Mount Tabor watch point

Had 2 and half hours at Mount Tabor watch point this pm. A few Common Buzzards about + 2 Curlew/Whimbrel mobbing one Buzzard, they moved off towards Ogden. Then at 14.00 I picked up a large raptor over Cold Edge Dams, scope strait on it, a superb Red Kite. Phoned it in to Dave and followed it right over head and then towards Lee Mount where DJS saw it from his garden. Also had 2 Ravens, 2 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks and 9 sightings of Common Buzzards. On to Roils Head where I found a male Redstart in the shelter belt.

Lee Mount etc

Heard Curlew flying over in the dark last night probably >SW while checking the moth trap around 10:30. Also Tawny Owls very vocal both from Shroggs Park and in the Wheatley Valley.

Mytholmroyd evening

sitting out researching my next trip to spain in october raven 2 sparrowhawk 1 grey wagtail 2 chiffchaff 1 house martin 26 swallow 6

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane late morning - hot and humid even up there with a >W F3 blowing on the top. An interesting hour or so....
Painted Lady butterfly along with 1 Red Admiral along the lane
1 Wheatear
1 Raven >N
1 Sparrowhawk - chased a goldfinch but failed !
1 Kestrel
2 Stock Doves
45+ Swallows and 1 House Martin all >SW
c40 Linnet and 20+ Goldfinch on thistles
5 alba Wagtails in the ploughed field along with loads of corvids and 4 L B B Gulls also in the field

 Painted Lady

 

 Raven

 

Wheatear

Buzzards

3 buzzards (1ad and 2 juvs) near to Jumble Hole - looked very much like the juvs were on training flights. They were in and out of one patch of trees, which is why I've withheld the location, as I strongly suspect breeding is likely.

Earlier in the week, 4 raven were over the house.

Lee Mount

As the rain got heavier across mid-day both a Whitethroat and a Willow Warbler appeared in the bushes in the back garden

Fly Flats

Gave it a try late morning though the rain arrived the same time as I did so I stuck to the top road !
Not  a lot doing in the conditions. This unfortunate Stoat looked like it had been dragging a dead Rabbit across the road and got hit.
Body length around 12" + 5" tail

Stoat - unfortunate road-kill

 

6 Red Grouse

5 Wheatears together

2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls looking for road-kills the same as 2 Carrion Crows !

1 Tufted Duck

7 Mallard

No Canadas !!!!

 

Lee Mount

One Swift over >SE this afternoon - that might be our last one over here for this year ! Spotted by KS our eagle-eyed daughter and avid Swift watcher !

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane - fairly quiet up there this afternoon with a c30 Swallows, 3 House Martins and a Grey Wagtail all >SW
15 or so alba Wagtails in the ploughed field with loads of corvids
Distant Common Buzzard
1 Kestrel
5 Linnets

Kirklees Hall & Sunny Vale

Kirklees Hall 100+ House Martins over the fields. 2 Little Owls on the usual barn. A single Yellowhammer calling. A Buzzard calling in the distance. Sunny Vale A Little Grebe on a nest in the middle of the lake, and another adult coming to the nest. 2 Herons. 8 Moorhens including juvs. The lake area is now a 'Fishery & Activity Centre'. Let's hope they don't start water ski-ing as well...

Lee Mount

Earlier this morning - 9 Cormorants high >SE

Hag Lane and Pepper Hill (above Claremount)

31st August afternoon - pretty windy from >W though bright and warm. Not a lot doing with distant Buzzards to the east.
1 Wheatear
1 Jay
c20 Starlings
2 Bullfinch
Plenty of Swallows around the hillside fields
House Martins, maybe 30+, feeding in the shelter of Shibden Valley
A few Goldfinch's feeding on creeping thistle heads

Green Withens

Green Sandpiper on Green Withens culvert (Blackwood Edge section) from KM on 26th August - thanks Keith

Todmorden

Yesterday, early afternoon, a large raptor flew north over Centre Vale Park, Todmorden heading purposefully towards Blackshaw Head / Colden. I had no optics with me, but possible kite.

A buzzard was soaring above the woods at the edge of the park shortly after, giving a good comparison. A flock of around 30 house martins were feeding.

27th August

Another Redstart at Roils Head this PM with 3 Willow Warblers still present. Last night 19 male Common Scoters flew over Walshaw Dean with 6 Stonechats also there.

Cromwell Bottom etc

A Spotted Flycatcher  today around the cabins at Cromwell Bottom - nice record from Mike H

Also reported from Whiteholme Reservoir earlier today from Rochdale birders via Andy H - 1 Whimbrel, 2 Redshank, 1 Ringed Plover.

Lee Mount

1 Swift over this morning
2 Sparrowhawk's together this afternoon
A few Swallows through today high >SE
c8 House Martins late afternoon
1 Stock Dove flythrough - don't often see those over Lee Mount though there are plenty nearby !
2 Nuthatches back on the garden feeder

Ogden area

I tried yeserday afternoon at the lower end of the golf course and the wooded gully called Slaughter Gap on Hunter Hill in search of migrants - none at all.
Just 1 Willow Warbler scolding from its usual nest site area
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
1 Little Owl
2 Meadow Pipits
c40 Swallows

Wagtail Mecca

An impressive flock of over 100 Pied Wagtails were going to roost on top of the Mecca Bingo (old Odeon cinema) in Halifax last night. Perhaps they were responding to the caller ?

Our Garden

Today we had two casualties, one flying into our door and the other into a window.  Both recovered naturally and flew off.

Roils Head migrants

Arrived at Roils Head today to find the place buzzing with migrants. The Northern tree shelter belt held at least 9 Spotted Fly catchers, 4 Redstarts, 5 Willow Warblers and a couple of Goldcrests. Also had 3 Cormorants fly west. 70 Linnets, 30 Goldfinch and a Willow Warbler at Tower Hill.

Lee Mount

Not a lot doing over the garden these last few weeks other than occasional Swifts.
1 adult Peregrine circling over this afternoon after a Sparrowhawk earlier
3 House Martins, c20 Swallows over all > SE this afternoon.
1 juv Willow Warbler in the garden first thing this morning.

Withens Clough

Earlier today from Pete G - 2 Whinchat and 1 Common Whitethroat by Withens Clough Reservoir , off Cragg Vale.

On the following day at the same location from PG - 3 Whinchat, 4 Stonechat and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Our Garden

Two buzzards circling at high level while we were having lunch outside.  They disappeared in north easterly direction towards Midgley area.  Grey heron flew over 15 minutes later.

Redstarts

At last my first 2 Redstarts of August in poor conditions today at Roils Head, not much else but a couple of Willow Warblers.

More Buzzard pics.

Our Garden

Buzzard watched yesterday while we were having lunch in garden.  Saw it on and off all afternoon and it was still there when we were having tea.  Last we saw was it sitting in a tree at about 18.00 and it stayed there for at least an hour.  The fields have been cut over the past few days which attracts certain birds.
House sparrows have gone from being a rare visitor to our garden to a thriving group of about 12.  Has anyone else noticed them in places where they are not normally seen?  

Ogden Golf Course

A common buzzard soaring over the course yesterday morning before drifting away in the direction of the Luddenden Valley

Broadhead Clough, Sunderland Pasture and Stoodley Pike

Broadhead Clough was dead ! Apart from 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 1 Siskin flyover and a Jay. 25+ Speckled Wood butterflies in the clough.

Not much better on the tops for birds but the weather was great, hot and sunny throughout.
1 Lesser Redpoll in Sunderland Pasture and a single Wheatear nearby. Small mixed flock of c25 Meadow Pipits and c30 Linnets.
A few Swallows
1 Weasel
4 Common Hawkers buzzing around the plantation.
Not a raptor anywhere - seems like Kestrels have taken a plunge !

First Siskin

My first Siskin of the autumn in the garden today at Skircoat. Did anybody note breeding this year, or probable breeding?

Red kite

A red kite flew past Jumble Hole this afternoon, from Todmorden towards Hebden Bridge. A flock of 45+ swifts were feeding over Erringden yesterday.

Withens Clough

Spotted Flycatcher near the reservoir earlier today from PG

Ogden golf course area and Swales Moor

Ogden golf course from late yesterday afternoon (Saturday 13th) - male Redstart still showing in the hedge near the bottom of the golf course and looking very much in molt and being quiet and secretive just showing once then hiding away. Looks like the same bird as the one there on 18th July.
Also on Hunter Hill yesterday - a Green Woodpecker headed off towards Mixenden plantation.

This afternoon on Ringby Lane - not a lot doing
1 Kestrel
10+ Linnet and c20 Pied Wagtails in 'the wagtail' field but no sign of the Yellow Wagtails now. Possibly one White Wagtail in the field today but they are tricky with so many juvenile 'pieds' about and adults in stages of moult. !
2 House Martins above Lee Lane
9 Starlings
2 Stock Doves
2 juvenile Little Owls nearby

 One of 2 juvenile Little Owls just a bit distant

 

Juvenile Pied Wagtail

Lee Mount
8 Swifts over this morning

13th august

Adult Whitethroat with at least 2 fledged young at Roils Head this pm, also 2 common Buzzards south at nearby High Road Well Moor. Still a few Swifts kicking around.

Lee Mount

A group of around 30 Swifts went through together this morning, feeding high above the park as they went >SE at around 08:45.
Also a female Blackcap eating honeysuckle berries later in the day

12th August

Swift still entering the eaves of a house at Rye Lane, Pellon,1 Willow Warbler at Roils Head then bingo, at last, my first Hobby of the year flew right over my head at Moor End Road and headed east towards Roils Head. Its been a poor year for Hobby in Calderdale with just 4 reports so far.

Lee Mount

Just 3 Swifts over >SW today and 1 House Martin

Swales Moor

On the top at Ringby lane late morning - pretty cool in the strong westerly wind though it did stay dry. The farmer was ploughing the field so all the good chickweed areas will be gone later today - these were the best areas for the wagtails ! With turning the soil over the site will probably stay good for the birds for a few weeks yet.
I went to check 'the wagtail' field with maybe up to 50 Pied Wagtails, predominantly juvenile birds so it is possible maybe unidentified alba's in amongst them. Not a sign of any 'flava's (Yellow Wagtails).
c10 Linnet and 6 or more Goldfinch in the field along with 10+ Meadow Pipits as well as a lot of corvids and a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls following the plough.
10 Stock Dove
9 Starlings
1 Swift high >S
1 Red Admiral sheltering behind a wall

Lee Mount

Still some Swifts about early evening just prior to the drizzle, with around 16 feeding over the trees above Shroggs Park.

Protests in Hebden this weekend

Early start Nick ;)

Hebden Bridge people will gather in St Georges Square at 9am on 12th and 13th August to protest the not-so-glorious 12th August, traditionally the start of the grouse shooting season.

It is widely accepted that mismanagement of the Walshaw Moor blanket bogs for intensive grouse rearing has contributed to three severe floods in Hebden Bridge over the last four years, and downstream in the Calder Valley.

Some households and businesses have still not recovered from the terrible Boxing Day flood last year, when the town centre was under up to five feet of filthy water.

Protesters are calling for Richard Bannister, the owner of Walshaw Moor Estate, to urgently take ecological conservation and restoration measures that will significantly reduce peak flow in Hebden Water.

Although as an EU Natura 2000 site Walshaw Moor has the highest possible level of environmental protection, the landowner’s agreement with Natural England permits so-called “cool burning of heather, as well as extensive track building and draining within 50 metres of the many grouse shooting butts gouged out of the peat.

Supported by £2.5m of taxpayer subsidies via Environmental Stewardship payments for “restoring” the moors,  the owner of Walshaw Moor, Richard Bannister leaves vast swathes of precious peatland scarred with vehicle tracks  and drained and burnt dry – although the permitted “cool burning’ is supposed not to damage the sphagnum moss that grows on moorland peat and is vital for the survival of the blanket bog.

This is all so that unnaturally large populations of red grouse can be nurtured as live targets for ‘guns’.

Leeds University research, led by Dr Lee Brown and published in 2014, confirms Ban the Burn campaigners’ criticisms of the Walshaw Moor Estate burning.

In all areas that the Leeds University researchers looked at over a period of five years, permitted cool burning destroyed the sphagnum moss and left bare peat.

It also lowered the water table so the peat dried out, oxidised and became a source of net carbon loss – rather than a net carbon uptake through taking CO2 out of the atmosphere and sinking it into the peat. This worsens climate change.

Dr Joseph Holden’s 2015 update to this research confirmed that the destruction of the sphagnum by permitted burning on blanket bog also increases the amount and speed of water runoff during the worst 20% of storms, so worsening the risk of flooding in areas below the moors.

In response to a complaint from local residents’ group Ban the Burn, the European Commission has started a legal process against the UK government for:

• the failure to carry out appropriate assessments on the Walshaw Moor  Estate in the South Pennines Natura 2000 site, and other Natura 2000 sites, as required under the EU Habitats Directive in relation to a number of management agreements
• allowing burning of blanket bogs within the Natura 2000 sites
• the failure to avoid deterioration of blanket bog habitats within those sites in England

The UK government had two months to respond to the EU Commission letter, which was sent on 29th April 2016. This is the first step in a legal process. But with the UK vote to leave the EU, Yorkshire and Humberside MEP Linda McAvan has said it is unclear whether the European Commission is following up the process.

Hebden Bridge residents are determined to keep up the pressure to protect and restore the rare and valuable blanket bog and in doing so, to reduce the flood risk to the town and the downstream Calder Valley.

Link to Mark Avery's site

Ogden and Hunter Hill

I came across this very obliging Brown Hare this afternoon along Hunter Hill. I think I was just lucky as I looked over a wall and managed to get the camera on it before it realised I was there !

Below - this Whinchat was down on the fence at the lower end of the golf course. I thought at first it was an adult male but from the photo's, the plumage, despite the bold eye-stripe, looks more like a juvenile or maybe it's the adult male in moult. A scarce bird in Calderdale nowadays though I expect there will be some autumn migrants coming through in the next few weeks from more northern areas.

Not a lot else about other than a few Swallows >W
7 Swifts >NW - they have really thinned out in the last few days with many now on their way back to Africa.
Meadow Pipits - a pair still feeding young
2 Willow Warblers
c30 Linnets feeding on thistles near Stodfold
Lots of Woodpigeons on the billberies !

One from the note book

Ringstone  September 1996 ...for those who do not remember 1 Curlew Sandpiper  , 11  Little Stints , 3 Ruff , 2 Wood Sandpipers  , Yellow legged Gull and plenty of common waders ..20 years since the last Wood Sand.......

Withens Head and Ovenden Moor

This morning doing a Butterfly Survey but tied in a bit of birding as well - of course.
1 Curlew high >W
3 Willow Warblers and 3 Wheatear in and around Moorlands Farm buildings and garden
40+ Swallows
4 House Martin >W
30+ Swifts >W
1 Reed Bunting
Pair of Blackbirds still feeding young
1 Little Owl but no other raptors
40+ Linnet and 30+ Goldfinch in the fields by the former Withens Pub

 2 of 3 Wheatears at Moorlands Farm

Soil Hill and Lost Lens Hood

        Went up Soil Hill after dinner but nothing to much to see,
        8 Meadow Pipits, 6 Wood Pigeon and lots of Crows,  I then
        lost my lens cap and adaptor so if any one finds it please give
        it to Dave Sutcliffe, Taylor lane had House Martins and House
        Sparrows at the bottom of the road. Pics are from Taylor Lane and
        Claremount Hill last week.

     

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane late morning. I went looking for the Yellow Wagtail but I couldn't find it. Just a few Pied/alba Wagtails today so it  looks like most of them have moved on overnight maybe (?)

A really nice surprise was and adult Hobby at around 12:35. All the corvids went up and I caught this smart falcon passing me low down about 30 meters away. Immaculate plumage detail but I had just put the camera lens-cap on so just viewed it in the bin's going at speed it went straight past me and shot down the hillside >W and I lost it somewhere over the top end of Boothtown. Always a great bird to see though we have had very few confirmed reports this year.

Just a few Linnets, Goldfinch and Swallows about + 1 House Martin, loads of corvids, a few L B B Gulls and a 'trickle' of passing Swifts - mostly very high >W

Swales Moor area

Ringby Lane late morning - 1 Yellow Wagtail juvenile still in 'the wagtail' field along with 30+ Pied Wagtails, mainly juveniles, plus c20 Meadow Pipits and a Skylark.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/PbDYowcccWg

Driven Grouse Shooting

A bit more on the campaign against driven grouse shooting.

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/calder-valley-campaigners-leading-nationwide-11698076

Ploughcroft and Pepper Hill

I headed up towards Ringby to check on the wagtail field but heavy plant was using Ringby Lane so I changed course and went on Hag Lane instead. Good move as it happened in the shelter of the west side of Shibden Valley as the westerly wind was very strong and gusting.
Loads of House Martins were feeding in the shelter of the valley either side of Lee Lane. Maybe 70+ with just a few Swallows. Not had so many House Martins locally for ages though they are really scarce breeding birds in Calderdale nowadays. I guess these were maybe migrants including juveniles and non breeders (?)
30+ Swifts were heading very high >W along with a few L B B Gulls
1 Peregrine high over Claremount spooked the corvids in the fields at Pepper Hill, above Claremount.
Not a lot else other than a few Linnet and Goldfinch with a pair of Meadow Pipits still feeding young.

Swales Moor

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail - at least one still present today late afternoon with around 30 Pied/alba wagtails

Redstart

Redstart still in shelter belt at Roils Head with several Willow Warblers. Chiffchaff yesterday.

Baitings Reservoir

From Pete G this morning - a Sedge Warbler. A scarce bird nowadays in Calderdale.

Roils Head

First Redstart of the autumn this afternoon in the northern shelter belt.

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane this afternoon
2 juvenile 'flava' wagtails still present along with c20 Meadow Pipits, 1 Skylark and 35+ alba wagtails - mostly juveniles all round
4 Stock Doves, a few Linnets and the usual corvids and L B B Gulls

Photos below of just one of the Yellow Wagtails. They are so difficult to get anywhere near them - always going away from the camera !

Fwd: Natural England issues licence for Buzzard killing

Begin forwarded message:

Subject: Natural England issues licence for Buzzard killing

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5829&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Gorple area etc

From Pete G today
1 Whinchat at Gorple Gate
77 Golden Plover
1 Little Ringed Plover

News from Alan T at Ringstone - shoreline showing quite well so it's well worth watching for passage waders. Lets hope it stays low for a while - like all of late summer and  autumn will do nicely !

East of Brighouse

Colnebridge. Sand Martin still taking food to one of the nest holes. juv Whitethroat. Bradley Hall Farm. Green Woodpecker - adult. 12+ Swallows including plenty of juvs. Kingfisher over the canal. 5 Mistle Thrushes including juvs. Whitethroat - adult. No sign of any Yellowhammers, unfortunately.

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane, on the top this afternoon and plenty of small birds along the fence line to the north of the muddy field.
Light drizzle - with 1 juvenile Yellow Wagtail still present but very elusive and it took some finding. Eventually found it in the longer vegetation with a single Skylark
35+ Pied Wagtail
35+ Meadow Pipits
1 Lapwing >NW
2 Whitethroat
1 Willow Warbler
1 male House Sparrow on the top
30+ Goldfinch
c10 Linnet
2 Kestrel
30+ Goldfinch
10+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls loafing about on the ridge
20+ Swallows
6+ Swifts

Willow Warbler - probably a juvenile judging by yellow on the entire underparts

Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult)

Fly Flats

This afternoon as the mist came down after heavy rain. Nothing doing over the water  other than Canada Geese.
1 juvenile Wheatear
1 male Reed Bunting
c35 Meadow Pipits came in after heavy rain

 Meadow Pipit

Meadow Pipit (notice the long hind claw!)

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane - 2 flava wagtails this morning confirmed by Pete S after BS suspected there might have  been two there yesterday evening. Plenty of Pied Wagtails and a few Meadow Pipits in the field as well at mid morning and 1 'flava' showing. (DJS AT)
NK confirmed both 'flavas' relocated and still there at 11:45.

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane this afternoon mainly in search of butterfly's but came up trumps with a bird !
Plenty of corvids, L B B Gulls and 1 Common Gull on the top.

1 Whitethroat below - poor shot as it dived off into a bush

2 wagtails along the lane one of which turned out to be a flava (Yellow) Wagtail juvenile with a juv Pied Wag. As I approached they headed off into the dried up muddy field where there were anything up to 40 wagtails, nearly all juveniles and all 'pied ' except one.!  I relocated the Y wag with some difficulty and eventually got one or two distant record shots which are probably not that good but will see if any are worth posting on the blog later.
It was still in the field when I left around 16:30 but it could be tricky to find in the muddy furrows and undulations.

Yellow Wagtail

Cold Edge

A couple of hours up there this morning but not a lot doing !
1 Little Owl
6 Lapwing
1 Curlew flyover >W
Red Grouse with large chicks
c40 Swallows
2 Mistle Thrush
2 Reed Buntings
3 x pairs of Linnets
A few Goldfinch
Song Thrush singing
2 pairs Blackbirds still feeding young as a few meadow Pipits are too
1 Common Buzzard over Mount Tabor on the way back

 Female Linnet

Male Linnet

Strangest Jumble Hole sighting ever

Not a rarity, but very much out of place - I was just outside in the garden at home (Jumble Hole) on the phone and a kingfisher flew through heading west, calling. It's the last bird I'd expect to see up here! Presumably post breeding dispersal. A garden tick I never expected.

Young birds

Loads of newly fledged birds in the last few days including:
- 1 young dipper on stream at Jumble Hole
- 3 young kestrels and an adult between Jumble Hole and Erringden
- 2 juv green woodpecker Jumble Hole
- 2 seperate nests of goldfinch on ivy either side of my house (Jumble Hole)
- lots of Siskin suddenly being heard around here at the moment, presumably some recently fledged
- 3 kingfishers today from the river bridge leading to Hebden Bridge train station (downstream side) - 1 well fledged juv being attended to by 2 adults (photo is taken on a mobile, hence the dodgy quality)

Baitings and Ringstone

From Pete G this morning - doing well this week Pete !
Ringstone Res'r - with just a little shoreline showing....
12 Tufted Duck
3 Common Sandpipers
1 Snipe

Baitings
Lesser Redpolls with 4/5 showing well in the clear-fell area parallel to the main road.
Also first thing, in the willow scrub near the car park, just over the dam wall. Chiff-chaff, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Whitethroat showing. They looked to be moving through, as a check later on found they had all gone.

Swifts: Walsden

The four swifts I've been watching above Walsden cricket field are now six. Lots of screeching this morning while my bus was making its time up. Does the screeching mean they have juveniles with them? If so, it's a poor result, isn't it?

Blackstone Edge and Baitings

From Pete G yesterday - a juvenile Yellow Wagtail. A rare sighting in Calderdale nowadays. !

From Pete again today  - an adult Hobby late morning over Baitings Reservoir >W. Also at Baitings today, lots of Swallows and House Martins feeding around the dam wall and 40+ Pied and Grey Wagtails with plenty  juveniles all around the reservoir. A good flock of Mistle Thrush and 3 Green Woodpeckers nearby included an adult and 2 fledged juveniles.

Ogden etc

Golf Course and Stodfold area late morning. Pretty quiet but what turned up at the lower end of the course was well worthwhile.
1 male Redstart showing on and off was looking a bit worn. Well done to BS for locating it again this afternoon, though briefly after sweating it out !!!
Also a skulking Whitethroat
1 Reed Bunting
2 Meadow Pipits
Lots of Ringlet and Meadow Brown butterflies in that area in this scorching weather today.

Plenty of Black- headed Gulls this afternoon over Lee Mount hawking insects, maybe flying ants. ?
A perfect afternoon for raptors moving through high on the thermals but couldn't find anything!

Yesterday's update

4 unidentified Terns flying over Northowram around 08:50 Sunday morning > towards Queensbury direction from AC

Also from Nick D at Walshaw Dean yesterday evening 3 Common Terns at the  reservoirs

Ringstone

windy up there this morning.7 tufted duck-5 great crested grebe-2 drake common scoter-pair of moorhen with 2 young.a few swifts passing through 4 l.b.b.gulls and a few b.h.gulls plus the usual corvids.

Lee Mount

60+ Swifts first thing this morning feeding high over the ridge at the top end of Shroggs Park. They looked fantastic, feeding high in the muggy and humid conditions. After 10 mins or so the majority dispersed. It's ages since we had a large flock like this over the house - all screeming so I guess some juveniles have already fledged (maybe)?
Another 3/4 weeks and most of them will be well on their way back to Africa.

Sparrowhawk in Garden

       Sparrowhawk in my garden today after just catching
       a starling.

Mount Tabor and Fly Flats

I checked the fields between Woodlesford and Mount Tabor this morning to see if yesterdays Mediterranean Gull, found by Nick, had returned. No sign of the bird though there were plenty gulls and corvids still feeding in the fields so there is a possibility it might return.
160+ B H Gulls
28 L B B Gulls
5 Common Gulls
c85 Rook with their juveniles
c40 Jackdaws and a few Carrion Crows
c35 Starlings
1 Skylark
15+ Meadow Pipits some moving through high >SW
2 Linnet
40 Woodpigeons
13 Stock Doves

Fly Flats
Barnacle Goose is back with the Canada flock
1 Tufted Duck
7 B H Gulls >SW
1 Redshank flyover at The Withens >NE

Linnets breeding and anyone familiar with this dragonfly?

I've put pictures over on the Calderdale-wildife blog.

Jackdaws

Just for the record, two juveniles with an adult in a small tree next to Todmorden Bus Station this afternoon.

4th Med Gull for Mount Tabor

Yesterday I noticed the local farmer was cutting the fields and that a couple of Black-headed Gulls had joined 5 Lessers to feed. So I returned today to find the place buzzing with Gulls. 30+ Lesser's 10 Common and some 150 Black heads. On closer inspection I found a stunning adult summer Med Gull in with the Black heads, my fourth for this site, unfortunately for some reason I had left my camera at home, but Dave soon arrived on site just in time to see the bird fly off to the west so hopefully he will post some photos later tonight.

Green Withens and Ringstone

From Alan T today - no sign of yesterday's reported White Stork but a drake Common Scoter there this morning and another, female/immature type at Ringstone Res'r this afternoon.
The Ringtone bird was distant,but still present this evening as I passed on the way home

Mount Tabor

Summer plumage adult Mediterranean Gull found by Nick on the Mount Tabor fields mid afternoon. A great find. I managed to get up there to view the bird for a few minutes before it headed off >NW at 16:10. It looked immaculate. In recent years July seems one of the best months to find them locally among the B H Gull flocks.
Will try get some photos on later this evening.
Also present in the newly cut fields were maybe 30+ L B B Gulls, 10+ Common Gulls and 100+ B H Gulls.

Mediterranean Gull - Mount Tabor

Green Withens

Report on BirdGuides yesterday of a distant White Stork over Rishworth Moor gaining height on thermals as viewed from M62 at midday. 

Nothing doing up there yesterday evening per TW. 

We occasionally get reports of White Stork in summer possibly from the Harewood House collection !

Blackstone Edge Reservoir

From PG - earlier today a good move of Swifts with a few Swallows 08:30 ish,  and later - a bonus bird for Calderdale nowadays - a single Common Tern >SW

Little Owls, Norland Moor

Just spent an hour watching the Little owls on Norland Moor, 2 adults and one fledgling, couldn't spot any more.

Its only a 5 minute walk from home for me, I've walked the path only recently and  didn't even know they were there.

Thank you Brian for the 'heads up' in an earlier post, I'll probably return later to see if I can get a few record shots, cheers :)

Ovenden Moor

Top end of Ogden, across Ovenden Moor and back by the golf course this morning
A solitary Whinchat was a prize worth tramping round for. Never a common bird in Calderdale but not an easy bird to find here nowadays though we do find a few returning birds in the autumn.
2 Reed Buntings
2 Linnets
A few Meadow Pipits still feeding young
2 Curlew
A few Swifts and Swallows
1 Kestrel near The Withens
Juvenile Wrens in the bracken

distant Whinchat

Mute Swans

The 8 juv Mute Swans are doing very well at Shibden park also 5 young  Coots and 2 juv Grey Wagtails....long time (if ever) I have seen 10 Mute Swans in Calderdale at the same time .....great news

Cold Edge

A bit noisy up there this aft with the water sports on the top dam  but I did manage 2 Little Grebes on the lower pond. Not a lot else other than 1 Curlew and a singing Willow Warbler along with a few Linnet, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipits, Swallows and Swifts.

Wednesday walk for those not at work

Hugh Firman has organised a walk on the moors with Moors for the Future this Weds 13.7.16.
It has taken a bit of setting up so they are hoping for a good number of participants from those lucky enough to be able to go mid-week.

Full details on the Calderdale Wildlife Blog. (Panel to the right of the posts.)

By the way, Hugh has chipped a bone in his elbow in a fall while out surveying, so is off work for a while.

If you need more details please email or ring Julie Swift   -    Julie.Swift@calderdale.gov.uk.

Also you're all very welcome to my talk on Tuesday - I have pictures of Striated Caracara, Tussac Bird, Falkland Thrush, Falkland Siskin, Cobb's Wren, "Puffing Pig" harbour dolphins, five species of penguin, Albatrosses, etc. etc. Also plenty of pics of fantastic plants, and of museum material on the extinct endemic canid, the "Warrah". Poster with details over on the Calderdale-wildlife.blogspot. (7.15pm Tues 12th July at Halifax Central Library in the basement meeting rooms.)

Ogden

Just an hour or so this afternoon at the lower end of the golf course and Stodfold area at the lower end of Hunter Hill.
1 Little Owl
1 Oystercatcher flyover >SW
Several Linnets, Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits
2 House Martins
1 Grey Wagtail flyover >SW
40+ juv Swallows with adults near Stodfold and 20+ juv Pied Wagtails along the very muddy lane leading to Mixenden Reservoir

For Info - from BL

http://henharrierday.org/2016-events.html

Cold Edge and Fly Flats

I was driving up Cold Edge Road by Nolstar when I spotted a wader coming over from Hunter Hill. Leapt out of the car  as it went right over at speed gaining height. Typical Godwit with fast powerful flight, larger than Golden Plover and Redshank with a very long bill. I just couldn't get any plumage detail as it disappeared high into the grey sky and it was gone heading >SW probably in the direction of Ringstone maybe (?)
Elsewhere - not a lot !

Withens Head - Curlew and Snipe calling and c40 Starlings nearby

Fly Flats
1 Kestrel
3 Common Sandpipers
1 Wheatear
2 + Curlew
2 Lapwing
c400 Canada Geese
6 Carrion Crow
Just a few Swifts high >SW
No gulls

Our Garden - Weds. 6th
Female redstart hanging around for at least an hour.  Pity about the quality of my pictures!
During the same period we saw one female reed bunting, one male linnet feeding on the ground under the bird feeders and a few meadow pipits including some juv. ones.  There seemed to be a lot of bird activity generally.

Swales Moor

Ringby Lane late morning. Not a lot to report other than a nice juvenile Stonechat along the lane at the top of the hill.
A few Meadow Pipits and Linnets along with a solitary Skylark.
A few Swifts and Swallows.
A few corvids and 10+ Lesser Black-back Gulls loafing around on the top near the processing plant.

Walshaw

Had a nice stroll up towards the plantation near Walshaw.  Lots of activity, spotted fly again same place as last year, oystercatcher behaviour suggests young, curlers, willow warblers etc. And hundreds of sheep streaming past where I sat.  Lovely day !

Norland

Spent an hour up on moor yesterday.

Plenty of pipits, swifts, swallows. Mistle Thrush. Greenfinch in hedgerow near car. 1 Little Owl.

Our Garden
Watched a buzzard on and off for about an hour yesterday while we were having our lunch.  A tractor was cutting the grass in fields across the valley and the buzzard kept coming to have a look but didn't land.  A carrion crow was trying to see it off.
Curlew flew over silently.
Young Pied Wagtails around.

Cold Edge

This afternoon, tricky up there on the strong and blustery westerly though it was sunny and hot.
1 Little Grebe on the lower pond
1 Moorhen on the top pond
No waders at all though a scattering of Linnets, Goldfinches, Meadow Pipits, Swifts and Swallows
1 Willow Warbler still singing
1 Grey Wagtail flyover >SW
Blackbirds still feeding young

All the photo's I got of this individual Swift this afternoon (and this is the best) show an enlarged throat - I wonder if this is just a full crop ready for returning to the nest ? I have never seen (or noticed) this before with Swifts - has anyone else ?

Apart from that, just 1 Small Heath butterfly and 3 Large Skippers on thistles by the small plantation

our garden

Gt. spotted W'pecker feeding juv. with sunflower hearts from our feeder.  Large family of great tits but only a couple of young blue tits.  Jackdaws eating all fat balls and wood pigeon and stock doves eating up seed which has dropped onto floor.  Curlew flying around adjoining field alarm calling - couldn't see anything obvious but grass is long as hasn't been cut yet so could have been a fox.  Hear little owl calling now and again.