Ogden etc

Whooper Swans

This is the best  I could get in the bright sunlight at Ogden this morning of 4 Whooper Swans - 2 adults and 2 juveniles after another 4 had left before we got there. Good to see NK again doing the rounds!
Also there were 7 Goosander (2 drakes) - they left  >N around 10:00 - looking fabulous in flight. We didnt find much else in or around the res'r and plantation.

At Ringstone Res'r from Steve L this morning 6 adult Whoopers were there around 10:30 though they had gone when I passed later around 16:00.

From yesterday 1 drake Goldeneye was still at Withens Clough Res'r mid-day from Nigel G and another drake at Mixenden Res'r today from PeteS.

Ogden Water

Eight whooper swans on the water at first light this morning

Swales Moor

This morning - I thought maybe a bunting now the weather is colder with a brisk northerly and clear skies. Nothing doing up there just a single Skylark and a dozen mipits on the top.
A Kestrel and a few Chaffinch at the top of Ploughcroft and 3 Stock Doves.
5 Herring Gulls >W

Lee Mount

A Mistle Thrush singing full belt across mid-day today in St George's Church graveyard. Also c20 Redwings there feeding in Holly bushes and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers nearby.

Mixenden Res'r and Ogden

I ventured out again this morning in the drizzle and fog not expecting a lot but was rewarded at Mixenden Res'r with a drake Common Scoter.

Drake Common Scoter

Also present 1 Little Grebe

Nearby 22 Canada Geese, 1 Barnacle Goose and a Greylag Goose

c70 Jackdaws

1 Grey Wagtail

c160 B H Gulls, 12 Common Gulls and a juv L B B Gull on the res'r

 

Ogden - the fog was even worse though I did manage to find a Little Grebe which looked to be catching plenty of small fish.

c20 Chaffinch

2 Bullfinch

8+ Coal Tits

c60 B H Gulls and 6 Common Gulls
AND a male Mistle Thrush singing alreday !





Swales Moor

I did venture out this afternoon in the fog and gloom, hope it clears up soon !!
Just 2 Meadow Pipits on the top along with a single Fieldfare and that was it as the fog closed in.

No other news today other than 5 Tree Sparrows at Northowram from AC and that is good news.

Withens Clough etc

A report from Nigel G of a male and female Goldeneye at Withens Clough yesterday midday. Possibly a second male there too. Also 2 Tufted duck ( one male one female). 

And from Mike St.  this morning a Merlin through Colnebridge just in our area flew right over his head!

Today

Not much reported so far today but a female Goldeneye is, as far as I know, only the second for Calderdale this back end again at Ringstone this morning from Steve L.

From Mike St at Clifton this p.m. Juv Mute Swan, a male Tufty, a Goldcrest, and a Kingfisher on the river. Always good to find a Mute Swan in our area these days !

Lumbutts, Tuesday

A quick look at what used to be my regular patch, taking advantage of the sunny weather.

Lee Dam

A Kingfisher on the top dam was a very pleasant surprise. I think this is the first one I have seen here, even though it always seemed a promising habitat.

Otherwise, it was rather quiet: one Moorhen on the lower dam, a flock of Canada Geese in the field to the east and a few Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Long-tailed Tits heard.

Longfield Dam

Rather sad to see this is now wired (although at least Lee Dam isn't), and totally devoid of wildfowl on this occasion.

Over the road, at least eight Lapwing feeding, along with at least one Rook and Starling - there may have been more of these hidden in the dip of the pasture, I suspect. There was also a flock of about thirty Black-headed Gulls further west in a field at the point the road bends right, and about twenty Canada Geese grazing near the riding stables.

Today

From (PG) Baitings Res'r today - 2 Kingfishers at this site was a very good find at this moorland location. They are usually lower down the valley

A pair of Wigeon at Ringstone today from (SL) and a buzzard sp. nearby mid morning (MH)

The Chaffinch flock at Ogden included a Lesser Redpoll today but no sign of yesterdays Bramblings (NK) though they could still be around.

Lee Mount etc

This morning - I amazed myself with an estimate of 150 Pink-footed Geese over >SE at 08:20. I got a photo on the phone and just had a count up.... 148 !
On past guestimates I usually over estimate but was more than pleased to get close today. It's not easy to count pinkies when they are on the move and changing position as they go. Lapwings are even more difficult !!!

I had a look out at some local sites with Alan T early afternoon. We checked Derby Delph for Twite but nothing doing there, though some were still about last week. 10 Herring Gulls (2 adults) >W returned >E a few minutes later !.We then checked below the res'r embankment at Booth Wood and found a Kestrel and a few Bullfinch but not a lot else. We were very surprised by a drone overhead, with camera lenses showing, for several minutes wondering if it was watching 'birders' for suspicious activities (as if) but we decided it was probably YW checking the dam wall. !
Nothing doing at Ringstone other than a number of B H Gulls and a few Common Gulls.

Tree Sparrows

There have been between 5 and 8 Tree Sparrows in Northowram this weekend visiting my garden and the area/gardens  around the two Cricket Pitches...It was an area in the past that was a regular breeding site ( at least 12 years ago) , so lets keep our fingers crossed that they hang around till the spring..

Mute swan

Mute swan is still on the canal at Hebden Bridge, but has moved from Stubbings down to Hebble End, down near the Alternative Technology Centre.

Pink Feet - Luddendedn Dean

I estimate around 90 went SW over Ludd Dean at 14.30ish.  They were flying in very neat formation.  I'm sure a few others got them and might show my number estimate up as I had no bins!

Rough Leg ?

DFs distant shot of a Buzzard species at Ringstone Edge yesterday. Looks good for RL Buzzard, any thoughts?

Swales Moor, Soil Hill and Ogden

A couple of hours out this morning to check the local sights
Swales Moor - 9 Linnet, 1 Skylark and 3 Meadow Pipits on the top but no sign of the recent Twite.

Soil Hill - pretty dead, just 3 Grey Partridge and a Pied Wagtail

Ogden - a stunning drake Wigeon on the reservoir along with c60 B H Gulls and c30 Common Gulls with 3 adult Herring Gulls pondering through >SW and 2 Raven >E very high.

Drake Wigeon

This is the best I could get across the reservoir!

Just one other report today so far with a drake Goosander on Ringstone Reservoir (AT). There don't seem to be many about yet and there is a distinct lack of Goldeneye reported (we have only had one autumn record and that was a female type at Ringstone on 5th  November). They usually arrive in mid to late October and stay in small numbers on the local reservoirs throughout the winter.

Fly Flatts and Soil Hill etc

Fly Flatts
It was hard to find anything up there though 46 Mallard on the res'r is a decent count for this site.
2 Kestrels, 4 B H Gulls and some Red Grouse and that was it, not even a corvid!

Soil Hill
I guess NK will have checked earlier but I gave it a try mid afternoon, always in the hope of a 'gem' !
3 Grey Partridge along the Ned Hill track and just a single Skylark on the top
50+ Common Gulls were together feeding in a field towards Ogden

Also a report from Steve L this morning of 2 drake Mandarin on Bowers Mill pond near Barkisland

Various

From Mike Stead yesterday, unable to post on the blog - recent sightings

I came across a cracking male Stonechat at Old Lindley (just in area) today, perched on a stone wall; it's not one of my usual areas, so that was a pleasing find.

At Kirklees Hall there are still one or two Yellowhammers about , and a  Buzzard nearby. 

38 Lapwings flew over as well, yesterday.

At Clifton Lagoon, Redwings and Blackbirds seem to have arrived in force - the bushes and trees are full of them.

And 'our' Pied Wagtail (one of two) that visited the garden all last winter popped up on the bird table last week !

Swales Moor and Oats Royd, Bradshaw

Late morning I got a report from Pete S about a distant flock of P f Geese >W seen from Shibden at 09:55

Swales Moor - just 2 Skylarks on the top and not much else in the fog

Oats Royd - I thought it might be worth checking just in case the Black Redstart from last week was still about. Looks like it's gone and just found a male Stonechat on the walls on the east side of the track near the bottom.

Out and about

Last couple of days I've visited several sites
From yesterday
Swales Moor - the solitary Twite was still there but it soon flushes ! Also 2 Skylarks, 20 mipits and 10 Linnets with c130 Fieldfare in the fields near Ploughcroft.
Soil Hill - 3 Grey Partridge, 2 Common Snipe, and 2 Reed Buntings
Mixenden Res'r - 4 Goosander
Ogden  - Back Lane - 8 Grey Partridge

Today
Cold Edge - 2 Stonechats, 4 Reed Buntings, 1 Cormorant, 1 Tufted Duck
Fly Flatts - 35 Mallard
Swales Moor - 2 Skylark, c20 Meadow Pipits
Pepper Hill/ Claremount - 3 Grey Partridge, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 1 Jay

Fly Flatts this morning

Warland

A report today from Pete Gr about a Shelduck at Warland this morning.
Nice one Pete hope you didnt get caught up there in that torrential downpour this morning !

Amazing re-encounter with a bird by a ringer - copied from email from BTO Demography Unit

4 NOVEMBER 2014

Ringer migration confirmed by a Blackcap

Back in September, we posted about the large numbers of Blackcaps that were moving through the central and western parts of the country. We were contacted recently with a fantastic story of a chance re-encounter between a member of the Brewood Ringing Group and one of these migrants.

Colin McShane writes:

Over the last 8 years I have been leading an Autumn ringing trip to the Parque Ambientale, in Vilamoura, Portugal with support from Vitor Encarnacao who heads up the Portuguese Ringing Scheme. Our trips have been successful on several levels and many British ringers have joined us over the years to expand their experience.

We have also controlled a number of birds from northern Europe, including Reed Warblers from Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden, and Bluethroats from France. On 06 October 2014 during this year’s trip, I extracted a male Blackcap from one of our standard mist nets and was very pleased, although not too surprised, to find that it was carrying a BTO ring. Back at the processing station, Dave Clifton (who has been an ever-present fixture on these trips) was doing his stint as the scribe. Having announced to the group what I had extracted, I began to process the bird - first reading out the ring number several times for accuracy.

Dave went quiet. He quickly got onto the phone to his wife, who checked in his ringing book back home. Hey Presto!! The bird was indeed one (of only two Blackcaps ringed at the site) he had ringed at Duckley Plantation, on the north shore of Blithfield Reservoir, Staffordshire on 11th September 2014 - only a few weeks before we had left for Portugal!!

Whooper swans - Todmorden

Seven whooper swans seen approx. 2.30pm this afternoon (Saturday) on the pond off Lumbutts Road.
Think 3 were juveniles.  The lady at the cattery had seen them some hours earlier circling the pond before landing.

Huge number of cars parked (fell race) at the side of Lumbutts road didn't seem to faze them

Testing, testing

I'm just testing to see that I'm posting correctly. 

I posted a sighting of 7 whooper swans on the pond off Lumbutts Road over a week ago but it hasn't made it's way to the reports page.

Can this note be shown on the thread page otherwise I need some tuition I'm afraid

Sandra
Walsden

Canal, Charlestown

No sign of the mute swan for a couple of days, but a kingfisher at Callis was a nice surprise.

Swales Moor

Poor day today with constant rain this morning and not brightening up much so got a few jobs done at home !!!
I ventured up Swales late on for a bit of fresh air and it was a bonus to see a nice sunset.
1 Little Owl calling
4 Grey Partridge on the top
1 Kestrel
c80 Lapwings flying over the fields at Shelf Moor in the distance
Lots of corvids going to roost >E and a few Pied Wagtails heading over the top towards Halifax  - I guess to roost in the town centre.

Jumble Hole

A common buzzard flew low south over Jumble Hole at 3:15pm, and turned towards Hebden Bridge. It was moving pretty swiftly, as a corvid was giving it some stick.
Just 3 redpoll today, and 2 goldcrests. Green and GS woodpecker still very apparent at the moment, with the GS just started to re-visit the feeders after a summer break.

Swan, Hebden Bridge

A mute swan was reported by Paul Knights, having been told by a neighbour of his. It's on the canal by the Stubbing Wharf pub. It has a metal ring on its right leg (BTO?), and was still there this evening. Not a common bird in Calderdale! And it has been said before, probably statistically not our most 'common' swan either!

Other recent bits - a raven was over the house today, calling. Small flocks of 10-25 siskin are bouncing around Jumble Hole in recent days, feeding briefly but usually moving on quickly. 11 redpoll were at Callis Wood (opposite Jumble Hole) last Friday.

Bradshaw/Oats Royd and Swales Moor

Thanks to the help of NK this morning I was able to see the Black Redsart without any difficulty once I found the track down to Oats Royd from Bradshaw. A great bird thanks to John finding it yesterday. It was a bit too distant for photos but was showing well on the stone walls.
Also 3 Ravens over >NW
c50 Goldfinch nearby

Swales
1 Twite still present on the top
1 Skylark
c20 Meadow Pipits
And on the way down c20 Linnets

Bradshaw

A very good find near Bradshaw yesterday by John, with a Black Redstart on the walls on the track leading to Oats Royd. Some nice pictures on Bradshaw Birder blog. Hopefully it may stay around for a day or two?

Swales Moor

The single Twite was still there this morning but really elusive creeping about in the weeds
Not much else there other than c 20 Meadow Pipits and 2 Kestrels along with the usual glut of corvids.

Fly Flatts and Cold Edge

 Fly Flatts
28 Mallard
10 Teal
Red Grouse
2 Kestrels

Cold Edge
12 Canada Geese
30 Mallard
1 Tufted Duck
1 drake Wigeon
2 Kestrels
and a nice flyover with a Green Woodpecker

Swales Moor

No sign of the Twite today though dogs charging about on the top didn't help!
35 Fieldfare >NW with c20 Starlings
4 Reed Bunting on the top and c 40 mipits
2 Kestrels
2 Jays

Swales Moor and Soil Hill

The single Twite was still there this morning but can be very tricky to find skulking among the weeds on its own on the top.
1 Fieldfare also on the top along with a female Stonechat near the quarry and c30 Meadow Pipits, 4 Reed Buntings and 7 Linnets.
I ventured up Soil Hill but the rain and mist had set in so I didn't manage a proper check and in the conditions soon gave it up. c 20 mipits that was all.

Fly Flatts

After a call from Martyn H across lunchtime of 2 Whooper Swans on the res'r I called up later but they had gone. Not surprised either in those conditions with wind and driving rain !! I also checked Cold Edge Dams and Mixenden Res'r to see if they had moved on there but nothing doing.

Swales Moor

I had an hour up there this afternoon.
Hardly anything moving (late in the day I know) other than 5 Woodpigeons,  28 Fieldfares and 1 Redwing >NW and a Great Spotted Woodpecker >NE

c6 Meadow Pipits about but a bonus bird was a Twite on the top (unringed). I guess its a female/juvenile with no sign of any pink on the rump.
I thought afterwards - I go with Nyger seed for the Twite to Fly Flatts without success then find one this afternoon at Swales. Better start taking some Nyger seed up there !

Fly Flatts

This morning. How unusual to get a southerly wind that was so cold and blowing F4 to 5. At least it was dry with good visibility but nothing moving and birds were hard to find.
26 Mallard
1 Carrion Crow
1 Kestrel
2 B H Gulls
Plenty Red Grouse

I went round to check the Twite feeding station and put niger seed down probably for a final time? !! By the look of things they have gone from there. Not one Twite record there this year for me.  If anyone has please let me know.

Fly Flatts and Ringstone

Fly Flatts (still plenty shoreline)
1 winter plumage Dunlin on the shore
16 Mallard
1 Kestrel

Ringstone (no shoreline at all)
1 female type Goldeneye
6 mallard
1 Little Grebe

I also checked Buckstones area mid afternoon which is just out of our area but nothing doing !

Swales Moor

Movers >W between 08:20 and 10:00
493 Fieldfare
1,340 Woodpigeons
1 Redwing

Local birds on the top
6 Reed Buntings
15 Meadow Pipits
1 Jay
2 Pied Wagtail

Rough-legged Buzzards

Nice article and pictures here about Rough-legged Buzzard at Grindale (4 mile west of Bridlington)

http://birdingfrontiers.com/2014/11/04/rough-legged-buzzard-juvenile-at-grindale/

Swales Moor

A very decent move of Woodpigeons this morning during a 2 hr watch with a count of 4,279 >W
Other movers >W or >SW
c180 Pink-footed Geese
226 Fieldfare
35 Redwing
2 Song Thrush
2 Mistle Thrush
23 Starling
Plus a few others including >N or >NE
1 Jay, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 2 Ravens

Other birds on the top besides the corvids-
16 Meadow Pipits
1 Grey Wagtail
6 Reed Buntings

Jumble Hole

A short dog walk this afternoon produced over 25 different species. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but the highlight was a mixed feeding flock in birch trees that included c.30 redpoll, 2 siskin, 4 bullfinch, treecreeper and nuthatch. Small numbers of redwing were feeding up on berries.

Rough legged buzzard sighting, Hardcastle Crags 2nd Nov'.

I've just noticed on Birdguides that a RLB was reported at the Crags yesterday and was wondering if anyone had any more details.? After enjoying the RLB spectacle on Saddleworth Moor at weekend, I've become quite fixated with this species!

Regards, Chris

Swales Moor and Soil Hill

Swales
1 male Stonechat on the top
2 Meadow Pipits
4 Red-legged Partridge

Soil Hill
After a report from NK of a Snow Bunting on the mounds this morning I gave it a try, but without success unfortunately. There is much more vegetation on the top after this last summer and not a lot of bare ground, making it more difficult to find anything.
c18 Meadow Pipits
1 Common Snipe
1 adult Herring Gull >W

Mixenden Stodfold yesterday - 2 Barnacle Geese there now, along with 5 Canadas

Also a report from PG of 10 Brambling in Withens Clough this morning

Before and after

Picked up a pellet last week, almost certainly that of a Long-eared Owl, it contained the remains of 2 Field Voles.

Richard's Pipit a first for Halifax

Richards Pipit at Tower Hill - High Road Well Moor, near Mount Tabor. Above Photos by DF.Hope JB will post any he got.

Two fantastic days birding

Two fantastic finds at the same site, unbelievable good fortune. First I found Halifaxs second ever Woodlark at Tower Hill, Norton Tower yesterday afternoon (last one 1953)Then today I returned with DF but no sign of the Woodlark, instead we flushed a pipit. We both thought it to be a very large pipit and alarm bells began to ring in my head. I think its a Richards I said to Dave and we rang it in to BS to put out on the grapevine. After a while longer we relocated the bird and heard it calling, also Dave got some record shots. We both believed it to be a Richards Pipit and when JB arrived with his super scope we confirmed it. First Record for Calderdale, photos of the pipit to follow. WHATS NEXT IN STORE???

WOODLARK

Woodlark found this afternoon by the manure pile at Norton tower,Tower hill.NCD
SE 053 261 Photos to follow.

Seen tonight

Between 3-5 long eared owls were watched tonight at an undisclosed location.

Also, on the way back up the lane at Jumble Hole, a large sika deer blocked the car! My camera phone was refusing to work, but I managed a shot just as it stepped to the side. Are there sika deer known to be around in the area?

Pink-footed Geese

c100 'pinks' >WNW over Lee Mount yesterday at 13:10 and another lot >W over Brighouse about 16:25 (DF)

Other news today

7 Whooper Swans >SE over Ringstone this morning from Steve L

I 'dipped' on the Green Sandpiper early afternoon and just found a few Goldcrests and a Siskin in the alders at Cromwell Bottom. AW had some Pink-footed Geese over there late afternoon > towards Halifax.

Fly Flatts was hard work this afternoon - 5 Teal and  1 Tufted Duck and that was it other than Kestrels about with at least 5 there today.

Cromwell Bottom LNR

Record shots of the Green Sandpiper and Water Rail at Cromwell Bottom tonight.

Withens Clough

Very little about in very strong winds.
3 tufted duck
Kestrel
16 goldfinch
8 meadow pipit
Stoat by the car park 

Ryburn Res

                Five Mandarin Ducks on the Res this morning.

18th October

Birding at Walshaw Dean when we recieved news of a Green Sandpiper at EGP, so we made a mad dash to Elland at the end of the day just in time to find the bird feeding on the lagoon. A bonus was a Water Rail found at the edge of the reeds at dusk. This puts DF on 145 for the year, not much hope for the rest of us now???

Rishworth and Ringstone

Other things to do today but called at Rishworth to see if the Twite were there first thing - 12  was not bad for me but 50 + were there near the res'r this afternoon (JD)

Ringstone - just 1 Little Grebe this afternoon. couldn't find anything else though someone was discharging a shotgun somewhere beyond the embankment.

Fly Flatts

Late morning
The Common Scoter from yesterday had gone but the female Scaup is still there. It can be tricky to find in the middle of the res'r if the water is 'choppy' as it spends a lot of time feeding under water. At one time it joined 3 Tufted Duck on the east shore.
5 Teal
14 Lapwing soon moved off when a Peregrine went over high >SW
2 Kestrel
30 Starlings >W

Withens
The 4 Stonechats from yesterday had moved a little way down and were located on the fence line just below the former Withens pub.

Hunter Hill

Vis Mig from 07:45 till 10:45 made for and interesting morning with lots of birds moving through.
Highlights moving  >S and >W
841 Redwing
21 Blackbird
3 Mistle Thrush
88 Fieldfare
644 Woodpigeon
135 Starling
122 Chaffinch
22 Greenfinch
7 Goldfinch
2 Reed Bunting
5 Skylark
2 Sparrowhawk
6 Jay
+ a few others

1 f Merlin >N
1 Cormorant >N

Also around the watchpoint
1 Ring Ouzel
1 Barnacle Goose at Stodfold
19 Canada Geese
3 Kestrels
1 Green Woodpecker

Fly Flatts and Withens Head

This afternoon a few thrushes were still on the move with 25 and 85 Fieldfare and c20 Redwings >NW over in the direction of Castle Carr

Also on the res'r a drake Common Scoter and the Scaup which has reappeared after a few days absence. Both were diving and feeding out in the middle of the res'r and also close to the embankment. Its a scope job from the top road !
5 Teal
5 Red Admiral
1 Kestrel
2 B H Gulls

Withens Head
4 Stonechats together on the broken low wall by the farm opposite the wind-farm car park along with c40 Meadow Pipits but no sign of any Wheatears - though it is getting a bit late for them !
1 Snipe
1 Kestrel
1 male Sparrowhawk over >SW

Swales Moor

Redwings galore late morning with 1,220 between 11:00 and 12:40 and that was when the fog started to lift. Earlier on groups were heading >W over Lee Mount but I didn't stay out to do a count then!
Also through Swales with the Redwings (mainly through the gap by the ski-slope). 49 Blackbirds, 1 Song Thrush, 37 Fieldfare and 17 Mistle Thrush. A great morning seeing all these migrants heading through generally >WNW and getting higher as the fog lifted.
2 Raven and a Sparrowhawk also went >S
2 Red Admirals

Redwings

Following huge numbers of redwing being reported over Oxenhope yesterday and today, there has been odd groups of 15-40 moving west over Jumble Hole on and off all day. At dusk, over 200 steadily filled up the hawthorns behind the Pennine Way.

BTO videos

There are some quite good videos on the BTO website worth having a look at if you are just starting or if you have been birding a long time. There are some especially good ones comparing tricky species. The most recent video is on Scoters.

Find the BTO home page then on the Kingfisher photo click on 'Learn about birds' this should take you to a selection of workshop videos.
Give it a try !

Mixenden and Ogden

This afternoon had enough being inside so ventured out in the drizzle and hill fog. Thought about heading up to Fly Flatts but that would have been a waste of time looking at the fog over Hunter Hill!

Mixenden Res'r
13 Redwing flyovers with nothing on the res'r - (Goldeneye any time ! )

Ogden
2 Wigeon
1 Little Grebe
1 Great Crested Grebe
c50 Mallard
The usual mix of B H and Common Gulls gradually heading off towards Thornton Moor Res'r included c15 L B B Gulls

Plenty of small birds about (in DS's and BS's passerine alley)!! with 6 Goldfinch , c20 Chaffinch , 3 Blackbirds, 16+ Great Tits, 10+ Goldcrest, 12+ Coal Tits, 12+ Blue Tit, 8 Robins, 2 Wren, 2 Dunnock, 1 Nuthatch and a Treecreeper bathing in a small stream 5 meters away was nice but could I get a photo because of dead branch in the way !
1 Sparrowhawk over
5 Siskin flyovers
c35 Redwings  over the car park >NW

Ogden Garden

A flock of circa one hundred redwings landed in the garden this morning. Very diffficult to be precise as to numbers as they were very active.

Sad news

Very sorry to have to report the death yesterday of Burnley birder Pete Grice (aka "The Guru") who finally succumbed to cancer after a long and typically very brave battle. Anyone who had the privilege of knowing him will feel this loss deeply, birding and life will never be the same again. RIP mate.

Fly Flatts, Mixenden, Ogden

Fly Flatts
No sign of the Scaup from yesterday
5 Teal
1 Red-legged Partridge calling
1 B H Gull
3 Canada Geese

I got a message via BS from HC at Oxenhope of 5 Whoopers flying into Calderdale around 10.20 so went to check to see if they had dropped in anywhere. No luck.
Mixenden
Nothing doing though the Barnacle Goose is nearby still with 18 Canada's at Stodfold

Ogden
3 flocks of Redwings skimming the plantation all>NW. 45, 12 and 25. More expected from the continent in the next day or two with these easterly winds.
1 Cormorant
1 G C Grebe
1 Little Grebe
1 Teal
1 Kestrel
1 Chiff-chaff with a small flock of  Blue, Great and Coal Tits but no sign of any Goldcrests

Whooper Swans

1 at Ringstone on Sat 11th (AC) then left >E (AT) , 2 today at Ogden Res'r first thing (DF and BS)  but they had gone by afternoon.

2 at Cromwell Bottom at 09:40 were joined by 2 more on the ski-lake at 09:45 (SL)

More Scaup

These are better from DF.

Scaup

Distant record shot of the Scaup found today at Fly Flats.

Warland to Mankinholes

A good morning for a walk so I set off from Warland and walked up to the reservoir. All was very quiet until I spotted 5 waders on the opposite shore of the res. No scope or long lens as they are too heavy for my old legs on a long-ish walk, so I had to rely on the bins but I'm sure they were Ruff. They took off and flew over the water and landed further down the shore, and shortly after they flew off towards Whiteholme res. I took a few photos but they aren't very clear even after cropping:

 

 

 

There were plenty of Red Grouse about and good numbers of Mipits too between Warland res and Withens Gate. There was even a Wren in the heather and a butterfly shot past, but I couldn't get an id.

Warland Drain and Stoodley Pike

Just off the Pennine Way near Withens Gate there were about 20 Mipits flying through and 2 Wheatear which was a nice surprise. A Raven was cronking over Langfield Common.

Down the Long Causeway to Lumbutts there were a few more Mipits but little else until I reached Lee Dam.

Lee Dam and Lumbutts chapel

The 2 female Goosander that have been there for a few days were still in residence, as were 2 Dipper near the outflow and a few Mallard. Best of all though was a Kingfisher which flew from the north corner to the south corner but then disappeared and I couldn't relocate it.

Over in Lumbutts churchyard a Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling from the top of a sycamore and a single Mistle Thrush flew out from another tree. The usual Little Owl was sitting on the wall at Mankinholes and 3 Pied Wagtails on the roadside wall at Cross Lane finished off the tally of birds for the morning.

Pink feet

A skein of pink footed geese came NW over the house late morning. I got a shot on the camera phone, and I make it 117 birds, give or take. Probably the same birds that passed over Cromwell bottom 10 minutes earlier, and Dave Sutcliffe had 35 over Lee Mount at 10.10am.

Fly Flatts etc

Thoroughly depressing seeing all the 'shooters' heading to the moor this afternoon so I didn't stay. It's strange how the general public aren't allowed to walk along the res'r embankment  to enjoy the birds, wildlife and scenery now - but if you have a gun and loads of dogs - preparing to blast birds out of the air then apparently its ok.
Its a good job a really smart looking Wheatear came along to lift the gloom!

Wheatear

 

Withens Head turned up a Stonechat as well so that was a bonus.

 

Also over Lee Mount earlier c35 pink-footed Geese >NW at 10:10

 

Ringstone Res'r also turned up Whooper Swan (AC) but it left >E early afternoon (AT)

 

Later in the day 7 Whooper Swans flew high over Lee Mount >NW at 17:40





Fly Flatts and Withens Road

This afternoon an interesting hour at Fly Flatts
263 Lapwing went over the res'r towards Thornton Moor - (a photo of the flock as it went over was the only way to get a count from the computer later -  a very useful tool)
1 Kestrel
1 Common Buzzard high  >SW
9 Teal
1 Red Grouse

Withens Road
No birds, just a rainbow!

 Withens Road looking towards Ogden

Hunter Hill towards Bradshaw

Rishworth

300+ Fieldfares this afternoon in fields below Booth Wood Reservoir (TW). This is a nice early flock as these thrushes will be joined by Redwings in the next few weeks to winter in Britain from Iceland, Russia and the Scandinavian  countries.

Golden Plover Survey this weekend

Is anyone involved in this survey this weekend for Calderdale?

I am thinking mainly about Ringstone as someone may well be involved in the count already but if not it would be a shame to miss out as there may be a decent count ??

There may be other flocks around, maybe Jay House Lane or Greetland + others.??

If anyone is able to get counts then please follow the guidelines below and either send them direct to BirdTrack or forward the information to me - thanks, Dave

From The B T O website

On 11–12 October 2014 there will be a coordinated census of Eurasian Golden Plovers across Europe, repeating comparable surveys carried out in 2008 and 2003. The majority of Golden Plovers are concentrated in northwest Europe in October, making it the best time to assess the status of the population. In Britain and Ireland, counts of Golden Plover (and Lapwing) will be collated by BTO and BirdWatch Ireland, within the framework of an International Wader Study Group project.

Golden Plover numbers provided through Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS, UK) and Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS, Ireland) Core Counts will be the key sources of data, in combination with records provided through BirdTrack.

So if you are not a WeBS / I-WeBS counter – or are and find Golden Plovers away from your WeBS / I-WeBS site(s) – please use BirdTrack to log your counts of Golden Plover on 11–12 October.

Please try to be as accurate as possible with your counts, ideally to within the nearest 5 for flocks of up to 100, the nearest 20 for flocks up 500 and the nearest 50 for flocks of up to 1,000.

To add even more value to your counts, please use the 'Pinpoint' feature (accessed via the '+' button when adding casual records or species lists online) to give a 6-digit grid reference for each flock.

It will also be useful if you can describe the habitat the flock was using, via the 'Habitat' option, using one of the following 6 terms:

Estuary

Non-estuarine
Grassland/pastoral
Arable
Freshwater marsh
Other

East Calderdale

From Mike Stead who is unable to post on the blog for some reason. 

 

Wigeon (one) and Little Grebe with Mallard at Sunny Vale lake today.

 

66 Lapwing and six Mistle Thrush in fields at Hartshead yesterday.

 

Clifton Lagoon - fishing lake by M62 at Brighouse looks really promising: four Tufties, Moorhen, Coot, Heron, a dozen Mallard and a Kingfisher there this week.

 

Several other people are also having problems posting on the blog - any advice would be welcome ?

Fly Flatts, Mixenden Res'r and Ogden

A quick trip round this afternoon, the weather at Fly Flatts was atrocious!
4 Lapwing
9 Teal
1 Tufted Duck
1 Kestrel

Mixenden Res'r
Better weather but birds worse than Fly Flatts ! - just 1 B H Gull

Ogden
1 Little Grebe
2 G C Grebes
1 Tufted Duck
1 Sparrowhawk
c60 B H Gulls
c30 Common Gulls
1 ad L B B Gull
2 Jays
Very few passerines about as the wind was quite strong with drizzle

Jumble Hole

3 swallows were feeding low over the field in front of the house. Seemed pretty late for swallows, and I expect that's the last I'll see here this year!
12 magpies were sat in a row on a fence. Green woodpeckers are a daily sighting at the moment.

Fly Flatts

This afternoon with Nick D. No sign if yesterday's Knot unfortunately, in fact no waders!
13 Teal
2 Wheatear near the Twite feeding station but no Twite.
2 Stonechats together at the north end
2+ Kestrels
2 Meadow Pipits
Red Grouse, Pheasant, c 10 Carrion Crows

Firecrests ?

There was a report of 2 Firecrests at Ryburn Reservoir today, if anyone knows who saw them could you please get in touch, cheers

Fly Flatts

Late morning with a gale blowing and driving rain but the cloud base was higher so visibilty was not too bad.
12 Teal and 2 Tufted Duck found on the res'r then I spotted a medium sized wader. First impression was a Knot but I wasn't sure identification was correct so I headed down to the north shore. Sure enough it was a Knot and I managed to get off a few 'digi' shots in the rain

Knot