Eyes peeled - Waxwings about

Got a call from my mate at 9am that he had 12 Waxwings in his garden and he got this shot. He lives on Wood End Close, Skircoat Green.They'd gone by time I'd got there but they probably not too far!

Kiklees Hall & Bailiffe

A Buzzard was mobbed by Crows over Hartshead,
a Kestrel hunted over the fields,
and 120+ Redwings were constantly on the move through the trees.
In the fields off Birkby Lane near Bailiffe Bridge there were 200+ BH Gulls,
100+ Lapwings and 60+ Golden Plovers

Dipper at EGP

Photographed last week, where were you Mike?

Not that you can tell from its plumage but this individual is a male Dipper, it sang and chortled for a couple of minutes whilst I observed it .

Last one, just for the record a Kingfisher was nearby, my first of the year in the area.

Mixenden Res'r and Soil Hill

7 Goldeneye on Mixenden as well as 4 Goosander and the usual gull.
3 Grey Wagtails

Soil Hill drew a blank!!

Slavonian Grebe still at Scammonden this morning till at least 11.45 thanks to NK and DP. It was in front of the boat house area but can be elusive and at times especially when it gets on the far side or in the middle in rough water and takes some finding!

Mixenden Res'r

8 Goldeneye there this morning (2 adult drakes)
I checked through all the gulls, usual B H and Common Gulls and 1 ad L B B Gull and that was it!

Slavonian Grebe at Scammonden 28/01/13

I don't mind admitting to anyone that the identification of a small black and white grebe first seen by my brother Stephen earlier on today at Scammonden has caused me a few problems, not least as I wasn't able to obtain even half-decent views of it until turned 3pm when the weather conditions were horrendous. In the field or on the water so to speak it was very difficult to ignore two id features which would have lead to it being two different species. It was obvious that it was either a Slavonian Grebe or a Black-necked Grebe and having seen both species previously in winter plumage I felt that I should have been able to determine which one I was looking at but to be perfectly truthful I simply could not. Fair enough it is a small bird, Scammonden is a fairly large body of water, it wasn't easy to find it initially never mind get remotely close to it, the weather was arguably as bad as it could have been, horizontal rain, choppy water, gale force winds making it difficult to hold the scope steady and diminishing light, but having said all that I was sure I could see that this grebe had a clear demarcation between its black head and clean white cheeks, pointing to Slavonian Grebe, however this grebe appeared to have as far as I could make out quite a dark grey collar normally associated with Black-necked Grebe. I am sure most birders if they are honest will have experienced a similar mixture of emotions in a situation such as this, embarrassment, annoyance, even ineptitude, however whilst I observed this bird it spent the majority of the time diving and more often than not catching tiny fish, therefore I couldn't discern to my frustration the shape of its bill or even head shape, my 30x kowa eyepiece in this light and conditions or maybe my eyes or expertise just did not seem up to the mark sadly. I felt my only salvation would be to go into stealth mode and therefore basically crept along the east embankment on all fours getting rather wet, fortunately the weather was that bad that even dog walkers had disappeared therefore I am not aware of anyone actually witnessing me stalking this little bird, however I eventually managed to get close enough to it to hopefully prove that we have a Slavonian Grebe in our midst, although I am still puzzled by the dark collar which may be due to the poor light or possibly oiling? I hope that it hangs around long enough for any local birder to see it, hopefully in more favourable light and weather conditions! First photo, pale tip to the bill on this photo is apparent

Second one highlighting the troublesome dark collar

Third one showing flat crown peaking at the rear

Finally the last one showing dark plumage or oiling on its chin which really added to the confusion as far as I was concerned. On a positive note it had just caught another small fish, anyone know what species of fish are in Scammonden?

Grebe....

Went up to Scammonden to see the Grebe today,saw it 3 times briefly and at a distance.Could not id it to species.i would say it will be there in the morning as the weather will keep it grounded.

Records 2012

Last call for 2012 bird records. I realy need any outstanding records for 2012 asap please. Also if anyone wants to submitt photos for the next report please let me have them on a disc, cheers.

RINGSTONE

Ringstone  this morning

Goosander  7 (3 Drake)
Teal  4 (1 Drake)
Common + B H gull C80
Golden Plover 5
+ 18 large gull sp dropped in at 10:30.

Ringstone

12 Golden Plover on the east field, 12 Goosander (5male), c200 BHG, 3LBBG, 9 Mallard and a single Snipe on res. Got some shoreline at the moment, so worth keeping an eye on!

Cold Edge

This afternoon around the dams. Thaw well in hand but still a cold westerly F3 4c. Both dams were still frozen over though and no duck other than 12 Mallard.
2 Reed Buntings was about as good as it got and 2 adult Gt B Backs over west late on.
Red Grouse on the moor calling.

Green Woodpecker

One was calling a bit from the oakwoods below Albert Promenade, as I walked up Woodhouse Lane yesterday at dusk.

Lee Mount

1 Redwing again, feeding in the garden with 12+ Blackbirds
1 Sparrowhawk through
1 Kestrel over high mobbed by B H Gulls

Mixenden Res'r

This afternoon
6 Goldeneye (2 drakes)
5 Goosander (3 drakes)
21 Mallard
160+ B H gulls
40+ Common Gulls
2 adult L B B Gulls
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Sparrowhawk through
1 Woodcock flushed in the plantation
2 Fieldfare
1 Goldcrest
1 Coal Tit
1 Wren

6 Goldeneye and 2 Goosander this afternoon

Swales Moor

The view of all the hills covered in snow was fantastic this afternoon - but it was a struggle to find anything other than corvids and not a gull in sight.
130+ Carrion Crows (all checked carefully for a 'hoodie')
20+ Magpies
20+ Rooks
40+ Jackdaws
3 Pied Wagtails

Views from Swales Moor

Soil Hill

Ovenden

Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill

Holmfield and Ogden

Ogden Garden

An unusual visitor to the garden last evening was a tawny owl. It was sitting on one of the feeders about 8 feet from the kitchen window. For some reason we had gone in without switching the light on.

Home Office/DEFRA confirm £136,000 each for NWCU 2013-14

Well done to anyone who took the time to raise concerns about this, CBCG wrote to local MP (Craig Whitaker) who would not sign EDM. See http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=3620

Geese and Swans

Andy C and myself are co-ordinating the reports of the movement through Calderdale of geese and swans. These movements are being logged into the Visible Migration monitoring site which incorporates many watch points across Europe.

Take a look at the Trektellen web site where there is a wealth of daily, recent and historic information on migration counts across britain and abroad.

Please keep us informed through the blog or the grapevine of all reports of geese or swans. The geese are most likely to be 'pinkies' (as as happened so far this year) but other species are possible as well as whoopers and bewicks.

All estimated counts are important (though a photo count can often be more accurate)along with the Calderdale location, direction of flight and the time are all useful.
Many thanks - Dave

Copley walk

 Posted on behalf of Gus Robin (birder just moved into the area). Met him while we were over in East Riding looking for Great Grey Shrike!


Walk along River Calder between Copley church and the rail viaduct today -

Pair of dipper singing and displaying.
male goosander.
grey wagtail
sparrowhawk (male)
usual woodland species inc goldcrest heard
one wader seen v. briefly without bins was probably a snipe, but I couldn't refind it.

Have asked if he wishes to be added to the author list.

Other news today

3 Tree Sparrows were seen by (Geoff S) this morning at EGP - Tag Lock area.
The Tree Sparrows are great news, especially with all the management to improve the habitat down there recently as well as the work for the colony at Jay House Lane - well done. Lets hope we see some re-colonisation of this area where they used to breed many years ago.

Also along the canal this morning c20 Siskins.

It would be nice to get some rare duck or grebe turning up on the ski-lake in this wintery weather but nothing out of the ordinary reported on there for some time.

Lee Mount

2 Nuthatches this afternoon on the garden feeder taking black sunflower seeds - they looked as if they were stashing them by the number they took away in rapid succession.
Also this morning a single Redwing joined the Blackbirds eating quaker oats in the garden.
Nearly forgot - a Tawny Owl calling in Shroggs Park around 7 pm

Freebie...........

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/promotions/british-birds-guide/9800437/free-kate-humble-guide-birds-britain.html?WT.mc_id=605488&source=TwitterPPC

Brambling and Siskin

My first Brambling of the new year was on our feeders this morning along with lots of finches, but only 4 Redpolls in the mob.

Then took a walk round to Lee Dam this afternoon. 2 Mistle Thrushes in the churchyard at Lumbutts, a Great Spotted Woodpecker in Shaw Wood and 14 Siskin on the catkins at Lee Dam. The dam is still frozen over, apart from the area where they broke the ice yesterday for the annual new year swim which seems to get later and later into the new year. No ducks on the water though.

Red Grouse on Midgley Moor

I was up there yesterday before the deep snow came.

There were plenty around - largest group five, in a stinging easterly ice-wind.

As I was leaving the top of Crow Hill I heard one of them calling . . .

Go back, go back, go b-a-a-a-ck.

I didn't need encouraging.

Other news today

Steve B had a report of 10 to 12 Waxwings in Luddenden Dean at bottom of Cow Lane this morning though they headed up the valley. Also, possibly part of the same flock with 9 briefly, reported from Martyn H late morning near Spring Bank, Luddenden.

Also from Dave F at Ringstone this morning - 12 Wigeon there (7 drakes)

Mixenden Res'r and Hunter Hill

4 Goldeneye (1 drake) on the res'r
180 B H Gulls
50 Common Gulls
c35 Jackdaws

Hunter Hill
5 Herring Gulls went over north (1 ad, 2 - 3rd winter and 2- 1st winter birds closely followed by a massive adult Great Black-backed Gull again heading north towards Ogden/Thornton Moor and calling. It looked fantastic showing every detail of the underwing.

3 Roe Deer nearby
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
1 Kestrel over the golf course

mytholmroyd saturday

great views of a lone raven in the afternoon over daisy bank, also a male goosander headed towards hebden bridge in the morning.

Other news today

2 very good birds reported today from our area:
A male Blackcap on garden feeders in Copley (Gordon D)

A Red Kite drifting over Brighouse around 14.30 heading off towards Clifton area mobbed by corvids (Mike H)

Recent bits

According to the quick mobile phone photo I managed to grab, upwards of 320 pinks footed geese flew west over Jumble Hole at 2pm today. 

A pair of goosander landed on the canal in central Hebden Bridge by the marina later on - the first I've seen there. 

16 species so far this week on the feeders, the most regular being 2m & 1f bullfinch. A new species for the feeders this winter. 

Ringstone and Jayhouse lane

Ringstone

4 Wigeon this morning.

Jayhouse lane

Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 15 Lapwing , 4 Golden Plover , 5 Snipe , Tree Sparrow 25+,  2 Mistle Thrush , Stonechat and  3 Meadow Pipits.

Success!!

Managed to get four swift boxes installed in the new block being built at Rastrick High, hopefully operational from 2014.

Mixenden Res'r

Drake Goldeneye

Mixenden plantation

I gave it a try, always hopeful for a grebe in these conditions. Easterly with snow. Surprisingly the ice on the res'r from yesterday was gone!
7 Goldeneye (3 drakes)
150 B H Gulls
50 Common Gulls
1 ad L B B Gull

Plantation
1 Kestrel
1 male Sparrowhawk
1 Treecreeper
2 Siskin
1 Wren
1 Brown Hare, again in the woodland

Sowerby Bridge Wednesday

Also Kingfisher, Treecreeper, 9 Teal.

Mixenden Res'r

A small group of (10+)? Pink-footed Geese went through WNW approximately 11.30 - heard but not seen in the mist
3 Goldeneye (1 drake)
27 Mallard
200+ B H Gulls
40 Common Gulls
1 adult L B B Gull
3 Goldcrest
5 L T Tits
c50 Jackdaws
1 Brown Hare in the plantation getting some shelter from the cold I guess, but it was soon off!

Also today 1 Grey Heron >W over Lee Mount and another >SE over Skircoat Green both mid afternoon

Mixenden Res'r

8 Goldeneye there late morning (2 males)- plenty of open water still but starting to freeze over on the edges.
c180 B H and c40 Common Gulls
4 Mallard

Waxwings at Ainley Top

12 Waxwings reported by local residents of West Lodge Crescent at midday. After a brief stay, they flew off in the direction of Rastrick/Grimescar.

Problems posting photos on the blog

Dave and Nick have reported problems with adding photos to their posts. There is a known problem with Blogger and Internet Explorer that some users get and causes the "choose photos" option to go missing, which the techies at Google are working on, but until it's fixed here are a couple of workarounds -

1. At this point, most users have stated that they are using Internet Explorer, so one workaround has been suggested that users try using Chrome or Firefox until the issue is fixed.

2. Using the Browse button on the HTML side of the post editor works for the image upload, and then users can click over to the Compose side to move the image, resize it or add captions. NOTE: You want to do all the uploading at once because flipping back and forth between Compose and HTML repeatedly in one post can mess it up at times. (Nick and Dave have used this option but it is somewhat slow).

Cold Edge

Cold Edge lower dam towards Wainstalls

Stoodley Pike looking across Midgley Moor from Cold Edge Road
Around the dams and up to the Withens.
Highlight was 15+ Reed Buntings, back of the boat house by the top dam feeding in the juncus and long grass. Constant contact calling - they looked and sounded really good.
1 Common Snipe on the lower dam
Grey Heron >S
2 Greylag Geese
1 Little Owl
male and female Kestrels
10+ Red Grouse
15+ Carrion Crows
No gulls at all

Ploughcroft and Pepper Hill

Upper Shibden Valley from Hag Lane looking towards Queensbury

Very quiet up there this morning - nothing moving.
Hag Lane
24 Carrion Crows
8 Rooks
30+ Starlings
1 Kestrel
30+ Redwings
1 Common Gull

Brighouse

Nothing exciting but my highest count of Canada Geese on the canal today with 40 birds. Big numbers of Mallard as always but didnt count them this time! Must be one of the biggest number of mallards i've seen on the canal for a few years, they seem to have had a good year.

Luddenden Dean

This afternoon from Castle Carr Road looking towards Crow Hill on Midgley moor

Looking down the dean towards the Calder Valley

With thanks for the tips from Jeff and Nigel to be able to post photo's again.

Castle Carr Road and Luddenden Dean

Cold northerly up there today 0 degrees c and 32" of snow on the moor.
Highlight of the afternoon was 12+ Reed Buntings - 2 on the wires and fence line near Wainstalls, another 2 on the edge of the moor along the road then 8+ in the shrubbery by the top lodge. This is a favourite winter spot for them for some reason, there could have been more!
4 Stock Doves
3 Fieldfares
2 Red Grouse

In the upper dean around 'The Lowe' - no sign of any types of L T Tits!!!
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
20+ each Blackbirds, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits
40+ Chaffinch going to roost - possibly a lot more?
10 Goldfinch
6 Greenfinch
1 Kestrel
c40 Carrion Crows

Total of 24 species today and just made 50 for the year total so far (local) with Green Woodpecker and Reed Bunt.

Hope to be able to post some photo's later with a bit of luck.

Jayhouse lane

Top of Jayhouse this dinnertime.

Tree Sparrow 35+,Starling C50,Meadow Pipit 14,Chaffinch 2,Goldfinch,Blue Tit,Wren,Dunnock,Blackbird,Robin and Pied Wagtail 2.

Sunday stroll

A walk yesterday starting at the Shepards Rest Todmorden upto Gaddings Dam, across to Stoodley Pike and back via Mankinholes produced,

Pair Goldeneye on the dam, pair of Ravens by the Pike, lots of Chaffinch, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit and Long tailed tit, around the gardens around Moorland View along with a GSW and at least 3 Lesser Redpoll.

c70 Fieldfare, c100 Starling along with a few Redwing, 2 Greenfinch and 5 Goldfinch in fields adjoining Mankinholes Methodist graveyard.

No sign of the local Little Owls.

Stealing eggs comes home to roost

A man from Upper Cumberworth near Huddersfield has been prosecuted for having 548 eggs held illegally, including  170 stolen from nests.

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2013/01/11/man-in-court-over-illegal-haul-of-hundreds-of-wild-bird-eggs-86081-32585364/

Good work by the police and RSPB.

Photo's !

Has anyone got any tips on uploading photo's from 'My pictures' to the blog. Both myself and Nick are having the same problem with it.
When clicking on 'insert image' everything has changed - you now get the option to post from URL, phone, webcam or Picasa but not from 'my pictures ! there must be away round it if anyone knows??

Other news today

c100 Pink-footed Geese west over Jay House Lane, Clifton around 10.50 this morning and 4 Wigeon at Ringstone Res'r earlier on (DF)

Pair of Stonechats still at Lower Walshaw Dean (MH)

A good flock of c230 Lapwings  near Shelf Moor- see Brians blog - West Yorkshire Birding

new years catch up

a belated happy new year to all

i have recentley moved to mytholmroyd so hopefully will get to see some good birds around the area

had a nice walk today around the area

mute swan 1 sowerby bridge
goosander 4 luddendean
little grebe 1on the calder near sowerby bridge
grey heron mytholmroyd
dipper 2 caldene
nuthatch 1 caldene

Swales Moor

I tried again on the top this afternoon but it was pretty dead !
1 Great Spotted Wodpecker >E, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Pied Wagtail >W - they were the only movers other than gulls in the far distance.
28 Fieldfares on the top along with 6 Goldfinch and c50 Carrion Crows

Photo competition

This is the pic I've entered, the title of the comp is "best wildlife encounter". After this guy woke me from my tent 3 nights on the trot by pawing at the tent and then became a regular around the site causing a bit of mischief it was hard to pic another. This hasn't been cropped he was happy to come within 4 feet of us.
Thanks for your support. 

Mute Swan Sowerby Bridge

Great to see this scarce bird for Calderdale, not sure if it's the same bird I saw at the end of last year. Also today male and female Goosander on the river Calder and a Kingfisher again on the River Ryburn.

Photo competition

Andy Huyton one of our local photographers has entered a photograph into the competition on the website detailed below, the winner is selected on a vote, please visit the site and consider voting for his image "Face to Face", I think it is currently on page 3. There is no monetary prize but the winner will have his photo published in BBC Wildlife I believe. Would be great to have a local birder with a photo in such a respected magazine! http://www.discoverwildlife.com/wildlife-nature-photography/photo-contest/january%202013%20photo%20contest:%20my%20greatest%20wildlife%20encounter?page=2

Ringstone Res'r

This afternoon - again in the drizzle. I could only find a few corvids along with a good number of B H Gulls (c250) and Common Gulls (c80)  but nothing different with them.

Swales Moor

I tried up there for an hour and a half this morning to see if I could pick up any further 'pinkie' or gull movement but conditions not good and non seen.
1 Grey wagtail
1 Chaffinch
3 Common Gulls
7 Stock Doves
All the above >SW
Usual corvids including c45 Carrion Crows and the 'top' was dead - no larks, pipits,finches etc now that it's its all rye grass up there!

Possible loss of National Wildlife Crime Unit

Britain's National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), which leads the fight against the burgeoning illegal wildlife trade, may be facing the axe. The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) is a British national police unit that gathers intelligence on wildlife crime and provides analytical and investigative support to police services.

Wildlife crime of all types is rapidly growing across the world, with elephant and rhino poaching both hitting new highs in 2012; organised crime is increasingly involved. Illegal bird trade, smuggling amphibians, raptor persecution and rhino horn are key operations.

A mere £136,000 has yet to be signed off by Home Office and funding expires 31/3/13. DEFRA have agreed their share.

If you feel strongly that this funding should not be removed please consider signing the government e petition that can be found at 

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43978

Cold Edge and Hunter Hill

Around the dams and Moorlands Farm and the Withens today along with a check on part of Hunter Hill. Not a lot about though c65 Pink- footed Geese headed over the dams west at 12.45  was a good spectacle. (sorry ,11.45, thanks for the correction Bri, dont know how I got to BST so soon in the year)
1 female Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
1 adult Peregrine straight through looked like a male
2 Greylag Geese
1 f Goldeneye
15+ Starlings
Red Grouse on the moor
45 Carrion Crows
Hardly any passerines
4 Herring Gulls >SW

ooops - nearly forgot! - a big brown Gos being flown on Hunter Hill.

Brighouse

Jay House Lane
C.20 tree sparrows today at approx 1.15pm.

Other news today

Lee Mount - 3 new year birds today from the garden with a Nuthatch visiting the feeder and a Grey Wagtail flyover. Across lunch time a Great-black-backed Gull went over.
c20 Redwing were around first thing this morning as well as a Jay.

Just a couple of reports of 'pinkies' moving today with 3 skeins >NW heard, but not seen, over Ringstone late morning (GS) as well as a good number of B H and Common Gulls and a few Herring Gulls through. Also 3 Snipe seen there but conditions not good for viewing with fog rolling in.
c50 'pinks' over Elland GP at c12.30 (NR)

Other news today

From NK a report of 2 Grey Plover on Soil Hill this morning but they flushed and were not relocated though I did follow up checking the fields on the north slope and Raggalds flood.
4 Skylark on 'the hill' was about all I could find on the top though there were around 40 Fieldfare and c200 Starlings on the fields down towards Bradshaw.

Mixenden Res'r
7 Pinkies went through low, not making a sound!
3 Goldeneye (1 drake)
13 Goosander
16 Mallard
c80 Starlings
While I was at Mixenden I could hear guns blazing somewhere on the distant moors - I hope all the pinks got through unscathed.!

1 Lapwing at Mount Tabor and 18 Redwings on the landfill near Moor End

A Peregrine - male I suspect, was over the moor near Jct 22 of the M62 this afternoon splitting up a group of c30 Woodpigeons, but missing out on a kill.

2 Ravens also reported nearby today (MH)

More pinks tomorrow (?)!!

Pinkies

Another fantastic day with another good movement of 1,000+ through Calderdale, all more or less W or NW starting off with reports of 155 and 51 through around 09.30 then mid to late morning 7, 70, 50, mid afternoon 300+, 200+ and c100 and probably still going after dark ?
Thanks to everyone for all the skein messages which were coming in thick and fast - even getting forwarned of birds heading our way through Horbury!

Pink Feet Movement

Caught c100 pink feet going west over Tabor about half 2. Bumped into NCD and he confirmed we had just missed an even greater number (see his blog).  A relatively small dark Buzzard was over the field behind the New Inn for several minutes at lunchtime.  T

RINGSTONE

 

Four Shelduck late afternoon

Other news

Only one report of Pink-feet on the move through today with 1 skein NW towards Fly Flatts over Cold Edge just after 12 noon (MH) along with c100 Fieldfares in the same direction.

Mixenden Res'r

I checked there briefly this morning
3 Goosander
1 f Goldeneye
11 Mallard
c200 mixed B H and Common Gulls and one 1st winter Herring Gull
20+ Redwings over the plantation
60+ Jackdaws
1 Goldcrest

Pinkies !!

Thanks for all the reports today of pinkies on the move mainly through the Calder Valley W or NW from 10 am till at least 4 pm.

I have tried to avoid duplication but in addition to the ones posted by Mike, below looks like c120, 60, 20, 45, 60, 165, 95, 130 and late afternoon 130 and 70. A lot might have also gone through un- noticed !

200 reported over Airdale today and noisy flock heard over Oxenhope in the dark at 19.20 (via DB and HC)

Wonder if these are new birds into the country or just the Humberside/Lincolnshire lot etc moving around. Birdguides not posted anything - any theories ?
Wonder if there will be more tonight or tomorrow ?

Records 2012

Sorry to be a bore but I really need records for 2012 asap within the next 2 weeks if possible (due to the fact that I might be moving home soon). Thanks to all those who have already sent their records in, they are being processed into the data base now. Also if anyone has any photos for 2011 and 2012 could you let me have them on a disc, thanks.

More Pinkies & Waxwings

Three flocks of 120+, 60+ and 20 flew W/NW over EGP this morning - within an hour.
On the ground, a Sparrowhawk made an unsuccessful attack on the Tits at the feeder station.
And just out of area there was a flock of 13 Waxwings at the bottom of the car park at Whiteley's Cafe/Garden Centre - a great view over a cup of tea ! Whiteley's is just by the A62 near Roberttown.

Info Please

Has anyone seen Peregrine falcon roosting at wainhouse tower or in town this winter so far.?? Also has water rail been seen at High royd recently.??

Lee Mount

Thanks to a call from Andy in the Shibden Valley this afternoon about a flock of 48 Pink-feet heading NW - our way. I had nearly given them up, thinking they may have changed direction, but they came over 8 minutes later - no wonder they had taken a while, as they were really struggling in the blustery wind. I couldn't get a proper count over the houses but as they went through another group of 6 followed them, there may have been more? Brian picked them up in the distance from Soil Hill and Nick also from Roils Head with a count of 67. Maybe another group joined the 48 after leaving Shibden.
A good start to the New Year - cheers Andy !

Kirklees Hall estate

A Buzzard drifted over and dropped into woodland -in the Hudds area.
5 Mistle Thrushes in a ploughed field.
Grey Wagtail perched on a 'phone wire was a change from the usual riverside & canalside views.
20+ Goldfinch, 3 Bullfinch and a very flighty flock of 70+ Redpolls in the trees.

Walshaw Dean

Very little about in howling winds.
- 14 mallard on Lower Walshaw. Nothing at all on Middle or Upper.
- f. kestrel on the wall of Upper Walshaw
- 9 red grouse seen and heard.

That's literally all!

Dipper @ the Crags

A quick walk with the kids at Hardcastle Crags didn't produce much other than a dipper at the edge of the quieter mill pond up stream from the mill (to the left of the stream).

Recent news

From 24th Christmas Eve
Fly Flats - nothing!
Withens Head - c60 Fieldfare in fields opposite the wind farm car park.
Cold Edge - 1 Mallard!
Mixenden Res'r - drake Goldeneye and a drake Goosander.

Today and yesterday from Elland ski lake , 14 Goldeneye (JB AC)

Waxwings in Brighouse

Here is a short film of waxwings in Brighouse today.

Filmed by Chris Burns. LINK to film

Hartshead & Bailiffe areas

A low flying Buzzard at Kirklees Hall and c90 Redwings feeding in the stubble fields, before gathering in the same tree.
In the fields above Bailiffe Bridge - 400+ BHGulls and a few Commons; 150+ Starlings; 50+ Fieldfares; and across the road - c200 Lapwings and c20 Golden Plover, but too windy up there to get a decent photo !

Mixenden Res'r

Everywhere seems fogged out and rained off today but I did manage a peek at mixi res this afternoon. Just about 40 BH and a few Common Gulls and 5 Goosander and that was it!

Blog images

Following a recent post on the blog which included a superb photo of a Dipper it has been raised that the use of other peoples photographs without their express permission may be in breach of copyright. Whilst I am sure it wasn't the posters intention to in any way cause a problem (indeed was more to allow us all to appreciate a great photo) I believe there may well be copyright issues here.  I am no expert but the photographer concerned is a professional and has a copyright to the photo displayed on it.  I have attempted to search the web for guidance on this issue and although can't come up with anything concrete there are several documented bloggers who have been at risk of prosecution for using other peoples images without permission.  As a result and to err on the side of caution I have removed the photo, shame as its a superb shot.  If anyone disagrees with this decision and can prove that we are not putting ourselves at risk of potential copyright issues please clarify on here.

Caspian Gulls

There are 4 Caspian Gulls at Neepsend, Sheffield. Our turn now??

See LINK

Various sites

Moor End - Mount Tabor landfill
11 Lapwings

Cold Edge
1 f Goldeneye
18 Carrion Crows
2 Rooks

Fly Flatts
2 Carrion Crows
2 'cronkers'
Red Grouse

Mixenden Res'r
10 Goosander
usual gulls including 1 L B B G

Ogden
2 Reed Buntings by the 'Giants Tooth' and 6 Bullfinch came over high from Thornton Moor calling and dropped into the plantation
Red Grouse heard calling on the moor
1+ Goldcrest and 1 Great Tit but hardly any other small birds in the woodland
1 Dipper below the embankment
A big rock fall recently in the big quarry above Ogden Clough!

Urban waterbirds

http://www.stevenround-birdphotography.com/

Some great shots here..............

A walk down the Hebden on 2nd December produced no stream birds in the depth of the frost, but yesterday there was a dipper and a grey wagtail in the Hebble Beck just outside Dean Clough's Viaduct Cafe, a not unusual sight. Wonder if the water is warmer for them there . . . .

More Waxwings.

At least two Waxwings and a couple of very vocal Nuthatches at the bottom of Manor Heath park this morning. Also three Waxwings briefly along the road at the mini roundabout at Free School Lane mid-week.

Waxwings

According to Birdguides there were "6 on Heathfield Place early evening" today.

Todmorden Waxwing

A call was heard in the Burnley Road / Wellington Road area while walking home yesterday afternoon, seemed to be a single bird but could not spot it at the time.

Sowerby Bridge & Private Site last 2 days

Dipper and Kingfisher on walk onto work near Asquith Bottom Mill in Sowerby Bridge yesterday and apologies for this one but I'll hopefully confirm this tomorrow morning. As I was leaving a bird flitted across my path my first instinct said Black Redstart but I was unable to relocate the bird though my search was brief as I had to be somewhere. It was the briefest of views so I told myself that it was unlikely and was probably just a robin.

Today whilst working on a private site I was surrounded constantly by 2 Robins that kept coming down to feed on the worms and other insects I kept turning up as a dug, not once did either of them remind me of the fleeting glimpse I'd had the day before. So tomorrow I shall return and have a proper search and I'll send a text to Dave so he can put it out either way on the grapevine. I certainly won't be claiming it if my search proves fruitless as it was the briefest of glimpses.

At dusk today witnessed an amazing roost as wrens/blue tits & great tits gathered in nearby bushes and trees before going to roost in the roof of the house where i was working, at least 20 wrens were seen to goto roost before we left. I've asked the owner to take a look in the morning to see if he can get an exit count and also to see if any other species have joined them. Add to that a weasel showing well, made for a good day at work.

The Sad Demise of Betty

The Sad Demise of Betty the Hen Harrier in June this year and the results of the post mortem is described here. 

Local sightings

3 goosanders on river at Walkley Clogs: 2M 1F
A grey heron perched on a flimsy looking branch about 7' up a tree on the opp bank of river in Mytholmroyd
Dipper & grey wagtail seen last week from bridge over river in centre of Mytholmroyd: No sign today of pair of mandarin ducks seen on 3 occasions about a week ago from same bridge.  Thought at first they were wood ducks but I had a long time to study them and I'm clear what they were.

A pair of jays now come regularly to peanut feeders in patio garden at The Hatchery, Hall Bank Lane. 

Sowerby Bridge to Eastwood on the towpath

Plenty of the usual birds about today including a total of 7 Jays, 2 Treecreepers and a Grey Wagtail but the highlights were 7 Redwing at Brearley and 4 Goosander on the canal at Eastwood. 20+ Fieldfare were at Middle Stoodley, out of the valley from Eastwood.

Halifax Scientific Society Xmas Social

Among the usual attractions of artifacts and books etc. from our library to look at, there will be a couple of really interesting dead birds on display, found recently in Calderdale :-

The Common Scoter found by Andy Cockroft at Baitings reservoir. (It's been in a freezer.)
And the Great Grey Shrike that was picked up near a window in Southowrham with its prey, a headless Blue Tit.

The Xmas Social  consists of conversation over tea/coffee and cakes. Bring cakes etc to share. Drinks provided.

Downstairs at the Central Library, Halifax 7.15 to 9.00. (No formal Business tonight.)
All welcome.

Various sites

Mixenden Res'r
1 drake Goldeneye plus the usual gulls

Hunter Hill
3 Meadow Pipits
1 Kestrel

Cold Edge
1 f Goldeneye
12 Mallard

Pepper Hill & Claremount
12 Mistle Thrush
5 Fieldfare
35 Redwings
30 Common Gulls
5 Grey Partridge
c20 Woodpigeons feeding on holly berries
3 Kestrels

CSI Great Grey Shrike

Well what a story ,I met with Sue at Southowram on sat morning to collect the Shrike and unbeknown to me a headless Blue Tit.The Shrike and Blue Tit were found on her door step just like the bottom pic.The Shrikes bill is full of bits of Blue Tit,the head was not found unless its in the Shrike,Sue said her cat had been in all night as sometimes cats bring in there kills.I can only think that the shrike must have been fighting with the Blue tit and flew into the door and killed itself.??I think the Shrike is an adult male.??Many thanks to Sue Holden for all her efforts to find out about the Shrike...

Bailiffe Bridge

Seen,this afternoon, a large winter flock of feeding birds in fields on the right at the top of the hill from Bailiffe Bridge crossroads towards Dewsbury. ( just about still in Calderdale?) Golden plover 50+ Lapwing 40+ Starlings 450+ Gulls 120+ B.H., and common ( might be worth a good search for a rarity ) Rooks and crows

Other news today

From Nigel at Soil Hill - 4 Snow Buntings briefly this morning (could still be there) but a pair of Stonechats is a great record for that elevation in these weather conditions. feeding in the furrows caused by the excavators.

And from Brian - the Siskin flock was at the back of Sainsbury's fuel station in Halifax this afternoon.

Swales Moor

11 Linnets up there this morning was a nice surprise but little else other than 80+ Carrion Crows on the top.
2 Sparrowhawks and 2 Kestrels hunting across the Shibden valley
c30 Lapwings in the distance towards Ogden were heading straight through in a NW direction

Mixenden and Ogden

Treacherous under foot this morning and hard to find any birds!
Mixenden Res'r
3 drake Goosander
Pair of Goldeneye
1 L B B Gull among c 60 mixed B H and Common Gulls

Ogden Res'r
Drew a blank other than the usual Mallard and a a few B H and Common Gulls

1 Herring Gull adult flew over the golf course >SE
1 Kestrel

Halifax - Sainsbury's

No, not Waxwings but c30 Siskin this morning, flyovers went towards the trees at the back of the fuel service station.

Also if anyone reads the 'Independent' there was a very good article on the status of Kestrels in the country and some interesting observations on motorway verge populations in Britain compared with 20 years ago and a comparison with motorways in France. If anyone gets chance it's well worth a read!
Trying to see if there is a link for the article.

Other news today

From Jim W - 6 Waxwings in Sainsbury's car park in Brighouse at 8.0 am but not many berries left for them!

Mixenden and Ogden

Mixenden Res'r
1 pair Goldeneye + a few B H and Common Gulls. No Goosander today

Ogden golf course - just one bird - an unidentified lark/bunting on the golf course flew off in the direction of the sun and couldn't get anything on it and heard no call. Most frustrating!

Ogden
2 Teal
1 1st winter Goldeye drake
c80 Mallard, c40 B H Gulls and a few Common Gulls
1 male Kestrel

Jack Snipe from NK on Soil Hill but a lot of excavation work going on with a large digger on the top so wonder what will happen next up there? We will be lucky if it's for the benefit of the birds!

Mixenden and Ogden

1 pair Goosander and 1 pair of Goldeneye on Mixenden Res'r this morning but not much else other than 1 L B B Gull and a few Common and B H Gulls

Ogden
1 1st winter male Goldeneye
4 Goldcrests
2 Reed Buntings by the 'Giant's Tooth'
1 Common Buzzard sitting it out a snow/sleet shower on a fence post headed off NE struggling to get any lift in the awful conditions

Nestboxes further delays

Unfortunately I'm having to work again Saturday and as there was only Howard available we have had to postpone until 15th.

We would welcome extra hands and ladders to assist in this vital work of protecting the nestboxes from predators so if you have done all your xmas shopping why not join us.

10am Jerusalem Farm car park, the sooner we get done the sooner we can have a festive drink in a local pub :-)

Please let us know if you plan on coming so we know if everyone has arrived or not.

Shrike photos

See earlier post re dead shrike found by Sue Ludhill at Southowram last month, Sue has now sent her photos.....a sad end to a great record.