ID Quiz - photo's taken outside Calderdale

Anyone care to have a go for fun?

Useful Local Weather Station

Hi all.

For a full screen update for temperature, humidity, dew point, rainfall, Pressure and wind speed/direction updated every few seconds go to: http://www.wunderground.com/swf/Rapid_Fire.swf?units=metric&station=ICALDERD4

For a daily (or weekly, monthly, yearly or select your own day) graph of local readings of rainfall, pressure, wind speed/direction etc. Plus Web Cam. Readings every few seconds.

Go to: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=53.761%2C-1.892&sp=ICALDERD4

The Station is located on the Illingworth Road area and looks towards Queensbury with a web cam.

And for an east coast check: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?query=bridlington

Birding Frontiers

Whist we're on with meetings and stuff, Hudds Birders have got Martin Garner doing a gig in a couple of weeks time, http://birdingfrontiers.com/talks/

Cromwell Bottom Development Group

The next meeting of the Group will be on Wednesday the 23rd of November at the adult learning centre Chapel Lane, in Brighouse (opposite the bus station) at 7:00pm. Please come along and show your support. ALL WELCOME
Map of venue.

New link added

http://www.trektellen.nl/default.asp?taal=2&land=5
Ive added a link to trektellen its an excellent site for those interested in migraion watch.It has regular updates from all over the UK and europe ,so you can see whats on the move..well worth a regular look...

Looks like 2 different RLBs

 Rough-leg on 13th October.

Rough-leg on 17th November.

Looks like weve now had 2 Rough -legged Buzzards this year, the head pattern looks totally different to me. Others have also said the tail pattern appeared differnt. Sadly negative news today, no sightings despite people out looking. Yesterdays bird did go missing at one stage and was not seen for at least an hour and an half, so still worth looking for over the week end.

More Rough Pics!

Don't know why Nick thinks I'll have some better pics than him, as I'm a complete plank with a camera -but for what they're worth, here's a few of my better ones:

All taken with Fuji Finepix HS 20 EXR.

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD

The Rough Leg at Buckstones Moss showed very well today, many thanks to Tim Walker for the lift. Found yesterday by Roger Ranson it was picked up again mid morning and showed on and off all day. The bird is just in the Huddersfield area, but if you stay long enough it occasionally strays into Calderdale and so tickable to any Calderdale birders. More photos to follow later on Heavy Birder blog.

Luddenden

From MH - 40 Pinkfeet low over Luddenden at 10.10 this morning going east low down in the mist.

Scammonden

From Steve L - Red-throated Diver there this morning around 9.45 in front of the boat house but flew off towards Ringstone direction aroung 10.35 after being disturbed by dogs. Drake Pintail still present there from yesterday is also a good find. Well done Steve.

Mixenden and Ogden (golf course)

3 female Goldeneye on the res'r along with c140 B H Gulls and c40 Common Gulls
Also nearby 17 Stock Doves by Stodfold
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
The White Carrion Crow was at Lane Head Lane near Upper Brockholes, Ogden.

Swales Moor

Still very murky up there this morning with a brisk easterly but I thought I would give it a try seeing as Soil Hill had already turned up a Snow Bunting and a Jack Snipe! Well done NK.

4 Skylarks - with 2 of them singing!
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Kestrel
1 Redwing >E
usual corvids

I also got a message from Steve C about 8 Whooper Swans heading east over Withens Clough so I scanned from the top for a while but assume they headed down the Calder Valley which wasn't visible in the mist, unfortunately, otherwise I guess I would have seen them had it been clear.

Recent bits

- A kingfisher near the back of Innovation, Hebden Bridge, yesterday
- A woodcock was flushed by the dog at the top of Jumble Hole this morning
- A buzzard flew over Jumble Hole on Wednesday
- 2 raven very low over Cock Hill today

Pied Wagtail Roost

Driving home, I was cosidering posting a heads-up for winter wagtail roosts, when I drove straight into one.......Tescos car park at King Cross. I don't know how many birds are coming in to roost as many were already in bed when I came across them. I would estimate around 150 but this could be wide of the mark.
I counted 200 going into a larger tree by the Woolshops on October 14th 2007 and in Manchester in the late 90's I seem to remember around 500 going into a single tree outside the BBC.
These birds are congregating on Tescos roof, probably around 4.00 - 4.15 and going into the tree between the car wash and the zebra crossing. There was plenty of traffic, people using the crossing and two guys making plenty of noise washing cars right next to the tree, but the birds did not seem the least bothered.

Bramblings

It's worth checking out your local stands of Beech for Bramblings at the moment. I had a small flock above Withens Clough last Monday in pretty poor weather conditions. I had intended to look for Crossbills in Sunderland Pasture but the mist and drizzle made it a no goer.
A return visit today in order to try for better pictures of the brambling flock came to nowt. Although I had a few sporadic flyovers of what may (?) have been bramblings, I wasn't able to locate the 20 - 30 strong flock of last Monday. There is still mast on the trees, but it is difficult to say how much of it still bore seed, and how much had already been plundered.

Swales Moor

Foolish I know in that pea souper - just 1 Skylark!

Mixenden Res'r

4 Goldeneye there this afternoon in the mist (1 drake)
1 Lapwing on the banking along with the usual gulls

Swales Moor and Pepper Hill

Dull and misty today up there - not very inspiring!
Swales Moor
3 Reed Buntings
1 Meadow Pipit
c40 Fieldfare in the top fields
No Skylarks today - very unusual for none at this site!
1 Kestrel

Pepper Hill
2 Green Woodpeckers
40 Fieldfare and 1 Redwing >west mid afternoon
1 Little Owl

Surprise

Popped home at lunch today & found 18 Collared Doves on my apple tree. If it had been 18 Goldfinches it wouldn't have been unusual but never had so many Doves.

Mixenden and Ogden Res'rs

Very quiet today - hard to find anything.
Mixenden Res'r
2 Goosander
1 Great-spotted Woodpecker
A good number of B H gulls and Common Gulls at both sites and a few Goldcrests.


Watch out for Waxwings as just a few have appeared in the country in the last few days!

Cold Edge/Withens Head

14 Golden Plover flew over west mid afternoon and soon after 9 Herring Gulls headed in the same direction. Apart from that there was not a lot else about.
2 Kestrels
8 Fieldfare
1 Little Owl
1 Meadow Pipit

Also from Northowram today - a massive count of 16,000 plus Woodpigeons this morning from Andy's watchpoint - see Northowram link for further details.

Yesterdays report

Saturday 5th November
In addition to Pink-footed Geese from Muxy below - other reports from yesterday included:-
36 Whooper Swans seen from the Oxenhope watchpoint (HC via BS)heading into Calderdale at around 08.30
100+ Pink-feet north east over Mixenden at 09.15 (AZ)
100+ Pink-feet east over Northowram at 09.20 (AC)

Soil Hill

1 Snow Bunting still at Soil Hill this afternoon, also 4 Linnets, 2 Skylarks, 1 Kestrel, 2 Golden Plover north and several LBBGs.

North Loop Re-Capping

A reminder that there will be a meeting in Brighouse this Wednesday, November 9th to discuss the capping of the North Loop at Cromwell Bottom L.N.R. This will inevitably affect ground and scrub nesting birds as well as other vertebrates.
For full details go to: cromwellbottom.blogspot.com

Pink Feet

At least 100 over Tabor this morning (10.40) going East.

Mankinholes, Lumbutts and Gaddings Dam

A good, calm day for a walk up to Gaddings Dam. It was a bit wet underfoot but overall a grand morning with plenty of birds about.

Mankinholes

Long Tailed Tit – 7

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Treecreeper

Little Owl in usual place

Kestrel

Lumbutts

Goldcrest – 5 in the church yard

Nothing at Lee Dam again, not even a Mallard.

Longfield Dam

Black-headed Gull – 34

Common Gull – 2 (1^st winter)

Lapwing – 10

Canada Goose - 19

Gaddings Dam

Goldeneye – 4 (1 x ♂ 3 x ♀)

Tufted Duck ♂

Golden Plover – 20 on South East shore

Raven -2 flying over

Red Grouse – 2

not birds BUT!

its not to do with birds but, i had my bike nicked on Tuesday night, it has been seen with a scum bag riding it round mixenden dam , the police have been informed and know all about it .if any body notices it could they call the police (999) and/or me 07788925466 (Nick Dawson)

Thanks

Soil Hill

Following a call from NK this morning that the Snow Bunting was still there I headed up mid morning. It took an hour and a half to find it, which I eventually did, near the mast. It flushed and flew over towards the north facing slope.
c4 Twite, c11 Linnets and 3 Skylarks on the north slope.
1 Kestrel

Soil Hill

I went up late afternoon on hearing the news from NK about a Snow Bunting there first thing this morning (5 yesterday!)Jane and Celia were there as well but we had no luck with the bunting - but it is a big site to check and the light was not good.
2 Skylarks
1 Reed Bunting

Jaw dropping photos, what a great find

Juvenile - first winter Rough-legged Buzzard found by Karen Mather off Smithy Lane/Withens Lane End 1km west of Ringstone Edge on 13th October, the day after the Great-northern Diver turned up. Unfortunatly Karen did not know who to contact but did manage to get these superb shots of the bird which was present from at least 11AM until dusk. Unfortunatly there was no sign of the bird the next day or thereafter. Wheather or not it is the same bird that was near Bacup also on 13th is unkwown but I could probably check with Rochdale birders to find out the times of both sightings. What a great record.

Mixenden Res'r and Ogden

1 late juvenile Swallow south west over Stodfold and Mixenden plantation was an unexpected surprise (my first November record in Calderdale)
1 Goosander on the res'r plus the usual gulls
2 Stonechats at the lower end of Ogden golf course with 2 Cormorants on Ogden Res'r and Sparrowhawk there as well.

Re:Rough-legged Buzzard

In true Blue Peter fashion, here are some I took earlier. Pictures taken in Suffolk a couple of days after the Calderdale bird. It looks good to me. The tail pattern looks ok but the tail feathers look pretty worn in the close-up. I hope these comparison pictures help.

Cold Edge/Withens Head

2 Moorhen at Spring Dam
1 male Stonechat just above Haighcote Barn
6 Red Grouse
2 Kestrels
Not a sign of the usual Little Owls
and unusually for this time of year - a frog singing in a bog just below Moorlands Farm!

Swales Moor

1 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
75 Lapwings flying around over Shelf area and another 40 over Mount Tabor
1 L B B Gull >W
1 Herring Gull >W

Various reports

From Niall.
 
Today pm :- 3 buzzards circling and calling BH Farm. One little owl.
 
Jay House Lane- five tree sparrows and ten model aircraft.
 
Track/hedgerow through Willow Valley golf course :- 3 tree sparrows and c.20 redpoll.
 

Buzzard ID

Any ideas on this one. Photos taken between Ringstone Edge and Boothwood on or abouts 15th October by a member of the public.
Top photo resembles Rough Legged Buzzard although the tail pattern looks a bit odd, bottom pic also resembles Rough Leg or abbarrent Common Buzzard ??. Another question is how do you get so close to a wild bird.

Ringstone Res'r

From TW - 4 Whooper Swan there today at 12.45 (but no update since then.)

Soil Hill

2 Twite creeping about in the weeds and approachable to 5 meters. Took some photos but the light was not good - this is the best I could do.
9 Linnets
1 Meadow Pipit
1 male Reed Bunting
7 Grey Partridge
3 adult Herring Gulls and 2 LBB Gulls west
The habitat looks ideal for Snow Bunting!

Fly Flatts

40+ Red Grouse was about the best we could do this afternoon as they flushed off the moor when a Hercules Transporter went low over the moor at Fill Belly Flat
8 B H Gulls
1 Raven >N
3 Kestrels
1 Meadow Pipit
No sign of any late Wheatears and unfortunately, no Twite either although seed is still being put down. Have you got any Twite over at your site Tim?
1 Red Admiral was heading south as well, so that was a bonus!

Swales Moor

Lee Mount - c150 Pink-footed Geese headed high and due east at 09.45. Another skien of around 100 was reported via BS over Soil Hill/Queensbury around the same time heading south east.

Cold Edge was in the mist again this morning so I headed up to Swales where it was clear to see if there was any movement.
10.30 till 12.00
Woodpigeon 230 >W
Starling 80 >NW
Skylark 4 >NW
Linnet 1 >S
Fieldfare 1 >NW
Sparrowhawk 1 >E
Grey Heron 1 >NW
Goldfinch 10 >SW
Chaffinch 14 >SW
Lesser Black-backed Gull 8 >NW
Greenfinch 3 >W
Lapwing 20 high >W

Also present
8 Grey Partridge
1 Snipe
14 Meadow Pipit
2 Skylark
c50 CarrionCrows
c25 Magpies
2 Jays
1 Green Woodpecker

Twite Recovery Project Video

The Twite video that I made for the Twite Recovery Project is now live on the Pennine Prospects You Tube Channel.

Follow the channel link below.

http://www.youtube.com/user/pennineprospects

The film is also being taken around to farms in DVD format and forms part of a presentation given to encourage landowners to take part in the project.

Thanks to all those who helped me in getting the shots I needed to make this work especially NCD, DJS and TW and Reg & Sue Slater for allowing me to trample all over their fields.

Buzzard Family?

Was treated to spectacular views this afternoon of 3 Buzzards, 2 adults I recognised so I am hoping that the other one is this years young. At one point all 3 were up being mobbed by two ravens. In just half an hour I also saw there were also 4 Kestrels and 2 Sparrowhawks. A Green Woodpecker also was nearby.

Went for a cycle ride yeaterday from Copley Church and round Norland Moor. No bins and thick fog but thought I did OK with Kingfisher, Fieldfarer x 12, Stonechat x 2 and Sparrowhawk sat on the path.

Ploughcroft and Pepper Hill

This afternoon
2 Little Owls at the usual spot and another calling in Shibden Valley
2 Sparrowhawk
c3 Kestrel
1 Redwing
c12 Goldfinch
Rooks flying over west with beak and crops full of acorns

Mixenden Res'r

Late morning, nothing on the res'r other than the usual gulls.
The plantation was more rewarding with 2 Crossbill, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Treecreeper, and several Goldcrests with the tit flock.
130 Woodpigeons S/W

Water Rail

Roy Allinson took this picture on his mobile of Water Rail this evening, nothing unusual about that but the location was outside the town hall in the centre of Halifax.

Various sites

Ringstone Edge Res'r
5 Lapwings S/E
B H and Common Gulls
Peregrine hunting over towards Norland Moor

Mixenden Res'r
Just B H and Common Gulls on the res'r
Great-spotted Woodpecker
c50 Fieldfares >W

Ogden Res'r
Just B H and Common Gulls and 1 LBB Gull
1 Sparrowhawk

And from Andy C - 20 Whooper Swans west over Northowram at about 5.35 pm (maybe heading towards Ringstone)?

Vis Mig - Hunter Hill

Cold Edge, Halifax (W Yorks, England)
Tuesday 25 October 2011
Counting period: 9:15 - 10:45
Weather: wind SE4, cloud-cover 7/8, temperature 11 ℃, Thick hill fog first thing so waited till it started clearing before I started up there.

Mallard 3 S/E
Jackdaw 1 S/E
Sparrowhawk 1 N/W
Starling 2 S 142 N/W
Herring Gull 1 S/E
Chaffinch 5 S/E
Woodpigeon 35 S/W
finch sp. 2 S/E
Collared Dove 3 S/E
Greenfinch 1 S/E
Fieldfare 49 N/W
Crossbill 2 N
Redwing 14 N/W
Bullfinch 2 S/E

Totals: 263 individuals, 14 species, 1:30 hours

Present: Goosander 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Black-headed Gull 130, Common Gull 15, Lesser Black-backed Gull 3, Little Owl 1

Cromwell Bottom area

There were 7 Herons on the skiing lake/lakeside this morning,
and yesterday -
12 Cormorants
4 Tufties
2 Goldeneyes
1 Little Grebe
12 + Redpoll reported from the canalside

Swales Moor

Late morning - very quiet in that strong S/E wind.
1 Stonechat still from last week
3 Skylark
8 Meadow Pipits
1 Reed Bunting
1 Green Woodpecker
3 LBB Gulls >S
15 Fieldfare >E
28 Starling >NW

Roils Head

Posting for Nick D - 35 Herring Gulls west early afternoon was a good count for the usual movements we get through Calderdale as we move towards the late autumn/winter period.

Vis Mig - Hunter Hill

Cold Edge, Halifax (W Yorks, England)
Friday 21 October 2011
Counting period: 7:45 - 10:45
Weather: wind SW5, cloud-cover 8/8, temperature 8 ℃
Observers: David Sutcliffe

Grey Heron 1 N/E
Fieldfare 729 N/W
Sparrowhawk 1 N
Redwing - 4 N/W
Golden Plover 1 S
Jackdaw 18 S
Black-headed Gull 35 S 8 N
Raven - 2 N/W
Common Gull 7 S 1 N
Starling - 51 N/W
Woodpigeon 209 S/W
Chaffinch 49 S/W 10 N/W
Meadow Pipit 2 S/W
finch sp. 8 S/W

Totals: 1136 individuals, 14 species, 3:00 hours

Present: Sparrowhawk 1, Carrion Crow 15


Comments: A promising start with Fieldfare coming through heading N/W including 2 flocks of 100+ with an odd Redwing in with them. Woodpigeons coming through low in the valley S/W over Mixenden plantation towards the Calder Valley. Everything stopped at 09.45 and nothing other than odd Chaff's after that.

Ogden Water

Five Whooper swans on the water at 4.00pm today

Todays reports

Ringstone Res'r
No sign of the Great Northern Diver today (has anyone checked Scammonden to see if it's turned up there?) but 12 Whoopers turned up this afternoon and were around there about 3 pm (TW) but will probably be on their way by the morning (?)
Also 30+ Golden Plover

Queensbury - Calder Valley (Jumble Hole)
A large skein on Pink-footed Geese came over Queensbury around lunch time today (heading towards the Calder Valley (BS) and what was probably the same flock over Jumble Hole in the upper valley around 15 minutes later (MB) with around 145 birds.

Ogden Garden

A brambling was among a mixed group of goldfinches chaffinches and greenfinches in the trees at lunchtime today

Dog control orders consultation

Dog control orders consultation

Proposal to introduce five Dog Control Orders to Calderdale.

The document can be viewed in full here:

You can respond to the Consultation here:
and the on-line questionnaire is here:

Original post from Hugh Firman
Conservation Officer
Calderdale Council

Great Northern Diver

Nipped up after work hoping for some close views in the lovely sunshine, still there but keeping to the far side. Thought it was calling at one point but couldn't be certain it wasn't a tape lure as it was close in to the hide but two photographers were cammo'd up and were in the grass in front of the dam wall and will have some awesome shots.

Fly Flatts

Wheatear opposite the wind farm car park this afternoon

A strong N/W wind, 7c, but some welcome sunshine and fantastic clouds.
Went up with Niger seed for the Twite today but it looks like they might have moved on for this year as not a sign of any. Maybe still time for one or two!
12+ Red Grouse
1 female Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrel
1 Common Buzzard

Cold Edge Road
1 Wheatear opposite the wind farm car park, feeding on large light brown hairy caterpillars.
2 Raven over Wainstalls
1 butterfly at a distance looked like a Red Admiral. Cold weather for butterflys!

Swales Moor

Views from Swales Moor this morning



Late morning
1 Wheatear about near the quarry
7 Great Black-backed Gulls and 2 Herring Gulls >w
2 Skylark
2 Reed Buntings
c 40 Pink feet at 11.30 heading west in the distance somewhere over M62

Cromwell Bottom link

I have added a link to the Cromwell Bottom LNR blog to our list of links.

Cromwell Bottom Development Group

 Many thanks to those who attended the meeting, we have a new committee member in Mike Henshaw  who's knowledge of the reserve will be invaluable to our group. Thanks to Mike for accepting the invitation.

For the full text click here.

North Halifax

I checked out several sites this morning but it was very unrewarding in the strong westerly and heavy showers.
1 Grey Wagtail at Mixenden Res'r along with a Treecreeper.
Fly Flats - difficult to stand up! 6 Red Grouse and nothing else.
6 Golden Plover heading south over Cold Edge Road below 'The Withens'. Also unfortunately, a road casualty Brown Hare by 'The Withens'

Ringstone

Great Norther Diver still there this morning at 11.30 (SL).
No sign of the female Scaup from yesterday at Scammonden

Other news today

Great Northern Diver still showing well at Ringstone and a female Scaup at nearby Scammonden Res'r - from Steve L.

Ogden and Mixenden Res'r

We couldn't find much this afternoon in the strong blustery wind - but it was a nice walk around Stodfold.
Black-headed (60) Common (20) and LBB Gulls (4) at Ogden and not much else other than a few Goldcrests in the plantation and c30 Chaffinch feeding on the weeds at the reservoir edge.

1 Moorhen at Mixenden Res'r and 1 Goosander along with a few B H and Common Gulls and 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker and a Jay, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.

Swales Moor

1 male Stonechat up there this morning
2 Skylark
2 Meadow Pipits
6 Goldfinch >W
2 Sparrowhawks > E
1 Kestrel
Usual corvids

Elland

Also earlier today from Tony M - 6 House Martins around the flats in the centre of Elland stayed for a short while to feed around the buildings before moving on. A nice late record for our area.

Ringstone Res'r

Had a great afternoon at Ringstone with Daniel - with the Great Northern Diver giving excellent views from the hide. Unusually at this time of year (as far as I know) the bird gave a burst of it's eerie song which I guess is only heard on it's breeding grounds in Iceland or Northern Canada. I know Mike H also heard it calling/singing earlier in the week and wonder if anyone else also heard it over these last few days?

1 Cormorant also present along with 19 Golden Plover in the fields and c40 Lapwing

Unfortunatley not managed to upload any photos yet as trying out a new programme which doesn't seem to want to know!

Blowing away the cobwebs

Met up with Jeff Cox this morning and headed off upto Ringstone, as we approached it became clear that finding the GND was going to be difficult due to fog. Fortunately the stiff wind soon started to move it on just as we spotted the GND a Kingfisher flashed past (possibly a rarer bird at ringstone than the GND).

Having enjoyed viewing the GND for a short while we set off to take a walk over Norland moor, plenty of Mipits moving through, while a kestrel patrolled the quarry's. A Reed Bunting sheltered in the centre of a gorse bush before popping out to show really well only feet way before shooting off when a suggested Jeff take a pic. 28 Lapwings were in a freshly ploughed field, which was also being enjoyed by a small flock of starlings and c20 Black headed gulls.

Vis Mig - Hunter Hill (yesterday) and Swales Moor

Friday 14th Oct
Counting period: 7:30 - 10:30
Weather: cloud-cover 8/8, precipitation drizzle, visibility 100m, temperature 10 ℃, Thick hill fog and drizzle throughout the watch.
Meadow Pipit 29 s/w
Chaffinch 7 s/w
Fieldfare 60 w
Goldfinch 16 s/w
Redwing 3 s/w

Totals: 115 individuals, 5 species, 3:00 hours

Present: Goosander 2, Little Owl 1

Comments: A miserable morning with hardly anything heard or seen in the thick mist (even though some other watchpoints in the Pennines were clear and Caldene Fields in Bradford had in excess of 30,000 thrushes through!) Gave it up as a bad job at 10.30 with little sign of the mist clearing. Pink feet heard in the mist at 10.15 as well as Golden Plover going over calling but not counted as no numbers to guess at!

Later on in the morning (12 till 1 pm) I tried at Ploughcroft/Swales Moor where the mist had cleared and movement was evident.
Redwing 282 w
Fieldfare 352 w
Lapwing 42 w
Linnet 1 w

Also on the top were 3 Skylark, 15 Meadow Pipits and 20 Goldfinch

Great Northern

 Digi Scoped images.

Great Northern Diver showed well again today at Ringstone Edge, well worth another visit. Also 118 Lapwings, 70 Golden Plovers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Snipe, 1 LBBG, 10 Common Gulls.

More Diver photos

Various sites

Great Norther Diver still showing well at Ringstone today.

Massive thrush movement through the Pennines today with various Vis Mig sites reporting record numbers. Nearly 30,000 Redwings through Caldene Fields, Bradford this morning with good numbers at Oxenhope the last two days. The watchpoint at Hunter Hill produced a poor return between 7.30 and 10.30 as it was in thick mist. I did check Swales Moor later in the morning and 300+ Fieldfares and 200+ Redwings passed over the Ski slope in half hour heading west so it could have been a good count if I'd had time to stay.

Elsewhere today 5 Whooper Swans went south, mid morning over Widdop Reservoir.

Various sites

A fantastic day with the Great Northern Diver showing so well at Ringstone at least till 3 pm but maybe still there till dusk?

2 Swallows also passed through Ringstone this morning (TM and SL)

Around 10 am c100 Fieldfares and c20 Redwings were around the fields at Barkisland looking disorientated in the misty conditions and a passing Sparrowhawk showing interest in these migrants from northeren Europe!
Thousands of Fieldfares and Redwings counted today just outside our recording area moving over the Oxenhope watchpoint with other flocks passing over Soil Hill (along with Meadow Pipits and some Skylarks), Queensbury, and Ringstone in the afternoon and probably many other areas of Calderdale. Also several reports of lots of Goldcrests around at Ringstone and Roils Head yesterday and today.

Ringstone - Thursday 13/10/11

Great Northern Diver still present at 15:00. Early morning fog cleared to give reasonable but distant views.



A pity it wasn't as obliging as:



Also fishing the reservoir were 3 cormorants.

30 lapwing
33 BH Gull
10 Golden Plover circled over but I didn't see if they landed
2 Jays

Ogden Garden

A much larger flock of redwings in the garden this morning. Difficult to count in the fog but estimated at least 30 birds.

Great Northern Diver

DJP finds a cracking adult summer Great Northern Diver at Ringstone Edge this evening. Arrived on site at about 17.30PM to be greeted by thick fog. Had a breif veiw before the bird dissapeared into the gloom. Six of us seached and the bird was refound at about 18.00PM. Managed to get two record shots of this superb summer plumaged adult, the best GND Ive seen in Calderdale and well worth a look tomorrow.

Pepper Hill

This afternoon
18 Redwings
c50 Meadow Pipits just by the ski slope along with 1 Little Owl

We then got a call from Nick to say a Great Northern Diver had turned up at Ringstone, so we shot off up there. Well done to Darrell for such a great find.

Hartshead, after (and during) the rain

Lots of recently ploughed and sown fields have attracted a few flocks -

35 Lapwings and 200+ Starlings near Hartshead church.
11 Pheasants nearby.
40+ Chaffinches and Greenfinches in a mixed flock, with
19, maybe more Pied Wagtails in the same Kirklees estate field.
And a lone female Yellowhammer calling from the hedgerow.

But no sign of Buzzards or Little Owls for a few weeks.

A Red Admiral was a pleasant surprise in the damp, gloomy conditions.

Ogden Garden

There was a small flock of redwings in the trees briefly this morning and there was also a small flock yesterday morning

Pepper Hill

Took a walk around the sheltered side if the hill looking down into Shibden Valley towards Claremount this afternoon. Despite the drizzle and strong westerly the birds were rewarding and were moving through the gap between Beacon Hill and Claremount and also the gully by the ski slope.
Redwings were moving through in small groups >W - 12,12,15,28,8 plus a few singles = c80
I was surprised to see 12 Swallows moving through in the same direction (5 and 7)
Meadow Pipit 30
Goldfinch c35
Linnet 1
Chaffinch c20
Mistle Thrush 8
Lots of Blackbirds about in the valley
2 Sparrowhawks hunting together over Claremount (probably trying to pick off tired migrants (?)

Roils Head

Flushed a Jack Snipe today at Roils Head, only second one Ive had at this site. 48 Lapwing, 200 Starling at Mount Tabor, 5 Grey Partridge at Tower Hill.

Mixenden and Stodfold

Late morning
3 Goosander on the res'r
2 Fieldfare in the big hedge with lots of Blackbirds
Crossbill heard in the plantation and 17 Siskin over.
4 Snipe flushed at Stodfold returned to the same spot after flying around high for several minutes obviously decided against moving in the mist and drizzle conditions

Mixenden and Ogden Res'rs

Thought they Might be worth a check this morning - never know what bad weather might fetch in!
Mixenden
Goldeneye and Wigeon gone today, just 4 Goosander, 1 LBBG, 20 BH Gulls and 3 Common Gulls as well as a tit flock with Goldcrests.

Ogden
1 female Teal,
1 Great crested Grebe
112 mallard mix but the Wigeon have gone from yesterday
c 40 Chaffinch and a few Goldcrests

Ogden Garden

A flock of at least 30 redwings landed in the garden trees briefly this morning before flying off in the direction of Mixenden reservoir

Wigeon visit for Ogden

Grazing Wigeon

Gt Crested Grebe hanging around with Wigeon

Ogden this a.m.
9 Wigeon
1 Gt Crested Grebe
15 Redwing
30+ LT Tits
100 + Chaffinch
22 Crossbill
+ usual sp.

Just out of area :- Queensbury north
85 Redwing high and >W
BS

Various site

It could be worth checking out local reservoirs today as 4 Red throated Divers yesterday at Blackmoorfoot res'r near Huddersfield!
1juv drake Goldeneye on Mixenden res'r this morning, 1 Widgeon and 2 Goosander.
Lots of Siskin heard in the plantation and 1 Redwing over.

Redwings

At least 1 heard over Lee Mount this morning and also heard over Queensbury (BS)and several flocks passing through Oxenhope (just out of our recording area) today. Large influx expected within the next few days (?)

Various sites (yesterday)

Fly Flatts
2 Wheatears

Scammonden area
(Tony M and Steve L)
c30 Crossbill
2 Chiff-chaff
c90 Pink feet through

Ringstone
c100 Golden Plover present in the nearby fields

Luddenden
c80 Pink-footed Geese west over the Calder Valley around 11 am (MH)

Shibden Valley (yesterday)

Late morning Friday 7th October
2 House Martins still present in the valley viewed from 150 meters along Hag Lane at the back of the Ski slope.
1 Crossbill over SW as well as Meadow Pipits, Chaffinch's and 2 Skylarks on the move
1 Sparrowhawk
60 Woodpigeon
Blackbirds and Mistle Thrushes have been more in evidence these last few weeks so these are probably some of the early immigrants
Rooks were carrying lots of acorns

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