22nd August

3 Shelducks at Ringstone puts 3 of us tied at the top with 133 species for the year so far. Nothing at Warland, Whiteholme and Fly Flats. 1 Redstart in the treeline at Roils Head and 1 dead Sparrowhawk in the middle of Mor End Road.

Fly Flatts

Afternoon visit - still the same conditions as this morning, rain and wind but 14 Common Scoters flew in at 15:30 (all drakes) and still there when I left at 16:20
1 Redshank also on the shoreline

 Common Scoters - all drakes

 Kestrel - male

Heather Moor

Lee Mount and Fly Flatts

Still 7 Swifts over Lee Mount this morning, the same number as yesterday evening.

Fly Flatts - very windy conditions and sideways rain late morning
No waders
16 Swallows high over the moor >N
8 Canada Geese
3 Kestrel
3+ Wheatears but there were probably a lot more hiding away

Swales Moor

First thing on Vis Mig - not a lot moving, the most notable being Swallows totalling 58 in small groups and all heading up the western side of Shibden Valley  and then over the top >N
1 Whitethroat right on the top was unexpected at that elevation but obviously an overnight arrival
2 Stock Doves
40+ Linnet
30+ Goldfinch
1 Kestrel

Ringstone

Ringstone this morning

Drake Common Scoter
Kestrel 2
Cormorant
G C Grebe 3
Lapwing C70
B H Gull  C50
Common Gull
LBB Gull 6

20th August

2 hours spent at Mount Tabor watch point proved fruitless so checked out Roils Head and found 2 Redstarts in the northern shelter belt.Also a flock of 200 Linnets at Highroad Wll Moor.

Fly Flatts

Late morning
1 Common Sandpiper
2 L B B Gulls
6 B H gulls
8 Canada Geese
200+ Swallows and 20+ House martins - they were all over the place ! but no Swifts up there.
25 + Wheatear
5 Kestrels

Hunter Hill

My first day on Vis Mig from the watchpoint for 2 hrs this morning
Meadow Pipit 36 >SW
Swallow 45 movers >S but 200+ in the valley and feeding over the moors could not be classed as genuine movers !
2 goups of Swifts very high - 44 >S
1 Grey Heron >N
5 Mallard >S
2 Mistle Thrush >N
3 L B B Gulls >N

Other birds nearby
9 Curlew on the golf course
1 Whinchat by the quarry
17 Greenfinch
30+ Goldfinch on thistles
2 Stock Dove
11 Woodpigeons
20+ House Martins
1 Pheasant
45 Jackdaws
32 Carrion Crows
2 Magpie
1 Willow Warbler in Slaughter gap along with 2 Blue Tits and a Chaffinch

Fly Flatts

Late afternoon visit - still lots of shoreline but not a sign of any waders !
7+ Kestrels - they seem to have had a really good breeding season.
20+ Wheatears
1 Swallow
1 Red Grouse
1 Common Gull
2 L B B gulls
1 B H gull
2 Meadow Pipits
9 Canada Geese - the rest have disappeared !
Still no Twite
'distant guns' on the moors to the north !

Lee Mount and Swales Moor

Lee Mount
2 single Swifts through this morning >NW
1 Sparrowhawk across lunch-time

Swales Moor - late morning for an hour but no visible movement
4 Grey Partridge
30+ Swallows
2 + House Martins
30+ Linnet
30+ Goldfinch
1 Kestrel
Pair of Little Owls

Withens clough

Quiet this evening

Stonechat 2

Swallow 3

Chiffchaff 1

Goldfinch 1

Mallard 1

Meadow pipit 5

Grey wagtail 2

Chaffinch 4

Coal tit 2

Crimsworth Dean

Buzzard calling and flying up and down the dean this aft', with two swifts heading south also.

Chris

Birding Frontiers new book - Challenge Series

If anyone is interested in Martin Garner's latest book I shall be returning west this weekend for Colne Blues Festival and can bring copies with me. For further details see
http://birdingfrontiers.com/new-challenge-series-book/

Price is £14.99, superb value for what is, in my opinion the best cutting edge ID book currently available.

Sparrows by the squadron

I've been trying to coax House Sparrows into my garden for a few years. They've been nearby a long time, but totally absent from my garden.
Last year I got a pair occasionally, and this spring they were here again, the male picking up grass stalks.
Last week I had 12 all together and today at least 14. Some of them are obviously juvenile males so I guess most of them are birds of the year.
I let the garden go a bit and ignored the dandelions last year, and saw the pair eating the seeds from the heads before they were ripe.
I've also seen them eating young  dandelion leaves here and in West Central Halifax.
The foods they are coming for now are white bread crumbs from the breadboard and dry porridge oats, until I get stocked up on proper stuff.
I put the food out and they will have sometimes appeared before I get back to the window. They're very flighty, though.
I think they're also attracted by a neighbour's fat feeder.

There was another  flock of 25 - 30 at Barkisland today.

Withens clough

Nice to meet Fran up hear

Whinchat 1

Green woodpecker 1

Swallow 4

Goldfinch 2 

Stonechat 1

Pheasant 1 

Lbb gull 1 

Bird Reports 2011/2012

The Go Local shop at Woodlesford, Moor End Road has temporarily sold out of the reports till Nick gets some more there in next day or so.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the Bird Group by buying the reports recently.

Roils Head this afternoon - redstart, Whinchat, Whitethroat and Willow w's.

16th August

Fly Flats, 2 Wheatears, 2 LBBGs. Walshaw Dean, 1 Whinchat, 4 Kestrels, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Swifts. Whiteholme, 3 drake Common Scoters, 1 Wheatear, Warland, 2 Dunlins, 2 Common Sand Pipers, Ringstone, 1 GC Grebe, 4 LBBGs, ASDA 50+ House Sparrows

Withins clough

Not a lot about this morning in the strong winds

Common sandpiper 1

Mallard 1

Kestrel 1

Pied wagtail 4

Meadow pipit 8

Meadow Pipits

Lots of Meadow Pipits on the move yesterday and this morning, coming down the fields and onto the wall at the back of the house before flying off West.

Mytholmroyd

This evening whilst sat in the garden

Swift 1

House Martin 11

Swallow 34

Grey wagtail 1

Jay 1

Chiffchaff 2 

Withens clough

Lesser black backed gull 12

Kestrel 1

Pheasant 1

Swallow 7

Goldfinch 15

Chiffchaff 1

Mallard 2

Canada goose 7

Coal tit 1 

Roils Head etc

After another soaking the rain stooped and I was able to locate 2 Redstarts at Roils Head this pm. One was a moulting adult male the other a first winter / female type. Also several Willow Warblers present and a Swift over. Nearby 2 Wheatears were at High Road Well Moor as were several gulls. A frustrating half hour was also spent trying to get views of an interesting pipit at Tower Hill but that one got away.

Withens clough

Less wind but more rain

Persistent rain this evening though some shoreline appearing 

1 swift

2 wheatears

4 stonechat

1 snipe

23 swallows

3 coal tit

1 blue tit

1 Goldcrest

1 chiffchaff

2 chaffinch 

1 grey wagtail

3 pied wagtails 

Lee Mount etc

6 Swifts first thing this morning but none since, maybe a few this evening.

Lane Head Lane, Upper Brockholes this afternoon - a female Redstart gave itself away calling from a fence post 150 m down the lane and seen again later in the gorze area on the right before the quarry.
Nothing found on the golf course though lots of Swallows in the valley with a few House Martins.

Little Owl and Curlews

Little Owl at Soyland. Adult female I think.
Had been out on moors with Matt the Herpetologist of Littleborough as I had a report of a snake from a mountain biking friend. Needless to say we were unlucky. It was a bit too cool and breezy. If anyone hears reports of snakes especially, but lizards also, please pass them on to the email on Calderdale-wildlife.blogspot. Please keep locations of snake sightings off the public blogs as some people have an irrational fear of them and still kill them.
Also you can reach Matt on his well-illustrated blog - The European Amphibian and Reptile Blog.
He is a keen birder and general naturalist.

No other birds on or over the moor except a few Meadow Pipits and one Skylark regrowing moulted wing feathers.

Later in the day at Ogden there were six curlews feeding on a tee at the golf course.

Withens clough

Still windy but a few a birds about

Wheatear 1 on the edge of the res

Swallow 3

Goldfinch 7

Meadow pipit 6

Wren 2

Pied wagtail 1

Grey wagtail 1

Had a look around the plantation

1 Green woodpecker

1 blackbird

2 chaffinch

3 coal tits

1 great tit

2 blue tits

Fly Flatts

The wind was still blowing this morning but not as strong as yesterday though there were still some showers moving through from the west.
1 Dunlin
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Curlew
20+ Wheatears
2 L B B Gulls
2 B H Gulls
1 Swallow and 2 Linnets >NE
Guns still blasting away in the moors to the NW. !

Lee Mount

1 Swift and 1 Sparrowhawk over this morning.

Withens clough

Windy and rainy this evening, no surprise very little about

13 swifts flew over the res heading sw 

1 green woodpecker on the fence near the plantation

3 swallows by the farm 

2 pied wagtails

3 Canada geese

Lee Mount

1 Swift this afternoon and 4 this evening but its getting difficult to find them now.
1 Sparrowhawk over this afternoon and 13 Mistle Thrushes >NW

Mixenden Res'r / Fly Flatts / Ogden

Poor conditions this morning with the driving wind and rain but there is always potentail for something being blown in !
Mixenden - 1 G C Grebe, 20+ Swallows, c10 House martins

Fly Flatts - 20+ Wheatears braving it out on the shoreline. 2 Kestrels, 2 L B B Gulls and 2 B H Gulls

Ogden - 3 Cormorants and a juv G C Grebe, 2 juv Grey Wagtails, 60 B H Gulls and 3 L B B Gulls and 1 Chiff-chaff calling. Blasting of guns on the moorland towards Thorton Moor .!

E-petition to Halt the Extinction of our Hen Harriers

If you haven'y already done so, please sign.


http://markavery.info/2014/06/02/epetition-ban-driven-grouse-shooting/

Ilkley Moor Protest

Following on from Hen Harrier Day, this article appeared in the T&A


http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/11401346.VIDEO__Ilkley_Moor_grouse_shooting_campaigners_stage_picnic_protest/

Please give these guys your support. It can only benefit our local wildlife.

Lee Mount

Still 4 Swifts about this evening

Sunny Vale (Shibden Valley)

From Mike St  this afternoon - a Green Sandpiper feeding both at the top end and half way down the lake, in the weeds and even on the vegetation in the middle of the water. I think this is our only second reported Green Sand sighting this year in Calderdale.

I went down there later but was unable to find it unless it had moved off downstream towards Brookfoot. (?) Though I was reminded by a gentleman that this is a private site and that I should use a footpath nearby (but you cant see the lake at all well from the official footpath)!
Lots of Moorhens there too, with around 15 counted and they too were walking on the floating vegetation in the middle of the lake.

Mike doesn't have the option of 'New Post'  on the dashboard - does anyone else have this same problem ?

Fly Flatts and Ogden

Fly Flatts - I shouldn't have bothered in that driving rain and wind ! Just 2 Kestrels sheltering behind a wall, 1 Canada Goose, 1 Lapwing, 1 B H Gull and 2 L B B Gulls.

Ogden
2 Cormorant
1 juv G C Grebe
90 B H Gulls
3 Common Gulls
1 L B B Gull
1 Curlew high >W
6 Swifts over Ogden Clough
40+ Swallows and a few House Martins feeding behind the eastern side of the plantation
1 Chiff-chaff
1 Kestrel
1 juvenile Grey Heron on the embankment below the res'r

Hen Harrier Day - in pics

570 people getting pretty wet at the Hen Harrier event at Derwent Reservoir, Derbyshire. A few folk from Calderdale were amongst the throng protesting against the persecution of an iconic species that should be plentiful on our uplands.

Pics from Steve Downing

Hen Harrier Day 2014

Over 500 people braved the torrential downpour to protest against Hen Harrier persecution by the grouse shooting fraternity at Derwent Reservoir today, Thanks to Mark Avery and Chris Packham for leading the event and a big "Well done!" to those brave enough, and committed enough to weather the deluge. I did wonder if my kit would survive the drenching, but somehow I managed to get some useable material.

Whiteholme & Withens clough

Bleak at whiteholme this afternoon

Wheatear 8 in the sw corner

Teal 2

Kestrel 1

Meadow pipit 2

Withens clough

Swift 1

Swallow 32

House Martin 3

Reed bunting 1

Stonechat 4

Meadow pipit 43

Willow warbler 1

Good to get out 

Stodfold and Hunter Hill

This afternoon, curtailed with heavy rain.
1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Tawny Owl in Slaughter Gap along with 2 Willow Warblers and despite the rain - 3 Meadow Browns and a Small Tortoiseshell along the shelter of a wall.
c 25 Meadow Pipits near Withens Road.
Plenty of Swallows around on Hunter Hilll and Stodfold and just before the heavy rain started I counted 47 Swifts high >North
1 G C Grebe on Mixenden Res'r

I gather the 3 Common Scoters from yesterday at Ogden have moved on. See Brian's blog (West Yorkshire Birding) from yesterday in an unusual underwing plumage of one of the scoters in flight. I guess BS will be updating with an explanation. !

Ogden

3 Common Scoters and 3 Great Crested Grebe (2 juvs) mid morning - and still there late afternoon KM, NK, DP, BS  et al. Also 3 Cormorants later.

Swales Moor etc

I gave it an hour late afternoon but not a lot doing up there yet.
The Linnet flock is starting to grow with 30+ on the many weedy areas so that could be a good sign for winter !!
2 Kestrels with 1 displaying - flying about just like a Merlin so had to check it carefully.
c10 Meadow Pipits
1 Swift
2 House Martins
A few Swallows
1 Stock Dove

Lee Mount
Just 3 Swifts this morning went through about 11 am

Booth Wood Res'r
10 Cormorants there this afternoon

Ringstone and Fly Flatts etc

Last few days
A Hobby passed through Ringstone on Wednesday evening (JB) but not a sign of any migrant waders. From the observations of several local birders regularly at local sites - where are they ?
JB also commented, raising a question if wader passage through our upland reservoirs is a thing of the past ?? Plenty of shoreline at Ringstone and Fly Flatts for the last few weeks but a poor showing so far. I guess we hope for an improvement very soon.

Spring passage was not good this year mainly perhaps because most of our reservoirs were full to overflowing but this autumn is quite different with the long dry spell leaving bags of potential for waders.

The last good year was in 2011 when spring passage for waders at Fly Flatts was really good.

It would be good for a round up of the state of other reservoirs in our area as to there potential this year for some decent wader passage.?

Fly Flatts Res'r earlier this week

Walshaw Plantation

From Pete G yesterday - in Walshaw plantation an amazing spectacle !

Pete was checking the gap between the pine and fir trees and made  perfect timing by catching up with a large movement of Coal Tits heading through, with between 120 to 150 birds streaming through the gap along with a few Goldcrests and Willow Warblers.
An unprecedented count I guess. Nice one Pete.

Various today

3 Swifts still flying around screaming around the nesting area near Rye Lane this morning.

It was good to see Jeff and Linda as well this morning, they stopped - instead of driving past!!! Nice one, and what a surprise with a big raptor nearby as we were chatting - a Marsh Harrier. I don't think we could believe it could we Jeff ?

 

Hope you got tthe shopping done without further distraction! The bird moved on high to the north about 10:30. A very dark bird with a cream crown but no markings on the wing.



Lee Mount

Down to 10 Swifts tonight along with 2 House Martins >SE and 2 Swallows >S

Fly Flatts

Common Scoter

A drake Common Scoter this morning at 09:00 (1st summer bird by the look of it). It was feeding in the shallows along the embankment at one time and  then left >N at around 10:30
1 Barnacle Goose still there with c40 Canada Geese as well
1 Common Sandpiper
18 Lapwings
5 Wheatears
A few Meadow Pipits
2 juvenile Kestrels in the rocks sheltering from the rain
15 Red Grouse

Plenty of shoreline to tempt some migrant waders in the next few weeks, hopefully.
No hirundines or Swifts moving this morning and still not a sign of any Twite at the feeding station !

Other news

A Redstart showing yesterday along the  shelter belt at Roils Head playing fields (NCD)

Several reports of Willow Warblers on the move in the last few days - always a good one to watch out for in shrubberies and gardens especially first thing in the morning.

Nothing doing at Whiteholme Res'r today (PGr) but a good number of House Martins feeding at Baitings Res'r below the dam wall and lots of Swallows there and also at Withens Clough with an occasional Sand Martin in the mix of hirundines.

Lee Mount and Ploughcroft

A poor showing the last few days over Lee Mount now the Swifts are heading south. These are one of our first summer visitors to head back towards Africa even though they are one of the last migrants to arrive! A maximum of 5 since Saturday, that's all.

However it was a nice surprise to check the gap in the hill at Ploughcroft by the ski slope at around 10:30 today - there were 50+ Swifts feeding voraciously - but they had moved on by lunch time.

Also this morning, an adult Hobby over Lee Mount circling on thermals around 10.25 and drifting >SE

Young 'uns - Jumble Hole

Two adult whitethroat are still feeding 3 young in front of the house and around the garden. A chiffchaff is feeding unseen young in a nest in a dense hedge nearby.
A green woodpecker was feeding a juv on a telegraph pole, again in front of the house. Two young tawnys can be heard in the evenings.

Withens clough

Mixed weather up here today struggled to find anybirds but a good walk from the carpark to stoodley pike and back via Sunderland pasture 

Dunlin 1

Swift 26 

Swallow 4

House Martin 2

Kestrel 1 

Lots of butterflies on the moor, all in all a good walk even the dog had to cool down tea at the Robin Hood rounded off a good day

Birders Against Wildlife Crime

Some interesting initiatives going on here

http://birdersagainst.org/

Check out the Hen Harrier Day stuff.

Swales Moor

I had an hour up there late afternoon but it was windy W F4 on the top
1 Skylark
1 Wheatear
c15 Meadow Pipits and some still feeding young
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
10+ Linnets
6+ Goldfinch
2 Stock Doves
1 House Martin along with c20 Swallows and 10+ Swifts >N
usual corvids

Ogden

We checked the res'r and plantation briefly this morning but didn't find a lot
A few Willow Warblers and a Chiff-Chaff calling
At least 2 juv Song Thrushes just out of the nest by the look of it
2 Cormorants
2 Meadow Pipits still feeding young near the 'Giants Tooth'
Nothing odd among the  60 B H Gulls, c12 Common Gulls and 3 LB B Gulls

Withens clough

Very windy even the swifts struggled. Lots of birds in the bracken near the wood

5 whinchats

6 stonechats

4 reed bunting

3 swallows

2 swifts

1 linnet

25+ finches flew into Sunderland pasture 

Ringstone Res'r

Drake Common Scoter at Ringstone this morning plus a mass of birds - mainly gulls and corvids nearby where farmer is cutting fields.  SL and TM.

Swifts

This is the best I could get of 20 or so in the fading light tonight as the Swifts charged about screaming. There were about 40+ sprea about and are fantastic to watch - making the most of them before they head off in the next 2 weeks to Africa.

Tawny Owl - In Warehouse

This Tawny Owl has been in the warehouse at work at Holmfield for the last 2 days.  I have been assured that it has gone out but returned and the warehouse door is left open 6am - 10pm.  I was a bit disappointed because they had told me it was Barn Owl until I saw it.

Fly Flatts

A quick visit early evening, but no  waders of note.
1 Common Sandpiper
20 Lapwings
1 Barnacle Goose still with c60 Canada Geese
4 Kestrels - 3 hunting close together were probably siblings (?)
Unusual for this site were 100+ Woodpigeons on the moor - on the billbery bushes !

Ringstone

A Lesser Whitethroat seen there this morning (SL and TM) in the willows near the north shore from the road - a scope job though! I think this is the first 'Lesser' reported in Calderdale this year (?) Also a Common Whitethroat there as well.
Plenty of shoreline - lets hope it stays for some returning migrant waders.

Ringstone

A quick check on the way home this evening
3 L R Plovers (2 juveniles)
c20 Lapwings
6 L B  B Gulls
5 Common Gulls
25 B H Gulls
Not much else other than a good number of mainly juvenile Pied Wagtails coming in to roost

Fly Flatts

This afternoon with Nick D but there was very little about, though the amount of shoreline is extending, which is looking good for some returning waders.
Unfortunately a probable Godwit had gone from this morning (NK)
1 Wheatear
4+ Common Sandpipers
c20 Lapwings
1 juvenile Curlew
c4 Kestrels
3 L B B Gulls
2 B H Gulls

Reminder !

Geoff Smith from the bird group will be down at Cromwell Bottom, bird feeding station or if raining in the car park, between 11am and 12 noon this Saturday 26th July if anyone would like to purchase a combined 2011/2012 report from him.£6.50 per copy (please have the correct change if possible) - a good interesting and informative reference.
Cash preferred OR a cheque made payable to C B C G (Calderdale Bird Conservation Group)

Lee Mount and Wheatley Valley

What sounded like a juvenile Tawny Owl was calling in Shroggs Park at 9:30 this evening. Later on towards 11 pm a male was singing in Wheatley Valley with the sound carrying a long way on the still evening. Great to hear them setting up / claiming territory.

Ogden

No sign of the Yellow-legged Herring Gull this morning and the female Common Scoter though still present yesterday evening, had gone as well. Just a Cormorant there today.

Nearby at Upper Brockholes the white (not albino) Carrion Crow is still around after ? how many years??

Bird Reort update

The 2011 -12 bird report is now also available at Flying Saucers Hebden Bridge price £6.50.

Grapevine

Grapeviners !!! Please text me if you haven't received any texts in the last few days just in case I have got your number wrong in the new phone - like I did with BS (oops sorry Bri.)

Just a reminder that Brian Sumner is now sharing the texting with me so you can ring or send messages to both myself or Brian for sending out.

Thanks to everyone so far for the Grapevine funds received
Dave

Fly Flatts

Called at Hebden Bridge with Nick D this afternoon to drop off some Bird Reports for Matt at 'Flying Saucers' near the cinema. If anyone wants a report then call in (£6.50 per copy which is a 2 year report for 2011 and 2012 and well worth a read.

We called then at Fly Flatts but there were no migrant waders there yet though plenty shoreline showing.
1 Sand Martin >E
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Redshank
A few Lapwings
Canada's are down to about 100 now the moult is over and many have moved on
1 Wheatear
1 L B B Gull
At least 3 Kestrels

Ogden

This morning I had a short walk up from the golf course to the Res'r and back. Though I hadn't planned on checking the Res'r until the number of butterflies spurred me on!
I'm glad it did check as a Yellow-legged Herring Gull was on the buoy until a Cormorant moved it on. Then I lost the gull so maybe it headed off towards Thornton Moor Res'r.
Also another bonus with a female Common Scoter out in the middle.

Yellow-legged Gull

Cormorant

No time for a woodland check though I did find a female Blackcap and a juvenile Whitethroat near the golf course.
16 Mistle Thrush were feeding in billberry bushes with around 30 Woodpigeons.

Butterflies were amazing with c30 Common Blues in one area, a Comma, several Ringlets, Meadow Browns and Small Skippers and Small T T'shell and Small Heaths as well as G V and Small Whites.
Very enjoyable and rewarding walk.

Other news

Can't catch up this week on the blog - just a few bits and pieces from the last few days.

Little Egret at Cromwell Bottom last Saturday 19th July (AW et al) - we dont get many of these locally though there are plenty in the country. Always a nice bird to find.

Ringstone Res'r - 7 Cormorants and c100 Lapwings on Monday evening 21st July

Norland Moor (Tuesday 22nd) - it was really good to have a wander round this site with Allan, a former very good school friend especially as we had not met up or been in contact since around 1962/63 or thereabouts, so we had a bit of catching up to do !
Not a lot on the moor in the heat of the day though the habitat is wonderful and it was good to see butterflys on the wing.
A few Meadow Pipits
1 Willow Warbler
2 Linnet
A few Swallows around as well

Ovenden Moor doing a butterfly survey (Tuesday 22nd)
1 Lapwing near the wind farm with a large (nearly flying) chick
1 Reed Bunting
1 Kestrel
1 juvenile Wheatear

Luddenden Dean today
1 Peregrine over this afternoon heading >S mobbed by 2 juvenile Kestrels

Lee Mount
A really good gathering of Swifts the last 2 evenings between 8 and 9 pm with up to 50 birds - fantastic to watch as they swarmed around screaming and chasing about. I guess there are a good number of juveniles with them making all the noise. Is anyone else getting concentrations like this in the evenings ?

Bird Reports

Geoff Smith from the bird group will be down at Cromwell Bottom, bird feeding station or if raining in the car park, between 11am and 12 noon this Saturday 26th July if anyone would like to purchase a combined 2011/2012 report from him.
£6.50 per copy (please have the correct change if possible) - a good interesting and informative reference.
Cash preferred OR a cheque made payable to C B C G (Calderdale Bird Conservation Group)

Unfotunately no-one purchased any last Sunday morning so we hope for more luck this time round. Many thanks to Geoff.

Osprey - Jumble Hole

Finally saw a long anticipated osprey past Jumble Hole at 10:43am. I initially saw the large winged bird from my bedroom window, flying at a reasonably low level (below Stoodley Pike) east towards the edge of Erringden Moor. My first thought was that it was most likely one of the large gulls that have been on the move down the valley in the passed few days, but I quickly realised that wasn't the case.

I then did the familiar "WHERE'S MY BINS?!!!!" and ran outside to catch up with it passing opposite the house, still at a low level. Osprey! Its flight was purposeful, doing that slight 'swimming action', in fact it never glided in the c.2 minutes I was watching it. As it reached Hebden Bridge, it turned slightly left up towards the Robin Hood at Pecket Well, then on towards Cock Hill/ Fly Flatts?

Magic.

Mytholmroyd

4 ravens over the house at around 8 o clock heading towards cragg vale also a Sparrowhawk earlier and the first chiffchaff in the garden

Booth Wood Res'r

As we were passing early evening 13 Cormorants were there roosting but they had all gone except one an hour and a half later.

Fly Flatts

I gave it a try this afternoon thinking the conditions might not be favourable in that strong Easterly. It was unusually calm given the protection of Ovenden Moor and Nab Hill though the surrounding moorland was misty. so not good for 'scanning'
1 Barnacle Goose still there, though it can be elusive hidden away in the juncus an the east side of the res'r
c100 Canada Geese (mainly those with juveniles) - the rest have moved on
c40 Lapwings resting on the shoreline banking
Lots of mipits about
2 Redshank
1+ Common Sandpiper
1 adult Herrring Gull and 6 L B B Gulls >NE towards Thornton Moor Res'r
No Swifts or Hirundines this afternoon

Lee Mount

Just had a flock of around 70 gulls circling over Shroggs Park at 7pm - all fly catching fairly high up.
Mostly Black- headed Gulls with around 3+ Common Gulls and c6 L B B Gulls. I got the bins on them to check for a Med Gull - just about the right time for them. No luck this time!
Max of 6 Swifts today, that's all.

Calderdale Bird Reports

Geoff Smith from the bird group will be down at Cromwell Bottom, bird feeding station or if raining in the car park, between 11am and 12 noon this Sunday 20th July if anyone would like to purchase a combined 2011/2012 report from him.

£6.50 per copy (please have the correct change if possible) - a good interesting and informative reference.
Cash preferred OR a cheque made payable to C B C G (Calderdale Bird Conservation Group)

Well done to Nick D for collating the records and putting it together so well. Thanks to Geoff for making these available on site (unless it's pouring down !.)

15th July

Me and DF finaly caught up with a Hobby last night, putting us both on 131 for the year same has DJS.

Various

We set off from Mixenden Res'r, over Hunter Hill to Fly Flatts then along the catchwater drain to High Brown Knoll and over Limers Gate to Crimsworth Dean and back to Hebden Bridge - a fair walk, but it was perfect conditions for walking though we had hardly any birds of real note.

Plenty of Swifts feeding high today all over the place along with a scattering of Swallows

1 female duck with 3 chicks on Mixenden Res'r looked perfect for a Shoveler (given the size and shape of the bill) but it didn't seem to add up - must get back there with the scope and for a photo - perhaps a hybrid ?
1 Moorhen there as well was a bit unusual along with a G C Grebe

Hunter Hill - c30 House Martins feeding over newly cut fieldsWithens Head - 2 juvenile WheatearFly Flatts - nothing out of the ordinary except for 1 juv Wheatear and a lingering Curlew

High Brown Knoll - 1 Red Grouse but little else - other than the spectacular scenery!

Crimsworth Dean - 1 Sparrowhawk was the only raptor seen all day and a Gt Spotted Woodpecker flyover

Ringstone Res'r this evening
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Ringed Plover
c40 Lapwings
25 B H Gulls
3 Common Gulls
7 L B B Gulls

Booth Wood Res'r
6 Cormorants

Fly Flatts

This afternoon the wind was quite strong >SW  with light rain threatening so I ended up scoping the res'r and the moor from the shelter of the car - which was quite productive !

168 Swifts >SW between 2 and 3 pm over Nab Hill towards Midgley Moor/Luddenden Dean. Some of the birds were very high and others skirting the moor but all travelling at speed - amazing birds to watch.
40+ Lapwings on the res'r banking
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Curlew
3 B H Gulls >SW
1 L B B Gull >W
c100 Canada Geese (I wonder where the other 200 went from last week!!?) though some were flying about so maybe they have moved on - lets see what the next few days brings
1 Barnacle Goose still there
2 Kestrels
1 male Stonechat

Ogden Common Scoter

             Distant shot of todays  Common Scoter, Ogden. Why do they always stay out in the middle?
BS.

Withens Clough and Staups Moor

Withens Clough: A tree pipit in semi-song was a pleasant surprise, having not seen one up here for a year or two.  Also, male stonechat, willow warbler contact calling in the bracken and several linnets. 
Staups Moor: Four grey partridge, a red grouse and a curlew further over towards the Cross Stones turning.

Regards, Chris

Common Scoters

This last week - unusually for sea ducks, they often turn up in our area in mid-summer so these are right on queue!
2 on Tuesday 8th July at Whiteholme Res'r near Blackstone Edge (PGr et al)
1 drake on Ogden Water this morning and still there at 17:00 (via BS)
1 also reported nearby at Leeshaw Res'r this morning (via BS)

Halifax Grapevine Subscribers.

DJS and myself  BS  have been working on a back up for the Halifax grapevine with the hopefully busy season approaching and DJSs holidays etc so as from tomorrow, Sunday 13th I will be backing Dave when he is not available or in an area with no signal, as happened the other day with the Gt Northern Diver when Dave was down Luddenden Dean with no communication.
The system will work just the same texting DJS unless instructed by DJS to send reports to me or if you have difficulty getting hold of Dave use my number instead which is   07771 705 024.
I have now all the subscribers numbers on my phone so the word will get round just the same.
Any sightings from myself will be sent to you all from my phone so don,t wonder where its come from.

We,ve had a load on numbers to re write and pass on between us so if you think you,re not getting texted let Dave or me know and we,ll sort it.  
Subscriptions, memberships etc is still in the hands of DJS and he will pass on new members or drop outs to me.
Brian Sumner,   BS

12th July

A walk along Cstle Carr Road produced a juvenile Redstart feeding in a garden was a bit of a surprise.

Fly Flatts

No sign of the G N Diver this afternoon.
It's worth checking other local reservoirs over this weekend, who knows it might be nearby. ?

Other news

These long daylight hours with fine weather are great for birding and outside jobs etc but not good for keeping up with the blog and record keeping. Oh and the World Cup to watch as well. So have spent this morning getting up to date with Bird Track records and other records !... though I'd rather be out.

A few juvenile Wheatears have been coming back to our area this week (1 at Whiteholme, and up to 3 together at Withens Head) though we don't seem to get any breeding records locally these days - if anyone does have some then please let myself or Nick D know.

No sign of any Twite at Fly Flatts feeding station this year yet though we are putting Nyger seed down in then hope of some autumn birds. It's a shame Yorkshire Water have closed off our usual route to the site after all these years!
A rapid and sad decline with Twite in this area in the last few years despite the efforts of the RSPB and local volunteers.

Very few sites with any shoreline for migrant waders at the moment though some mud now at Fly Flatts and Ringstone. Whiteholme, Lighthazzles and Withens Clough are all to the top and these used to be some of our best sites for waders.

Looking forward to some autumn migrants already !

If anyone gets chance , have a look at Daniels Blog - (there is a link on this site to Dishfish birding blog) - his comments and enthusiasm have encouraged me recently so it would be good for others to keep up with his progress. He is now at Spurn doing some wardening.

 Whiteholme

 Lighthazzles

Withens Clough Res'r, Cragg Vale

 

 
Fly Flatts (Warley Moor)

Golden Plover at Withens Head this week looks like a 'fading' Northern bird

Great Northen at Fly Flats yesterday

Swift

Yesterdays Swift at Pellon, returned to nest by DJS lets hope it gets away OK.

Binoculars

Does anyone have an opinion on either of these pairs of bins?

http://www.camerainthepost.com/Binoculars/Nikon/Nikon+Monarch+7+10x42+Binoculars.html

http://www.cameracentreuk.com/zeiss/zeiss-terra-ed-10x42-binoculars-blue-2526-298-3086.php

Fly Flatts

Great Northern Diver still there this morning 07:00 (Steve L) and still present this afternoon till at least 16:30.

Sandbeds

A first for Nick and me tonight with a young Swift in the hand - an amazingly beautiful bird.

Nick was passing the site where Swifts breed and some residents had a young Swift come out of the nest in the eaves a day or two early. Despite several attempts to get the bird airborne it just fluttered to the ground.

We thought, it's best back in the nest, so the owner borrowed a ladder and we got the juv back into what appeared to be the nest site. It scrambled in screeching, with a dozen or so adult birds flying around the site. Hopefully it will be out safely next time and flying soon.

Once out it will hopefully feed up for a constant life on the wing, travel to Africa for 2 winters then back in 2 years before reaching breeding age - then it will land again!!!
Nick has taken some shots so we hope to get them on later.

Fly Flatts

A brilliant find this afternoon by NK with a Great Northern Diver on the res'r seen at around 12:50 at the Oxenhope end and still present at 17:00.

It looks like this could be the long staying bird from Sands Lane, Mirefield which, we hear, left that site >NNW earlier today.
Hopefully some better photo's to follow !

 

  

Fly Flatts

This afternoon  - looked like rain but itcame out with  nice warm sunshine
2 Dunlin (1 juvenile)
1 Little Ringed Plover flew off towards Cold Edge
4 Lapwing
c12 Common Sandpipers including 2 quite small juveniles just about flying
3 Redshank
300+ Canada Geese
2 Greylag Geese but couldn't find the Barnacle Goose today but its probably still there
2 Kestrel
c30 Swifts
1 L B B Gull over >NW
1 Red-legged Partridge with c8 very small chicks - nearly trod on one!
Some nice shorleine to hopefully draw in some migrant waders!

Put a load of seed down for the Twite but not a sign of any yet - just hope we can draw in a few this autumn.

Fledged birds, Jumble Hole

The whitethroat is still in full song in and around the garden, so I had though he hadn't found a mate. Then a newly fledged bird appeared over the weekend. So it obviously had, but was possibly advertising for another!
A green woodpecker was feeding one young on top of a telegraph pole this morning.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl hunting at 17.00 on Staups Moor today.

Booth Wood Res'r and Ringstone Res'r

Booth Wood this morning
3 Cormorant
1 Kestrel
1 Oystercatcher

Ringstone with DF early afternoon. A strong W wind made scoping tricky
At least 2 Little Ringed Plover
1 Ringed Plover
1+ Common Sandpiper
1 Dunlin
40+ Lapwing
1 G C Grebe
1 Tufted Duck drake
1 juv Grey Heron
Several gulls coming and going including 30+ B H Gulls, c12 Common Gulls and a L B B Gull
A lot of corvids in the fields after the slurry tank spreading including a lot of Rooks there with juveniles.
3 Skylark
Goldfinch, Linnets and Pied Wagtails along with an occasional Swift, Swallow and a House Martin.
A Common Buzzard over but distant

Ringstone

Tonight - though the wind was strong from >SW making scoping difficult
At least 2 Little Ringed Plovers and at least 1 Ringed Plover were present on the shoreline though there could have been  one or two more of either sp...?
Several Lapwings on the shore and a number of Pied Wagtails
2 Cormorant - 1 adult and one probably 1st summer
6 adult L B B Gulls including one with a very dark mantle - probably intermedius
2 Herring Gull types (possible Y L Gull/s) but they were hunckering down with heads tucked in so it was impossible to get positive identification. Also a few B H Gulls and one of this years juveniles.

Fly Flatts

This afternoon
2 Little Ringed Plover on the mud which is slowly increasing with the dry weather
8+ Common Sandpiper
4 Redshank
4 Lapwings
1 Curlew heard on the moor
1 juvenile returning Wheatear along the top road
1 male Stonechat
Several Red Grouse
1 Kestrel
No sign of any gulls at all
Also it was good to meet up and have a chat with some BOG members BV and K and V M - such a lovely day up there today - and to make the most of it as it soon changes up there !!

Yesterday !

Ogden
Pair of G C Grebes
1 Commic Tern mid morning flew off >S ( BH )
1 Hobby also over near Ogden mid morning. (NK) and a Yellow-legged Gull at Fly Flatts late morning.

We did Fly Flatts mid afternoon - the Y L Gull had moved on unfortunately.
1 Barnacle Goose still there with 300+ Canada Geese
Usual waders around including c 12 Common Sandpipers and 1 large juv Redshank
1 Kestrel
1 Grey Wagtail
1 distant Common Buzzard
1 male Stonechat looking really good
Plenty of mipits still feeding young