Mixenden Res'r and Hunter Hill

An unprecedented morning with awful conditions E F5 to F6 gusting, with snow showers mixed with some sunshine!
1 Common Buzzard >NE over Ogden golf course at 11.15
Above briefly mobbed by a Sparrowhawk
1 female Merlin came along the full length of the res'r embankment at 11.30 putting up all the gulls and chasing after 2 passerines, but missed. It then flew around a bit to gain height then chased off low again across the fields towards Shaking House Farm where I lost it somewhere heading towards Pavement Lane
1 Goosander >S from the res'r
6 Goldeneye (2 drakes)
130+ B H Gulls
30+ Common Gulls
1 L B B Gull
2 Siskin over
1 Lapwing >NE
60+ Jackdaws
2 Stock Doves
2 Canada Geese

Rookeries and Heronries

If anyone can do a count of their local colonies of Rooks and Herons that would be appreciated.

Depite the weather the Rooks certainly do not seem put off by it so far and they have been busy building for several weeks, though maybe if this cold spell continues as predicted they will start to struggle to feed up for egg laying.

I will not post the full list of sites here but would appreciate any offers of help - comments box, email or text as to which areas/sites you can do!

Sites already covered are Barkisland area, Northowram, King Cross, Ovenden, Mixenden, Illingworth, Bailiff Bridge, Ripponden, Siddal and Warley/Newlands.

Sites where we will need some help are Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Greetland, Mytholmroyd/Cragg Vale, Sowerby/Boulderclough and Brighouse/Clifton plus a few more.

Counts can be done now but suggest the optimum time will be during the first 2 weeks of April.
Many thanks
Dave

Mixenden Res'r

Terrible conditions this afternoon 0 degrees c with wind E F4 to F6 windchill and gusting and blowing snow all over the place!
The Goldeneye have gone - don't blame them
90 B H Gulls
10 Common Gulls
3 L B B Gulls
1 male Sparrowhawk over
1 Starling
6 Mallard
+ a few corvids

Then went to Ogden - planned to park on Per Lane and walk the rest but no safe place to leave the car with tons of snow piled high snowdrifits/gritters/tractors etc so gave it up as a bad job!
Took one look at Soil Hill and thought - time to put the kettle on!!

Had a look on Coach Road this morning but failed to see any Lesser Pecker.  A Redwing and Song Thrush foraging in the Ivy were the best birds there.  Called in at Jay House Lane on my way back, a pair of Curlew seemed to be doing OK despite the conditions, about ten Tree Sparrows on the feeder.

Female sparrowhawk  in Mytholmroyd garden this am, plus 3 bullfinches, (1 m, 2f ),  8 goldfinches and 12 long tailed tits.

Raven over also.

Short eared owl

There has been a shortie kicking around Norland Moor for the last 10 days,seen from the road and play ground area.....

Lee Mount

Garden birdwatching this afternoon was about the best I could do in the conditions - still covered in deep snow E F5 gusting and overcast.
1 Redwing feeding on quaker oats but it didn't seem to like dried mealworms for some reason unlike the Blackbirds (10+)
2 Bullfinch
10+ Blue Tits
8+ Great Tits
4+ Coal Tits (they like dried mealworms)
Plus the usual Robins, Dunnocks, Magpies, Collared Doves and Woodpigeon

Ogden Garden

Two flocks of curlews have flown over this morning both flocks going NE and calling. Each flock was at least 20 strong.It was good to hear them perhaps spring is finally approaching

Ringstone

15 Whooper Swan early this afternoon on the choppy water. We seem to have had fairly impressive numbers of them not only flying over but actually landing locally during the past month, presumably the prevailing weather conditions have had a lot to do with this occurrence.

Bits

46 meadow pipits yesterday lunchtime in a freshly manured field on Cross Stone Road, Todmorden.
30+ pied wagtails, and 3 grey on the filter beds at Eastwood Sewage Works today. A pair of goosander were on the canal there, plus a dipper on the river.

Curlews

There were 9 Curlews and a Lapwing in the fields at Cock Hill by Little Valley Brewery this afternoon.

Ogden Garden

A female sparrow hawk sitting beneath one of the feeders this afternoon

Gorple

From Martyn yesterday afternoon the Water Pipit still there.

Ringstone Res'r

15 Whoopers dropped in this morning at 9.30 (Steve L)

Fly Flatts

Early afternoon - conditions just as bad as Queensbury!
4 Canadas and nothing else

Ogden Water

Seven whooper swans on the water this afternoon

Ogden Garden

There has been a male reed bunting on the cotneaster in our garden on each of the last two days.

Various sites

Had a ride round this morning giving a quick check at a few sites in the poor weather.
1 Chiff-chaff at Elland G P in the bushes near the road around the ski lake and viewed from the roadside lay-by.

Male Peregrine on the side of Wainhouse Tower roosting on a ledge facing Copley, half way up the tower. It did have a fly round but soon went back to the ledge in the sleet!

Also checked out some local rookeries with a varying degree of success. Details later.

cyprus birds

thanks andy, no cyprus wheatear,but directed to warbler stronghold no sightings but plenty of noise from thick cover.picts of sardinian+cretzschmars bunting+black francolin(what a bird)

Local stuff.

A couple of noteworthy records for Skircoat Green in the shape of a low flying Buzzard yesterday over Dudwell Lane being mobbed by a couple of crows and a Woodcock in Bankhouse wood on the 15th of this month - my first ever there after many years.

Cold Edge

This afternooon
c160 Canada Geese
6 Greylag Geese
6+ Curlew
6 Lapwings
2 Golden Plover
4 Oystercatchers
c65 Jackdaws
1 Kestrel
1 Little Owl
1 Stock Dove
24 Starlings

Swales Moor

Late morning vis mig in a freezing cold ESE up there but a few birds were moving N or NE (unless stated otherwise)
2 Greylag Geese
1 Mallard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 B H Gulls
38 Common Gulls
1 Gt B B Gull
38 Meadow Pipits (all singles and a group of 6 and all high)
1 alba wagtail >SW
2 Raven >SW

Also present
1 Common Buzzard
4 Skylark
8 Magpie
28 Jackdaws
76+ Carrion Crows
4 House Sparrows

Coach Road, Brighouse

Early morning revealed a female Lesser 'Pecker drumming repeatedly.
Also a pair of G S 'Peckers mating, 4 Song Thrushes singing, and 80+ Redwings still in the field at the back of St Matthew's church.
A male Goosander kindly flew over the cafe in Greenhead Park, Hudds this afternoon !

Long eared Owl pellets

Hi all,i have been searching through 140 LEO pellets recently and found these bits of bird beaks ,I also found 1 dunnock feather  in and amongst all the fur.Can any one put them to family or know a good web site or blogg that may help.??135 Field Vole,1 Mole,1 Pygmy shrew,1 wood Mouse,3 caterpillar skulls, 30 beetle larvae,1 adult beetle,1 skin Moth larvae,1 parasitic fly sp and at least 5 bird sp.??

i.d.required

just back from cyprus & need help in i d's if any one can help!    2 picts of same bird &1of different bird(on a mound)i think they could be red throated pipits.(common winter visitor & passage migrant,according to the info.   the other bird could be a female reed bunting but the facial markings look a bit severe i would be grateful for any help.

Shelduck

Male at Ringstone at 16:30hrs this afternoon Perhaps more noteworthy was the fact that 33 Common Scoter flew high north into HBW airspace just east of Wholestone Moor at 17:16hrs this afternoon. I observed this event from Blackmoorfoot Reservoir, record photos and further details are on the Huddersfield Website Forum if anyone is interested.

Raptor Persecution

See link below to an article in the Yorkshire Post about raptor persecution in Yorkshire and the possible benefits of   legislation using the vicarious liability principle in legislation in England.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/features/harried-and-persecuted-birds-of-prey-are-still-in-firing-line-across-the-region-1-5504134

Not a bad article for the Yorkshire Post.

High Royd

I went down there out of the fog! Just trees to peer through (not much better than fog)!
2 Canada's
2 Coot
6 Moorhen
20+ Pied Wagtails on the filter beds
6 Teal
1 Grey Heron
6 Mallard
c90 Carrion Crows on the filter beds
2 Grey Wagtails
1 Gt Spotted Wodpecker
1 Green Woodpecker
2 Treecreepers together
1 Goldcrest + a few L T, Blue and Great Tits
3 Jays
1 Dipper on the Calder

Mixenden Res'r

4 Goldeneye this morning (3 beltin' drakes)
Foggy !!!
Oh - and 1 Siskin flyover

Ogden Water

A single whooper swan was on the water at 8.30am today clearly visible before the mist came down.

Other news today

From Martyn - the Water Pipit is still at lower Gorple - seen at the overflow around 5 pm this afternoon

From BS - a flock of 72 Waxwings heading over Queensbury at dusk heading towards Ovenden/Mixenden area probably to a roost

Cold Edge and Hunter Hill

This afternoon, checked all the usual spots for that early Wheatear but no luck!
Amazing for me this year, my first Meadow Pipit!
12+ Curlew
9 Lapwing
2 Golden Plover
1 Teal
1 Goldeneye
160 Canada's
4 Greylag Geese
1 immature Peregrine over
2 Kestrel
1 Moorhen
Red Grouse

Soil hill yesterday

Had a quick walk round the top at around 2.00 yesterday afternoon. There was not much going on; 5 lapwings on the top which took off and headed off towards Denholm and a kestrel hunting.

Reptile records wanted

This year I will be conducting Amphibian and Reptile surveys and would be interested in any historical reptile sightings that would help decide which areas to concentrate on. Any info would be appreciated.

Yellowhammers under pressure

A quick look around Bradley Hall Farm area today only came up with a single Yellowhammer. The fields are full of grass rather than arable crops and the once lush hedgerow has been cut back to about 5 feet in height. Such changes in habitat and land use are sure to have a negative effect on this vulnerable species.

Lower Gorple

From MH this lunchtime. Water Pipit still present around the overflow area. It soon flies off when disturbed but usually comes back to the same spot after a while!

Fly Flatts and Cold Edge

A real struggle to find anything at all this morning in the wintry conditions and rain and sleet. I did manage to get some nyger seed down to add to BS's - all in the hope we get some returning birds soon, we live in hope!
1 Oystercatcher
1 Lapwing
c50 Canada's and a few Red Grouse.
I did have a careful look for Wheatears as there are usually od ones about by mid March even with snow on the ground. Not today though!

Coach Road, Brighouse

A male Lesser 'Pecker was showing really well this morning - drumming loudly on a tree branch; two LSW's together were apparently seen a couple of weeks ago.
A Great Spotted and a Green were also calling further up the track.
At least 3/4 Nuthatches were calling loudly, and 10 Redwings were in the field nearby.

Lower Gorple Res this morning

I walked up to Lower Gorple Res this morning in bright sunshine and clear blue skies, so it was a pity about the biting stiff breeze that lowered the temperature so much! I was going in the hope that the Water Pipit was still about as it was last seen Monday afternoon. Approaching the reservoir I could see people working on the path from the small car park and also a couple of diggers by the dam wall so I was expecting the worst as the Pipit had been reported as flighty. Luckily the machinery by the wall wasn't in use so I settled myself in the lee of the parapet looking down the narrow drain to keep out of the wind, with a couple of Pied Wagtails for company.

After a while I heard a call behind me in the wide run-off drain, so I had a look and the Water Pipit was in the drain. I have to say that without seeing the photos previously posted on here and without hearing the call I wouldn't have picked it as a Water Pipit as it looked very pale. It flew onto the grass by the diggers and then away onto the shore line, and I didn't find it again. I took a few photos but they weren't good enough to post.

Also seen:
Curlew - 2
Golden Plover - 5
Lapwing - 11
Skylark - 3
Pied Wagtail - 3
Red Grouse - 1 calling
Song Thrush - 1













Later at Mankinholes:
Little Owl - 2
Mistle Thrush - 2
Redwing - 1
Raven - 1 overhead

Other news today

From Chris at Southowram this morning
c95 Golden Plover in fields near Pinnar Lane
1 Skylark singing

Various sites

Brackenbed (former landfill)
This morning
4 Bullfinch
1 Goldcrest

Swales Moor
'dead'
5 Common Gulls >NE
96 Carrion Crows
25 Magpies

Ringstone
5 Curlew >W - off back to the coast if they have any sense in this icy blast!
c80 Carrion Crows where the farmer was spreading 'slurry'
Couldn't find the Golden Plover (from Tim yesterday) but maybe the farm machinery had moved them off?

Stainland Dean - Bowers Mill pond
11 Teal
2 Moorhen
12 Mallard
1 Grey Wagtail

Water Pipit, Woodcock & Hen Harrier

Water Pipit still present Lower Gorple outflow yesterday afternoon. Two ringtails to early roost. I'd have stayed longer to check if any more, but was in fear of losing my extremities!
Two ringtails also seen at Windy Hill headed W/NW earlier in the day.

Woodcock this afternoon at top of Barkisland Clough.

At least 400 Golden Plover on west field at Ringstone at dusk.

Mixenden Res'r and Stodfold and Fly Flatts

Cold -1c NE F3 to F5 occasional white out with driving snow then 5 minutes later glorious sunshine but bitterly cold in the wind.
Mixenden Res'r
3 Goosander
3 Goldeneye (1 drake)
60+ B H Gulls
5 Common Gulls

Mixenden - Stodfold fields
6 Curlew
6 Lapwings
2 Skylarks
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Sparrowhawks
2 Kestrels
60 Jackdaws

Fly Flatts
c60 Canadas
Red Grouse

Curlew

First Curlew at Noah Dale above Cottonstones on Saturday afternoon, found it again on Sunday morning on the field where they usually breed.

Only other worthy note was a Buzzrd on Sunday evening, flying low from Mill Bank going up towards Blackshaw Clough.

Mixenden Res'r and Luddenden Dean

Bitterly cold in that driving northerly wind there this afternoon
3 Goldeneye
c50 B H Gull
2 Common Gulls
The plantation was 'dead'

I tried the dean for an hour late on trying for Bramblings coming up to roost with the Chaffinches but none came and very few Chaff's
1 Green Woodpecker calling
c20 Goldfinch
2 Kestrels
1 Stock Dove

Ogden Garden

A flock of at least 25 siskins in the trees in our garden yesterday afternoon. They stayed a while and then flew off in the direction of Ogden Water

Lower Gorple Res', 9th March 2013

I dashed up late this afternoon in pretty poor weather conditions to look for the water pipit and came away empty handed. Perhaps the only creatures of note were five oystercatchers around the reservoir.

Regards, Chris

Ogden Water

Six whooper swans back on Ogden Water at 11.45am

Ogden Water

Six whooper swans still present early this morning. However they flew off in the direction of Mixenden reservoir about 9.00am.
Yesterday we had fourteen siskins on the feeders in the garden mostly males.

Ogden

3 of the six there this afternoon, with thanks to Chris Sutcliffe for the call

Ogden Water

Six Whooper swans on the water this am.

Water Pipit news?

Does anyone know if there have been any further sightings of the water pipit since the last post on the subject?  I am considering whether or not to go up for a look on Saturday afternoon, but if it hasn't been seen for a few days I'll probably make alternative plans.
If it is still about, any tips/best spots would be very welcome.

Many thanks, Chris

Other news today

From Gordon - an adult Whooper Swan an the Calder between the viaducts across lunchtime. It was seen to fly and come back down so it may just be a tired bird or become disorientated in the upland fog?

Ogden

It was so quiet this afternoon with hardly a bird about!
1 Reed Bunting - Giants Tooth area and 1 Red Grouse heard
30 B H Gulls
2 Common Gulls
7 Canada Geese
c40 Mallard
Oh - and 2 Robins singing!

Woodcock survey

A common wader in our valleys but how manybreeding pairs do we have.??

http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/woodcock-survey

Another box up

Another Barn Owl box up this weekend, thanks to the efforts of Andy and Howard and the support of the land owner.

Lower Gorple

   Lower Gorple this aft  Water Pipit,Oystercatcher 4,curlew 4.

Gorple

Had a very interesting afternoon at lower Gorple this afternoon tracking Martyn's Water Pipit down with Nick D. Jim W had it earlier though it still took some finding! We located it on the far side but were not convinced about identification until an hour or so later with better views and a single call. What a good find though it was again very flighty and did not like approach. Good to see Steve C up there as well as Martyn. Circumstances not good for digi scoping though Nick has a record shot on his blog.
1 male Peregrine over
1 Common Gull
1 Tufted Duck
3 Oystercatchers
21 Golden Plover
30+Lapwings and c20 Curlew
Loads of Canada's and a few Red Grouse
1 Dipper up there was a nice surprise as well

Crow Hill - Sowerby

First lapwings I've seen in the Crow Hill area this year spotted today 11.30-12.30. 30 of them blogging on one side of the hill and 1 on the opposite side.
Otherwise not a lot:- 2 pied wagtail; the usual corvids, starlings, plus titmice and finches in the stands of trees. No lagomorphs seen.

Lower Gorple

Spent an hour laid in the run off drain this morning hoping the Water Pipit would approach.  No such luck, it really is a flighty bird, same can't be said for the locals.

Other news!

A fantastic find by Martyn H at lower Gorple yesterday. A cracking Water Pipit in the overflow area and lower down in the drain. Thinks its about 10 years since the last one, and in the same place. Well done Martyn. The bird is still there this morning. JW.
It's very flighty and soon flushes so approach with caution!
Hope someone gets some photo's

Also today from Derby Delph a pair of Stonechats but no sign of yesterday's Twite when I called this morning. Andy K had 8 Twite there yesterday.

derby delph/ringstone

at least 8 twite at derby delph quarry singing merrily away! ringstone- decided to try to survey the snipe,which involved walking by the scrapes(wellies recomended as very boggy in places) however at least 24 snipe where located plus 1 possibly 2 jack snipe.also present,68 lapwing,32 golden plover,8 common gull,22b.h.gull plus 1 mipit over(calling).

Sparrowhawk

Goldcrests

My neighbour has been getting two goldcrests throughout the winter frequently visiting the two conifers located in planters at the edge their patio.

Pink Footed Goose yesterday

Posted on behalf of Gus Robin:
A pink foot with the Canada's on elland ski lake and a goldcrest fly catching under the bridge next to the Cromwell bottom car park.

Killer Sparrowhawk

Hen Harrier programme

The issue of Hen Harrier persecution was addressed by the BBC on their Inside Out program yesterday following the death of Bowland Betty in the Dales. It was only broadcast in the north, even more north than Yorkshire, so you may have missed it. There are some very interesting comments, especially from the Moorland Association, which you may find informative. The article is at the start of the program. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01qzftc/Inside_Out_North_East_and_Cumbria_25_02_2013/

Owl pellets wanted

                                                               Field Vole lower jaw

Common/Pygmy  Shrew lower Jaw bone

 

 

A selection of Tawny Owl pellets at a roost site in Queensbury top photo(thanks BS).If anyone knows of any other sites for Owl pellets or finds any this year.I would be more than grateful to take them off there hands.

Lower Gorple

 5 Crossbills at Lower Gorple plantation this aft plus 4 Curlew >E.
Upper Gorple and Lower Walshaw reservoirs nearly empty of water.
C200 Waxwings still in Brighouse this morning.

Redpolls & Siskins

The first Siskins of the winter turned up on the feeders a couple of weeks ago, followed by the Redpolls this weekend.

Ogden

Not much doing up there this afternoon
1 Moorhen
c80 Mallard
2 Canada Geese
1 drake Goldeneye
1 Kestrel
2 Redwing calls
8 Greenfinch
6 Goldfinch
Nothing found in the woodland other than an odd Coal Tit and Great Tit
c50 B H Gulls
2 Common Gulls

Jayhouse lane

Jayhouse lane this dinnertime.
Curlew 1,Golden Plover 67,Lapwing c50,Common Gull 58,Starling c 200,Fieldfare 4,Redwing 33.

Colour ringed Waxwing

Tracy C photographed a flock of Waxwings at Brighouse on 9th Feb, which included a colour ringed bird. We have recieved this information back from the ringers.

Many thanks for the details and photos of the colour-ringed Waxwing Orange/Red right, BTO left which was ringed as an adult female on 6th December 2012 in the grounds of Newtown College, Powys. She has previously been photographed on 16th December near Seaforth Station Sefton/Merseyside by Steve Young.

This was one of exactly 100 birds we caught in Mid Wales in the run-up to Christmas (99 unringed and 1 Fair Isle bird!). Thanks to Raymond we managed to colour-ring most of them and the results have been amazing - birds have dispersed in all directions, mostly S and E but we have also just had one killed by a cat in Co. Wicklow! :-(

With thanks to Sean Grey, Raymond Duncan and Tony Cross for all the information and to others. Well done Tracy and the ringers.
Keep those digi shots coming!!

Waxwings

     Waxwings Brighouse town center early morning about 120

Whooper 'tastic'

See Andy's Northowram Wildlife blog for the fantastic Whooper flock this morning - I owe you another one. ! Yes 2 minutes I clocked them too from Northowram to Lee Mount. Went right over the house at 11.53 going like the clappers. They were on a mission. Just a few calls heard and perfect V formation and no deviation.
Amazing a few weeks ago the pinkies took 8 minutes between the same points!
Thanks Andy - I got the message out as fast as I could but they would be off over Fly Flatts or Oxenhope by then. Jen tried to get some shots but camera couldn't focus on them being white in the sky!

Other news today

A varying number of Waxwings (from 5 to 20 then up to 60 reported were on Birdguides) being reported today from the Brighouse area - mainly town centre and near the post office site.
Also this afternoon c200 Pink-footed Geese heading west over Ossett and heading our way around 13.30(JW) but they were not reported from any of the local birders so we probably all missed them !!

Local site

Headed out with Nick this afternoon to a local site but not a lot happening. Only had 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and 1 Peregrine, also 1 Jay, 2 Nuthatch, a few Pheasants and heard a few Siskin flyovers which were probably local birds. Also a Great Spotted Woodpecker 'drumming' briefly.
Grey Herons are also on the nest sites at local colonies

Swales Moor

Late morning I went up there in the hope of catching a Skylark movement but only managed one call overhead, bird out of sight, probably heading east. Three other Skylarks were on the top feeding.
2 Grey Partridge was a first for me this year.
1 distant Peregrine over >N
Not many corvids up there today - unusual!
1 Little Owl on the wall by Ploghcroft

Lesser Redpoll ring

Hi all

Barry has posted on the CBWG blog a bird with a ring. The ring is partly readable. Can any info be gleaned from this?  LINK to post

Kirklees Hall & Coach Road

2 Yellowhammers near Kirklees Hall this am too ! Same birds ? The first I've seen all winter at this site.
Also a Buzzard in the area, a Kestrel and a Little Owl.

This pm at Coach Road- 3 Nuthatches; one looked to be clearing out a hole on tree trunk -maybe for a future nest hole ? 2 G S Peckers, a Treecreeper and a Kestrel as well.

Bradley Hall & Soil Hill

                            Two Yellowhammers at Bradley Hall this am.

                             18 Golden Plover Soil Hill this aft.

RINGSTONE

a 2hr. stnt in the hide today produced the following> c.160 b.h.gulls-75 common gulls- 71 canada's-     84 crow- 1 rook-22 starling- 1 heron- 1pr. mallard- 54 lapwing- 11 golden plover- 1 oystercatcher-  12 snipe..best for the year up there! farmer is muck spreading in north and west fields so that is attracting the birds!     

Mistle thrush in the Snow.......

 

Had this mistle thrush in the garden all week,its well on the look out for other thrushes and chases them off as soon as any turn up.1 song thrush ,8 Redwings,2 fieldfare and 7 different blackbirds have all been seen off,,,,

Ringstone and Barkisland

This afternoon at Ringstone
9 Common Snipe on the res'r edge - (scope job)
2 Goosander
1 Canada Goose
c80 B H Gulls
20 Common Gulls
37 Carrion Crows

Barkisland - Nr Bowers Mill
Kingfisher reported from yesterday on the mill pond
1 male Grey Wagtail
2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers making a racket! - probably pair bonding (or 2 males disputing terrritory?) but didn't get a clear view of them.
Rooks already nest building at the local colonies
1 Song Thrush

Scammonden Dam
I didn't get chance to get down there to check the res'r. We have had no reports of the Slavonian Grebe since Monday 4th February and was wondering if it could still be there? Has anyone had chance to check ?

Mixenden Res'r

Late morning
4 Goldeneye
3 Goosander
6 Canada Geese
120+ B H Gulls
20 Common Gulls
1 L B B Gull (adult)
c40 Jackdaws

Mankinholes and Lee Dam today

Mankinholes
Little Owl - 2 on wall by Pennine Bridleway
Mistle Thrush - 7
Starling - about 70 in same field as the thrushes

Lee Dam
Goosander - 8 (3 drakes)
Teal - 3 (1 drake)
Grey Heron - 1

7 of the 8 Goosander

More Waxwings

A flock of Waxwings dropped on to the cotoeaster bush in the garden this morning; initially there appeared to be 20, but when they quickly flew up to a neighbour's tv aerial, there were 28.
Possibly the same flock seen near Kershaw's garden centre, Brighouse -less than a mile away ?

Other news today

100+ Pink-footed Geese west over Cromwell Bottom at around 11.50 (BH)

30 Waxwings in a garden down the road from Kershaw's Garden Centre at Brighouse around 12 ish (Tracy C via BS) but no further reports from the ones at Copley Grove which were last reported on Thursday.

Also a very interesting record from Martyn H - a female Grey Wagtail feeding on the ground under his garden fat ball feeder on several occasions this week. Now that is a nice garden bird!

Withens Clough, 2pm

2 male goldeneye were displaying to 2 females very close to the shore - would have made a great photo, if I'd taken a camera.

Other birds were 1 goosander, 2 dipper and 1 raven.

Pink Feet

Approx 100 pinkies went South at 11.35am today over Mount Tabor.
Last week the female Sparrowhawk, which we see almost daily, took one of the two Mistle Thrushes that have been visiting regularly.  She hit it as it was feeding on the ground.  When mobbed by Crows she impressively carried it off over the fields towards Wainstalls.

Cromwell Botttom area

12 Herons were on the lakeside today (I can't remember a higher count), 10 Cormorants were on the ski ramp, and 4 male Tufties in the water.
The river held 5 Goosanders, and a Little Grebe was trilling (pretty early ?) from the reeds on the lagoon.
2 mink were also on the path near the lagoon - not an optimistic sighting.
As usual, the feeding station was full of Tits, Siskins, Redpolls and Bullfinches.

Copley

Thanks to Gordon - 25 Waxwings at Copley this afternoon about 1.30 pm around the Land-Rover garage along the main road. Might be worth a check tomorrow!

Mixenden Res'r

I found this large gull late morning at Mixenden and it conveniently landed on the buoy displacing an adult L B B Gull which was appreciably smaller. No scope!!! so dashed back for it and luckily the gull was still on the bouy when I got back. I managed to get a few digishots but it moved off, went high and drifted off >SE around 12.15.

First thing that struck me was its poise (very upright stance) and the shape of the bill leading straight to the sloping forehead, and particularly the long legs suggesting the possibility of Caspian Gull? It looks like a 1st winter bird? BUT I have not seen Caspian Gull before and would welcome comments. The other possibility is Gt B B Gull but I thought it looked too pale?

Mixenden Res'r

Just a quick look there early afternoon in a hail storm!
6 Goosander including 3 drakes displaying
4 Goldneye (2 drakes)
85 B H Gulls
14 Common Gulls
1 adult L B B Gull
1 male Sparrowhawk through the plantation
c40 Jackdaws feeding on the res'r embankment

Brearley Fields, Mytholmroyd

I went on to check out the gulls on the flooded fields this morning after Darrel's 'small gull' yesterday. Lots of B H Gulls on the flood, c300. All very mobile with dogs chasing about! Lots of gulls moving through both west and east. No big gulls just a few Common's.
3 Goosander on the river.

Scammonden Dam

Slavonian Grebe - Only negative reports from the site today so looks like its moved on, unfortunately. Unless its moved nearby and decides to re-appear? Well worth checking again this week!

Mytholmroyd

firstly whilst walking the dog this morning (09:10) i noticed a gull on the floods at Brearley Fields despite having no bins with me i noted the following in order.........

hovering and dipping feeding action very tern like
pale and clean looking under primaries
smaller than black headed gulls,very noticable size difference in flight
markings on the upperwing suggest it was a 1st winter

i saw it for about 5 minutes in flight never on the ground
unfortunatley on my return with my bins i was unable to find the gull, i checked out the sewage works but so far i have been unable to relocate what i think was a Bonapartes Gull

Pied Fly records

Made a start on the 2011 - 2012 bird report and Ive noted that I dont have any Pied Flycatcher records for 2012. If anyone had Pied Fly last year and hasnt subbmitted it could you please let me know.

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