel, Peregrine, 6 Pheasant plus the usual Corvids and BHG's

North Bridge

No Vis mig today but shopping paid a dividend as we came out if Sainsbury's a Dipper flew over towards Dean Clough which was a nice surprise.

Friends of Cromwell Bottom

This evenings meeting in Brighouse proved to be quite eventful with the formation of an interim committee of the Friends of Cromwell Bottom. It's early days but the next meeting in October will thrash out the details of the constitution.
I will post details later regarding proposed meetings, who to contact, how to get involved, etc, etc.
Many issues were raised at the meeting, and there is a central core of like-minded people who are prepared to have their say in the management of one of Calderdales most important wildlife habitats.
Anybody who has an interest in the flora and fauna of Cromwell Bottom, and its management, is encouraged to get involved.
More to follow.

Fly Flatts

This is one from the other day near 'Slade' just south of the reservoir

This afternoon the wind up there was making birding difficult but we went up to replenish the Niger seed for the Twite. There were 11 Twite there battling it out in the blustery conditions including just one colour ringed bird. Nothing else other than 1 Meadow Pipit and 1 Wheatear on Stoney Edge.

Lee Mount surprises

A male Great-spotted Woodpecker and at least 2 Nuthatches today on the garden feeders. Both were surprises. The Great Spot did not give me chance to focus before it was off but the Nuthatches were more obliging and kept coming back for the rest of the day.

House Martins

C60 House Martins feeding above Centre Vale Park,Todmorden at 3.30 today, some still feeding young.

Hunter Hill

Looking towards Queensbury this morning from Cold Edge Road Vis Mig from 7 am til 10.15 am. Better conditions than yesterday, just low cloud but no rain and a light SW wind. Moving birds south unless stated. 635 Meadow Pipits. 19 Swallows. 6 Chaffinch. 2 B H Gulls. 1 alba Wagtail. 9 Woodpigeons. 41 Goldfinch. 1 Sparrowhawk. 1 L B B Gull >NW. 2 Lesser Redpoll. 2 Grey Heron. 2 House Martins. Other birds nearby 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Goosander on Mixenden Res'r, 2 Kestrels and usual corvids. No Wheatears today. Coming back through Mount Tabor a large flock of L T Tits (around 35 birds) were on the phone wires near the crossroads. Looked like they were ready to move across toward Roils Head but kept diving into the bushes maybe avoiding a predator. Not seen such a large flock before!

Pepper Hill

This afternoon we walked around the hill between the ski-slope at Ploughcroft and Claremount - stunning views up there looking over Halifax and the Shibden Valley. 4 Little Owls within 100m of each other must be a family group soon to be dispersing I guess. Another Little Owl facing down into the Shibden Valley. 4 Wheatears in one field. 1 Green Woodpecker. c25 Goldfinch on thistle heads. 1 Sparrowhawk. c60 Starlings (keeping above the hawk)! 1 Kestrel. c15 House Martins and c40 Swallows in the Shibden Valley as well as a good showing of Jays. Also of interest were a few Meadow Pipits still moving SW through the gully at the top of Lee Lane and also through the gap between Claremount and Beacon Hill

Hunter Hill

Vis Miig from the watchpoint this morning with MH from 7am till 10.15 am produced very little movement other than a steady trickle of Meadow Pipits totalling 565 throughout the period. Many were coming through and dropping on to the moor till the drizzle eased then moving over SW 1 alba Wagtail >sw 1 Snipe >sw 1 Redpoll >sw 2 L B B Gulls >nw 5 Cormorants came in to Ogden early on then 2 went nw and the other 3 headed south Non movers included 1 Snipe, 1 Kestrel, 1 Great Tit and c25 Starlings

Ogden and Mixenden

Ogden Res'r this afternoon 2 L B B Gulls 12 Common Gulls c70 Black-headed Gulls 6 Swallows below the reservoir embankment A small tit flock moving around the top end of the res'r Nothing much across the golf course other than a few 'blogging' mipits Mixenden Res'r 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebe 4 Swallows heading south 2 Pied Wagtails

Mixenden - Stonechat

Stonechat - 1 of 3 near Mixenden res'r earlier this week

Mytholmroyd to Sowerby Bridge

Not much doing really and in truth wouldn't have posted anything about this walk except for seeing a recently fledged Bullfinch being fed by an adult male approx 200yds before reaching high royd. There was also a nuthatch which was feeding on the towpath elsewhere on route a couple of chiffchaff called but that really was it. High royd it's self is completely over grown with willow and balsam a real loss of what was great habitat.

Gaddings Dam this morning

My first visit to Gaddings for 5 months this morning - and what a great day to be out. Lots of Mipits about with c. 20 at Langfield Edge, over 30 at Jail Hole and over 100 at Gaddings, feeding and bathing.

Jail Hole
Wheatear
Sparrowhawk - 3 soaring (photos to follow if they're any good)
Langfield
Reed Bunting - 2
Stonechat
Kestrel
Flock of Goldfinches and Chaffinches - 40+ birds
Red Grouse - 2
Gaddings
Skylark
Tufted Duck - drake
BH Gull
Swallow - 43 feeding over the dam

Fly Flatts

A late morning visit found mipits moving through on a broad front with the best concentrations at the NW corner where 430 headed NW over the moor between 10.45 and 12.15. They were still goung through when I left and I wished I had been able to get there much earlier (and stay much longer)! 15 Swallows and 2 Skylarks >SW 4 Wheatears on the deck but no Twite today 1 Raven headed high >W No waders today although there is still some mud

Cold Edge

This afternoon in the gusty wind was not ideal but there is always a chance of something in bad weather!
1 Goosander
2 Tufted Duck
1 Little Grebe
1 Grey Heron
No hirundines but lots of blogging pipits and a few Goldfinch on the thistle seed heads
No raptors today

Mixenden Res and Stodfold

I tried the Vis Mig watchpoint this morning but it was impossible in the strong blustery wind so I headed down into the valley where there were lots of birds trying to find shelter and food behind the small trees and in the gullies.
1 Whinchat
3 Stonechats
c100 Swallows, mainly young birds
c150 House Martins
c 300 Meadow Pipits
28 alba Wagtails
1 Sand Martin over the reservoir
1 Chiff-chaff with a brief burst of song in the shelter of Mixenden plantation

Hunter Hll

Not the easiest site when the wind is blowing hard.
Plenty of Wheatears about (c10) around the quarry along with 30+ mipits.
Nothing moving other than a few Swallows with plenty about with House Martins in the valley at Stodfold
3 Stonechats along a fence line at Stodfold - got some photos of them to check later
1 Grey Heron heading south over Queensbury and one windswept BS was trudging round Soil Hill !

A second annual Grey Plover for Fly Flatts

Two hours at Fly Flatts this a.m. produced a good vismig and several grounded migrants .
A Grey Plover was on the NE shoreline before moving to the west banking not to be relocated. Also in the same area was a Yellow Wagtail, Dunlin and Common Sandpiper.
Grounded migrants included :-
16 Wheatear
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Yellow Wagtail
5 Reed Buntings
2 Willow Warbler
1 Whinchat

Movers included :-
181 Mipits
1 Tree Pipit
11 Snipe
78 Swallow
21 House Martin
16 Sand Martin
7 Alba Wags.

9 Twite were at the feeding station
BS

Ringstone

Signs of movement today lots of swallows moving through but less than last few days 4 wheaters along back wall & 2 cormorants on res but it has now been filled & all shore line has gone.

9th September

Had a walk over Roils Head this PM, only birds of note were 4 Whinchats at the Norton Tower end on the dirt track area.

House Martins

Just dropped my car off at a garage at Lydgate, and noticed around a dozen House Martins feeding over Burnley Road, including one visiting a nest under the eaves of the Post Office.
Also a group of six feeding over Wellington Road area of Todmorden centre,

Eastwood sewage works - 6:00pm

High concentration of swallows in the rain, with more than 200 present over the sewage works and woods. Less than a dozen house martins though. Also, 2 juv grey wagtails, 5 pied wagtails, and a dipper, chiffchaff, blackcap and green woodpecker at Jumble Hole.

Various sites

Fly Flats - 2 Carrion Crows and pouring with rain!
Withens Head - 1 Wheatear and 1 Little Owl
Cold Edge - 2 Tufted Duck
Mixenden/Stodfold - 100+ Swallows and c50 House Martins and 15+ Pied Wagtails
Ogden - 1 Little Grebe on the res'r plus the white Carrion Crow still at Per Lane

Hunter Hill

This afternoon at the watchpoint
3 Cormorants SW at 15.15 were more or less the only movers other than a few pipits and Swallows. BS on Soil Hill was getting lots of Swallows through but they didn' come my way. I could scope them heading over towards Swales Moor but they were too far away to count for me. BS got a good count though and think he was enjoying some decent weather up there - for a change!
A pair of Sparrowhawks were about and 5 Wheatears but the grounded migrants from last week in Slaughter Gap had moved on and it was very quiet in the gully. I did manage to scope a Fox sunning itself on the hillside towards Illingworth.
In comparison, Nick was finding a few migrants at Roils Head and good to get some Redstarts there.

Roils Head today

2 Redstarts, 2 Whitethroats, 5 Willow Warblers, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Bullfinch, 3 Kestrels, loads of Swallows, 2 Siskins west, 1 Redpoll south, 50+Linnets at High Road Well Moor.

Cromwell Bottom Meeting September 21st

If anyone is interested in the future of Cromwell Bottom LNR then follow this link for further information.

Link to document:

Original Contact from Robin Dalton.

Also for your interest:-

Off road usage.

Signs are going up to warn off trials bikes/quads from trespassing onto the Reserve. Barrier enhancements are also planned for the metal ‘gate’ by the Calder.

North Loop.

Look out for an e-mail in the near future for an evening meet about the plans for North Loop, as the Council moves towards re-capping the land fill in 2012.

Work Parties.

Saturday practical work parties will be starting again over the autumn. I’ll send out a start date in a couple of weeks for anyone keen to get grubby!!

Audio trail.

An audio trail taking you around Cromwell Bottom can be downloaded from the Natural England website following this link (ctrl and click):

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/regions/yorkshire_and_the_humber/ourwork/cromwellbottom/default.aspx

Many thanks for your interest and support.

Regards,

Robin

Robin Dalton

Area Countryside Officer - Lower Valley

Safer, Cleaner, Greener

07795965128

Mankinholes and Lumbutts

16 Mistle Thrushes in the fields behind our house this morning along with over 100 Starlings chattering away on the electricity wires.

By Mankinholes Methodist Chapel there were three separate flocks of Goldfinch, each of around 30 birds, so it seems to have been another good year for them, and the Little Owl was in the ruined building at Cross Lane.

At Lee Dam a single juvenile Little Grebe was still hanging around but there was no sign of the other 3 or of the adults. A juvenile and an adult Moorhen were also at Lee Dam.

Ogden this morning

flushed a roosting tawny owl by accident whilst walking in the woods near the giants tooth. Also spotted a couple of grey wagtails on the reservoir.

Lee Mount

1 Swift went over at 4pm heading south east was a late straggler but maybe still chance of others yet if the weather stays good!
Also around most of the afternoon were c30 House Martins and 2 Swallows. They like feeding over the trees on the west facing ridge of Shroggs Park

Cold Edge and Fly Flats

Above - 6 Twite bathing in Fly Flats this morning

From the watchpoint this morning:
Meadow Pipits were making a move with 84 heading SW in small groups.
Swallows were the only other significant mover with 86 heading south in the 2 hour period
1 Golden Plover also going south and that was about it.

Around the site was around 15 Wheatear and 1 Green Woodpecker

Fly Flats had a similar number of Wheatear and 6 Twite were at the feeding station. No waders today but lots of Swallows heading through south and 1 House Martin. A Common Buzzard headed south west around 10.30

Cold Edge/Hunter Hill

I couldn't find any sign of last Fridays/yesterdays Cuckoo at Nolstar but didn't get chance to check Cold Edge where it flew off to yesterday afternoon.

Very little moving at the watchpoint this morning probably due to the strong North Westerly and low cloud. 44 Meadow Pipits >SW and 7 Siskin >N. In the absence of any real movement I checked the gully at Slaughter Gap -this turned out to be a little more rewarding
1 Redstart (though elusive)
1 Spotted Flycatcher
c10 phyllosc's
15 Blue Tits
4 Coal Tits
8 Great Tits
c40 Swallows and 6 House Martins
c15 Wheatears were also around the site with some of these sheltering in the quarry area

Cold Edge Cuckoo

Went to Cold Edge Road with SC to have a look for Daves juv Cuckoo and found it on the walls across the road from Nolstar Kennals. Bad light and driving rain made it very difficult to digi scope but I had a go any way ( more to follow on heavybirder blog). After tea a brief visit to Roils Head produced the best looking Tree Pipit I think Ive ever seen, unfortunatly it was off before I got the camera out.

Cold Edge

Poor conditions up there this afternoon and not easy to find anything
1 juvenile Whinchat at the back of the ski club hut and that was about it other than a few pipits and Swallows.
The juvenile Cuckoo was still in the fields along Cold Edge Road. Good to see BS SC and NCD up there. I gather the Cuckoo headed down towards Cold Edge around 4pm.

Hunter Hill

I tried at the watchpoint for a while but the strong NW wind made it difficult so I tried the gully again to check for migrants. 1 Spotted Flycatcher still there from yesterday along with a Willow Warbler but no sign of the Redstart from yesterday.

Heading back to the car the juv Cuckoo alighted on a wall next to me but quickly moved further away to sit on the wall top opposite Nolstar Kennels on Cold Edge Road. This looks like the same one from last week. Nearby a female Merlin was chasing pipits and there were 200+ Swallows around and around the area north of Mixenden Res'r and c40 House Martins.

Fly Flatts Grey Plover

At 0845 this morning in strong WSW>6 winds a single calling Grey Plover flew low over the water at Fly Flatts from the direction of the NE corner and over the banking at the NW corner keeping low over the moor >SW in the direction of Dean Head or down the Calder valley. I don,t know if the bird had been on the shoreline or just a fly over as scoping had been difficult in the conditions.
1 out of the 12 Wheatear present was a brightly coloured large bruiser of a bird of the Greenland sp.
BS

Hunter Hill

I tried the watchpoint this afternoon but it was hard work in the strong NW wind and just managed 6 red head Goosander heading north. I decided to try the sheltered gully at Slaughter Gap and turned up a female type Redstart and a Spotted Flycatcher both sheltering and feeding in the spindely thorn bushes so that was a bonus.
There should be lots of migrant warblers etc coming through in the next few weeks - hopefully we will be able to find a few as Nick did yesterday as well at Roils Head.

Roils Head Redstarts

2 Redstarts at Roils Head this PM, first real migrants of the autumn at this site.

Soil Hill

A visit to Soil hill this morning produced just a few birds.
3 kestrel
1 Stock dove
3 Skylark, 1 singing
a few mipits. Jackdaw, Crow

The top is becoming quite green now, lots of growth,
worth following its progress.
The down side is its becoming even more hazardous
to walk over as the bricks and wire are hidden.
I expected a pond or two, none seen on top, just
water in the ruts and on the path. Lots of swallow
activity at Cock Hill Gate Farm (SE071304). Have you got this site
Dave?

Ogden - Back Lane

Plenty of small birds about in the coll - late morning:
100+ Linnet around New Moss Farm
60+ Meadow Pipits
2 Skylarks
1 Chiff-chaff
1 Red-legged Partridge
c60 Woodpigeons and 6 Stock Doves
1 Great-spotted Woodpecker
25 L B B Gulls, 20 Common Gulls and 15 B H Gulls in the fields
2 Swifts came up from over Ogden reservoir and headed NE
c40 Swallows and 2 Sand Martins >SW
6 Kestrels (mostly over towards Soil Hill) and 1 male Sparrowhawk
Didn't get chance to check around the res'r today.

Vis Mig - Hunter Hill

Above - juvenile Cuckoo - and on some of my photos still showing signs of a gape but it was feeding on its own and no sign of the hosts!

I tried - 8 till 10 this morning in the drizzle!!
As expected there was very little in the way of movers, mainly heading SW
5 Mallard
6 B H Gull
2 Common Gull
1 L B B gull
31 Swallows
3 Goldfinch
1 Linnet
With 5 Meadow Pipits and 1 Jackdaw heading North

Nearby was a bit more interesting with a juvenile Cuckoo on a wall looking very bedraggled in the rain but still managing to find a few large caterpillars among the thistles and nettles.
3 Kestrels
1 Grey Partridge
90 Meadow Pipits around the quarry
13 alba Wagtails nearby and 2 Wheatears

Fly Flats this morning

Went to Fly Flats with Andy H this morning to see if the Greenshank was still about - it was. Also at least 7 Wheatear (all female), 2 Kestrel, a few Red Grouse and about 20 Mipits around the house opposite the old Withens pub.

Then we wandered around Roils Head but not much there apart from a few Willow Warblers and a pair of Bullfinch.

Lee Mount

After Vis Mig, I got home to find a Nuthatch on the garden feeder - been trying to get a photo for the rest of the afternoon!

Vis Mig - Hunter Hill

This morning at Hunter Hill watchpoint (7am till 11am)
An interesting morning although not a lot of movers other than hirundines
Cormorant 1 >S
Sparrowhawk 1 >S
Common Buzzard 1 >S at 10am very high
Lapwing 2 >S
L B B Gull 2 >S and 12 >N
Woodpigeon 1 >N
Swift 1 >S
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 >S
Swallow 144 >S (84 and 60) +200 in the valley
Meadow Pipit 22 >N
flava Wagtail 1 >N towards Ogden golf course at 10.25 - I went down towards the golf course to see if it had come down but there were a lot of golfers so guess it moved straight through?
alba Wagtail 3 >S
Starling 4 >S
Goldfinch 2 >S and 6 >N

Also present:
35 House Martins
5 Wheatear
2 Green Woodpecker
5 Skylark
1 Peregrine (juv)
2 Sparrowhawks
6 Kestrel
plus other usual sp.

22nd August Fly Flats

Fly Flats this PM with DJS. Greenshank still present also a superb Red Kite which drifted slowly east at 15.25PM.

21st August Fly Flats

Evening visit, 1 Greenshank was nearly taken by juv Peregrine, 3 juv Curlews with short bills, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, 2 LBBGs, 6 Grouse and a Little Owl at Cold Edge Road.

Hunter Hill (watchpoint)

Had nearly 2 hrs with Nick D around the watchpoint this afternoon to see if there were any movers.
1 Peregrine to the SE
1 Swift to SE
1 Curlew >W
2 Linnet >SW
A few mipits and a Pied Wagtail over with plenty of distant hirundines feeding over the valley.
Birds nearby included 4 Grey Partridge, c5 Wheatears, c6 Kestrels, 3 Sparrowhawk sightings, LBB Gulls over towards Ogden coll etc. and about 100 mixed flock of B H Gulls and Common Gulls over towards Illingworth in a new mown field.

Lee Mount

Swifts still moving through with 13 around 8am passing through and feeding over Shroggs Park along with around a dozen Swallows and 2 House Martins.

Recent bits from Jumble Hole area

- A large raptor was being mobbed by corvids west over Erringden at 4:00pm today. Most likely a buzzard, but couldn't get much on it.
- Finally, for what I believe is the first time, I had a nuthatch in the garden this morning. They've been close, but never in the garden.
- Green woodpeckers are seen or heard daily over the house, but didn't nest in the usual dead tree in Jumble Hole
- A tawny owl is a reliable sighting at dusk on a particular tree off the lane
- 3 juv grey wagtails were on Eastwood sewage works earlier in the week, with 2 juv peregrines hunting over Erringden

Lee Mount

Just 1Swift over this morning at 7.45.

Lee Mount

3 Swifts through high over Shroggs Park at 9 am - last few days they seem to be coming through early on.

Elsewhere today
Red Kite at 12.50 heading high towards the upper Calder Valley area

Hunter Hill/Fly Flatts

Hunter Hill
c60 Meadow Pipits around the quarry site this morning
Moving birds >SW included 5 House Martins, 2 Linnets, 2 Goldfinch

Fly Flats
No waders, though there is still some shoreline mainly at the far end
Several Kestrels around the moors
c6 Wheatears

Whiteholme

Went up to Whiteholme yesterday afternoon with Andy but there is very, very little shore line exposed as the reservoir is full. Nothing about - literally nothing - not even a Mipit or Wheatear. Posted to save people a potential wasted trip over the next few days, or until the water level drops a bit.

Lee Mount

3 Swifts over mid- morning
Also this afternoon over 30 House Sparrows on the garden feeders etc. This is the highest count here for years. Looks like they have had a good breeding season with lots of juvs in the group. Anyone else noticed a good House Sparrow year in your area?

Swales Moor

This afternoon I went up to see if I could find any Linnets - to see if I could match the 100+ flock at Soil Hill - not a chance! Fell a long way short with just 6.
8 Skylark
2 Meadow Pipts
2 Kestrels
1 House Martin and 2 Swallows moving SW
1 LBB Gull over
1 Little Owl at Ploughcroft

Lee Mount

Swifts seem to have moved off their breeding sites now and there has not been many about this last week. 20+ over Shroggs Park about 8 am yesterday morning and c35 this morning around the same time were a welcome sight. Both mornings they were feeding over the park and screaming but seemed to drift off SW after about half hour.

Fly Flatts

Distant shot of Common Scoter found by DJS today
BS

Fly Flatts

This afternoon in the fog and rain did not disappoint!
1 drake Common Scoter was a surprise near the sw corner and later moved towards the top end of the res'r
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Curlew over in the mist
5 Swallows going south
5 Wheatears
2 LBB Gulls including the one with the smashed right wing - I can't see it surviving much longer
No Twite again

Cold Edge Road down from The Withens to Nolstar Kennels
10+ Wheatear
40+ Meadow Pipits
6 Linnet
2 Kestrels
3 Curlew over going sw

Mixenden Res'r
4 Goosander (looked like the same birds seen at Ogden the other day)

Ogden

I thought about checking Ogden, Mixenden and Cold Edge/Fly Flats this afternoon thinking the bad weather might have brought something in. I only got as far as Ogden in the pouring rain!
4 Goosander (2 females and 2 juveniles)
13 L B B Gulls
18 Common Gulls
58 B H Gulls
1 Grey Heron
c30 Swallows

Ovenden Moor

Above - signs of regenerating heather billberry and grasses on the burnt areas

Above - Ovenden Moor with the area devastated by fire earlier this year and an area that was saved from the fire

Fly Flats

Above - Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with wing damage
This afternoon
1 Dunlin
1 Oystercatcher
1 Common Sandpiper
1 juv Peregrine
4 Kestrels
4 Wheatears
No Twite
19 LBB Gulls including one adult with a badly broken wing. This looks like it's flown into a fence or been attacked by a predator. It's days are numbered, unfortunately!

Swifts/Swallows/Martins survey

Records seem to have dried up in the last 2 weeks so please let me know if you find any more Swallow and House Martin nest sites. They can nest until the end of September (even feeding young into early October)!

Local Swifts seem to be on their way now as breeding has probably just about finished in our area except for a few stragglers. There will of course be birds moving through in the next few weeks.

Mixenden and Ogden Res'rs

We checked the sites out this afternoon but it was very quiet in the strong northerly wind and mipits ect were keeping low.
Lots of Swallows (c30) collecting mud in the horse field near Stodfold
1 Grey Wagtail
Nothing on Mixenden Res'r - no gulls using it yet as a day time roost.

1 Little Owl at a new site - (will send the details on Jeff)
1 Skylark
1 Whitethroat in scrub by the golf course

Ogden Res'r
13 L B B Gulls but no sign of the Yellow-legged Gull
8 Common Gulls
60 B H Gulls
1 Treecreeper
1 female Blackcap still feeding young
1 Chiff-chaff

Huddersfield Birdwatchers' Club lecture list

http://www.huddersfieldbirdwatchersclub.co.uk/#/meetings/4536174316
Next season's list of lectures at Huddersfield Birdwatchers' Club has just been posted on our web site at http://www.huddersfieldbirdwatchersclub.co.uk/#/meetings/4536174316

I'm sure that you will find something of interest here if you want to come along. Entry is free to all with a contribution from non-members being welcomed.

RE Report of Black Stork..Sketches

Many thanks.for these fantastic sketches...Andy (double click to enlarge)

Avian Pox

Interesting article on Birdguides, see
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2832

Report of Black Stork

There's been a report of a Black Stork circling over the Mixenden area for 3 or 4 minutes at 11.08AM on Monday the 1st August. It was being mobbed by gulls and eventually headed north in the direction of Ogden. I have only just spoken to the person involved who had tried to contact me 3 times but my land line as been out of order again for the last 3 days. Going by what was described to me over the phone it sounds very good, notes and sketches were taken and will be passed on to the club asap. Unfortunatly there are no photos as the camera battery was not charged. Do we no if there were any reports of Black Stork in the country around the 1st August.

NERF Conference 2011

Northern England Raptor Forum Conference
Sunday 20th November 2011 (0930-1630 hrs)
Gala Theatre, Durham City, DH1 1WA

The annual NERF Conference for 2011 is being hosted jointly by the Durham Upland Bird Study Group and the Durham Bird Club at the prestigious Gala Theatre, Durham City.

Registration, coffee and exhibits will be available for delegates from 0845 hrs and the conference will open at 0930 hrs. Lunch and afternoon refreshments are included in the ticket price. Please note that the event is being staged on a Sunday.

As usual, there is an exciting and varied programme for you to enjoy. We’ll be covering a wide range of topics guaranteed to be of interest to upland raptor fieldworkers. Delegates will be able to put questions to the speakers at the end of each session. The lunch break provides an opportunity to share experiences amongst friends and colleagues. Paul Irving, NERF Chairman, will also bring us up to date with recent developments within the Forum.


Topics and speakers for the 2011 Conference are:-

• The implications of climate change for the uplands
Prof Brian Huntley, Durham University
• UK Raptors and the work of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel
Mark Holling, Secretary of RBBP
• The National Hen Harrier Winter Roost Survey
Anne Cotton, BTO Scotland
• Eagle research and conservation around the world
Dr Ruth Tingay, Wildlife International Network
• The challenges of monitoring Short-eared Owls
John Calladine, BTO Scotland
• “Skydancer”, a new start for Hen Harriers in Cumbria and Northumberland
To be advised, RSPB, North of England
• Raptors and the value of the Nest Record Scheme
David Leech, BTO Tring

Delegate Fees

Delegate fees are £21.00 for adults and £10.00 for those aged 14 – 18 years. Once again, demand for places is expected to be high so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Invitation to Birders to Halifax Scientific Society's next meeting.

AUGUST 9th at the Central Library
7.00 for 7.15pm

Hugh Warwick, author of "A Prickly Affair" is visiting us from Oxford to give his presentation "My Life with Hedgehogs". He is a zoologist and a national expert on the species. He was actually born in Halifax but his parents moved away when he was about 10 (days old!)

Entry is free (voluntary collection.)

Test

Posted from Chrome

Linnets Wanted

I have a pressing need to film some Linnets for a project that I'm working on.
Unfortunately, the site I had in mind for setting up my hide is currently somewhat devoid of Linnets. I have just spent a fruitless day under canvas at another site where the only 3 birds present decided to forage in the fields rather than come down to the lovely Nyger seed that I had spread in front of the camera for them.
I'm looking for a location where there are more than just a couple of birds, where the birds are regularly coming to a particular location, and where it's possible to get up close and personal - hence the hide. They are generally too flighty to get close up to without any some use of cover.
Any sugestions would be appreciated - even outside Calderdale.......but not a hotel complex in Fuertaventura (even if they do perch on your lens there, they are a different sub-species).

Mobile devices

As many people are now at least occassionally viewing the blog on mobile phones, I have made a change to our blog that recognises when it is being viewed that way, and shows a 'mobile device friendly' version of the blog, rather than the straight desktop version.

If anyone has any comments, or prefers it how it was, just make a comment below.
Matt

Walk from Jumble Hole to Stoodley Pike & back

The highlight was a flock of 90+ siskins exploding as one out of the birch and alder just above Callis Wood on the Pennine Way. Lots of them appeared to be juv's. There were probably many more, as other birds were calling from the trees, unseen.

Other sightings include:

- 2 raven right over the pike
- 5 wheatear and 5 mistle thrush on the wall below Lower Rough Head farm
- Nutchatch heard in the valley below that
- whitethroat in scrub on the railway tracks

Fly Flatts and Withens Head

Fly Flatts
1 Common Sandpiper this afternoon but not much else.
No Twite

Withens Head
7 Lapwings NW
1 Curlew
4 Wheatears
Not even many pipits about today - all very quiet!