Ringstone

Ringstone this morning was pretty quiet Summer plumage Cormorant ,  1 LRP , 2 Dunlin , 2 Oycks , 2 Common Sandpiper , 1 Curlew ,5 Sand MArtin , 2 House martin and 20 Swallow  ..looking pretty grim for the local lapwings with the fields being cut this week and no sigh of any chicks about.?? 8 Common Terns flew west to east very fast and Alan got these photo's (well done AT) ....

Jumble Hole walk

This eve Matt Bell is leading a walk for HB Birders round his local patch Jumble Hole Clough, if anyone wants to join us we're meeting at 6.30 at the bottom of Jumble Hole Road (JCB place) or sharing lifts from the turning circle (Hebden Bridge) at 6.10. Terrain is steep so will be semi strenuous, and we'll be out til half 8 or 9pm.

Ringstone Reservoir

Some nice pictures from John M of some of 9 Dunlin observed there this morning (AT and JM)

Whimbrel

Fly Flats is the place to be at the moment for waders. Dipped out on Brian's 2 Greenshanks but a nice Whimbrel flew in from the east just as we were leaving. Also here lots of Dunlin, Redshank, Common Sands and a Ringed Plover, 1 Cuckoo in the valley and a Short-eared Owl. Also dropped in to Cold Edge Dams where we relocated Pete's Common Tern.

Cromwell Bottom

Common Tern still present on the ski-lake probably the same bird from yesterday. Some nice shots below from John M. Not an easy site to see the birds never mind getting such decent shots including with a small fish and a BTO ring on it's right leg (third shot).

From Hugh Firman

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO)

Working together to prevent moorland fires - everyone has a part to play

Calderdale Council is working proactively with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and West Yorkshire Police to prevent moorland fires, but all agencies also depend on the vigilance and care of those who are out and about in our wonderful countryside to play an active part in protecting it.
To take part in the consultation and for more information, see: Moorland Fires and the Public Spaces Protection Order [PDF 706KB].

The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) replaced the:

• Designated Public Place Order (DPPO);
• and the five Dog Control Orders (DCOs).

This was introduced under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, on 20th October 2017.
If there is evidence of behaviour in a public space that has, or is likely to have:

• an adverse effect on the quality of life of the community;
• and the behaviour is persistent / ongoing and not reasonable;

a PSPO can be introduced by the Council. These can include specific behaviour restrictions and/or requirements for people to abide by, on any public space in question.
Note: All anti-social behaviour can be considered for a Public Spaces Protection Order, not just dog or alcohol issues.

Existing Designated Public Place Orders (DPPO) and Dog Control Orders (DCO)

The change to the law came into effect on 20th October 2017. From this time, current DPPO and DCOs were treated as provisions of a PSPO.
Signage for the DPPO and DCOs has been changed to help raise public awareness. The Council will review current orders and consider amending conditions by 20th October 2020. unless extended before this date, the orders will expire.

---

Related documents and links:

• Dog Control Orders map
• Dog Control Orders
• Dog Control Orders: Your questions answered

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO)

• Moorland Fires

Calderdale Barn Owls

A few weeks ago I reported on the pair of barn owls near where I live. Unfortunately they have not been seen for several weeks now so I'm not sure what has happened.

Mixenden Reservoir and Ogden

Mixenden Reservoir.
 I checked first thing after a 'tip-off' from AH of terns on the move over Holllingworth Lake this morning in the rain. Nothing doing here though a Great Crested Grebe was new in along with c70 Swallows, a couple of House Martins and 2 Sand Martins.
Pair of Treecreeper carrying food in the plantation but couldn't locate the nest site. Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaff singing in there despite the conditions.

Ogden
Not a lot, still raining
2 Moorhen
2 L B B Gulls
Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps singing

Also this afternoon (still raining) I had a check on local reservoirs for terns, many of which have been reported nationally inland in good numbers today. Ryburn, Baitings, Blackstone Edge and Withens Clough but no terns.
Cuckoo singing at Withens Clough
Green Woodpecker and Cormorant at Ryburn Dam
Great Crested Grebe at Baitings

UPDATE
Common Tern at Cromwell Bottom fishing lake and ski-lake late afternoon (DF).... details later.

Withens Clough Reservoir

We did a circuit this afternoon and finally tracked down a Cuckoo on a fence line though we only heard it sing a couple of times.
Pair of Stonechats
1 Jay
1 Willow Warbler
1 Dunlin
2 Common Sandpipers
2 Wheatear
A few Swallows, Linnet and Meadow Pipits.
12 Small Mallard ducklings were huddled together to keep warm but they made a very rapid exit into the water as a Carrion Crow stooped at them. !

 Mallard ducklings

 Stonechat (male)

Sent from my iPhone

Ogden

I went up there early on to try catch up with the recent Cuckoo reported from up there. Nothing doing on that score!
Plenty evidence of Willow Warblers, Blackcap and Wrens singing along the woodland edge. Also a Green Woodpecker.
1 Tawny Owl was still out hunting then it sat there checking me out from a tree branch.
Pair of Stonechats above the gully, along the track that leads towards Thornton Moor. Also several Linnets on the moorland fringe along with Meadow Pipits. 2 Red-legged Partridge and the usual other species including 2 Jays.


Sent from my iPhone

Cold Edge and Mixenden

It was nice to be out in the cool this morning before the rain set in late afternoon.
Nothing too much out of the ordinary but very enjoyable.
Cold Edge and Ovenden Moor
1 Raven
1 Barnacle Goose
2 Wheatear
1 Kestrel
4 Tufted Duck
2 Common Sandpipers
1 Redshank
Several Snipe up 'drumming'
1 Swallow near Nolstar
+ usual species

Mixenden Reservoir
2 Swifts - always good to see them back !
Willow Warblers singing in the plantation and a Blackcap
30+ House Martins and  a few Swallows with them

Whimbrel

Two Whimbrels at Ringstone today. AC,AT,GS,PD,DF.

Ring Ouzel

At least two still present at Moselden late am, early pm today

I thought there was only one, which showed well on a post but at distance.

Its hard to tell from the photo but it was very brown in colour with the sunshine on its back, so I would presume female.


Then, on way back, I flushed another, flying only a short distance before turning to face me, the best views so far. Managed to get a couple of shots off before it flew down to bottom of fields.

Sticky Binouclars

I have unearthed a pair of Praktica 7-21x25 zoom bins when moving house. I'm not even sure who gave them me, as I certainly didn't buy them and had forgotten I even had them.

I thought I might leave them in the kitchen to watch our yard feeder when I install it, but I found the rubber armour has gone sticky, and leaves black marks on my hands. Has anybody ever encountered this, and if so, did they find a solution?

Wader ID Required

Again, very heavy crops, taken along the A640 within our recording area, it had a white rump in flight and flew off towards  Dean Head/Scammonden/ Ringstone

Possible Wood Sandpiper??

I felt I'd seen one before and if I'm correct I'd photographed one over at Thornwick Pool a couple of years back, cheers

EDIT -Phone call from DF, ID'ed as Green Sandpiper, thanks Dave

Grasshopper Warbler

Grasshopper Warbler and Stonechat at Deanhead Scammonden this morning.

Moselden

I must be on a roll with the Ring ouzel, 4 there today! flushed from under wall lower down hill. Excellent to see after yesterdays extensive search turned up a blank.  

Plenty of the usual species, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Kestrel, Curlew & Lapwing

Managed another distant shot of one of the Ring Ouzel, a Lapwing in the hazy sun and an obliging male Wheatear, taken last week, who was quite happy to pose on a nearby post

Soil Hill

Just a few bits from my recent visits
This morning I was pretty buzzed to stumble across two Ring Ouzel in the small dell on the western side of the hill. Unfortunately the birds flushed from their position and headed round to the hills summit, before flying off in the direction of Ogden. They appeared to drop back in somewhere around Ogden Back Lane, so that area may be worth searching for them. There was also a singing Whitethroat in the same location.
Yesterday there were two Wheatears and two singing Willow Warblers around the Hill, as well as only my second ever Soil Hill Jay
Both Red-legged and Grey Partridges have been around in the past couple of days as well.

Today's news

A nice record from PG of a female type Black Redstart in Greenwood Clough this morning. A site just up the road from the top end of Baitings Reservoir. Scarce migrants in Calderdale but always one to look out for in  spring and autumn and even into early winter. usually found around ruined buildings, rocky areas and stone walls as was the case with this individual.
The bird was also seen later in the morning (AC) but a search late afternoon (AH) failed to find the bird but came across 3 Wheatears in the same locality.

3 Wheatears also seen today from the upper end of Crimsworth Dean (NG)  along with lots of Fieldfares moving >N nearby at Lumb Falls.

A nice find earlier in the day for Jacky with a Red Kite, near Cragg Vale.

Ring Ouzel

A very heavy crop but as least I managed to get a record shot this time!

The elusive Ring Ouzel at Moselden, seen around 12.30 but couldn't re-locate despite an extensive search by myself, JM, AT, LD.

Same location as the one I saw a couple of weeks ago, same bird maybe or just a coincidence?

Recent news

Not easy to keep up with all that has been happening in our local area in the last week or two but will attempt a brief review !!

Today
House Martins, Swallows and Sand Martins reported in the last few days mainly from Cromwell Bottom ski- lake. Occasional sightings of Swallows and Sand Martins from elsewhere but the ski-lake is the favored early stop-off after their long, and probably continuing migration. The weather today concentrated the birds here, a low level lake probably a little more sheltered than many other parts of Calderdale today in the cold windy conditions.

Also reported from Cromwell Bottom this week  a Blackcap, Chiffchaffs, Kingfisher and Common Buzzard

From PJWS a brave attempt at the very exposed Whiteholme Reservoir in today's conditions with rewards of a Common Sandpiper (first one locally for the year) and 2 Ringed Plover.

Distant photo's but well good enough for identification - click photos to enlarge

 Common Sandpiper

2 Ringed Plover

First Willow Warbler from Bank House Lane, near Wainstalls on Saturday 30th March (PB)

An Osprey over Ringstone Edge Reservoir >N also on Saturday at 16:40 (JB)

A few Wheatears also reported from various locations but no local Ring Ouzels yet since the first one from near Scammonden on 22nd March (PD). Although one was seen near Denholme on Monday 1st April(JJL)

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen in Greetland  (AT)

Still a few Bramblings about earlier in the week and the weekend as well as a few Chiffchaffs and a Ring-necked Parakeet in Warley.
Great Crested Grebe from Blackstone Edge Reservoir on 2nd April (PJWS) and another from Cromwell Bottom (AC) and one from Green Withens (DP). Also the latter site with 13 Twite.

I will have missed some reports but perhaps the above gives a flavor of what's been happening locally this week.
It's very encouraging to see so many local observers out in the field in recent times. Keep up the good work everyone !
I would encourage others to continue to post on the blog as well.

Withens Head and Crimsworth Dean

Withens Head - 5+ Wheatears on the field walls opposite the wind-farm today, mid afternoon. A nice sight to see they are coming back now, but as in recent years they all move on further north to return in the autumn. Hopefully we will be fortunate if any stay to breed.

Crimsworth Dean (upper)
At least 2 more Wheatears  though I arrived just after a heavy shower and there were Meadow Pipits all over the place, probably just passing over when the downpour came and they grounded for a while. They soon dispersed or continued their journey as the weather brightened.
Plenty of noise from the waders, with Curlew, Lapwing, Oystercatchers very vocal and  a few Golden Plover. No sign of any Ring Ouzels - my target bird for the afternoon !

A few Kestrels about, 6+ Pied Wagtails, 10+ Stock Doves, 2 Woodpigeons and 2 Jackdaws.
Little Owl calling continuously but I couldn't find it.!

Storm clouds gathering, and then it snowed and hailed with a vengeance - briefly !

Jayhouse Lane Tree Sparrow Project

Several years ago the Jayhouse Lane Tree Sparrow Project was launched by The Calderdale Bird Conservation Group. A number of nest boxes were installed and Sean Grey monitored the boxes and ringed both the adults and chicks. This is a tiny population and the only known breeding site in Calderdale.

When Sean left for pastures new I took over the project and for several years I have been fitting both BTO rings and colour rings to the chicks. 2018 was the most successful breeding season, even so only 36 fledglings were ringed. Tree Sparrows are hanging on by a thread in Calderdale.

It is very sad that I have to report that 8 of the Tree Sparrow boxes on Jayhouse Lane and two feeders have been stolen. The total value of the items stolen is around £300. This was not an opportunist crime. Whoever stole the boxes needed both a ladder and a cordless drill to remove the boxes from the poles on which they were mounted. All crimes are despicable but the theft of these next boxes was an attack on our natural environment and the species that we are working hard to protect.

I have reported the incident to the Police and the Project will continue, despite this set back.

Mixenden Reservoir etc.

A nice surprise late morning with a single Swallow. I don't think it stayed long though, I couldn't re-find it later on.
1 Shelduck also dropped in and still there when I left at 11:30
6 Tufted Duck
8 Canada Geese
4 Common Gulls
1 Herring Gull
2 Ravens very high >SE

Also from Cromwell Bottom -Swallow, Sand and Hs Martin present today (AC).

Sent from my iPhone

White tailed eagle

One reported over Leeds yesterday......heading N/W..................

First swallow of the year

As far as I know this is the first reported swallow this year - Cromwell Bottom on the  31st March , 1pm-ish

Hubberton Triangle Norland

Mooching round today.

Hubberton:
40+ Fieldfare
3 Curlew
Sparrowhawk
Distant Buzzaed

Norland:
Pair of Brambling
Grey Heron
Distant Buzzard
Little Owl

Triangle:
Green Woodpecker
Blackcap
Sparrowhawk
4 Grey Heron
2 Dipper
Female Greenfinch
2 Chaffinch
Nuthatch
Treecreeper

Plus usual.

Waders - Mount Tabor

Not the rarest bird but a pair of Curlew are visiting the field behind the New Inn so are nice to view from the garden.  6 Golden Plovers also flew out yesterday towards Fly.
A Buzzard was circling right over the bottom of Tuel Lane yesterday afternoon.

Green Withens

           One Red Kite and 15 Twite at Green Withens this morning.

Out and about

Just a selection of finds today
Lee Mount - Green Woodpecker, since the middle of last week, singing in the park early mornings then all goes quiet. Not seen it though, just heard it !

Stodfold / Hunter Hill/ Ogden golf course this morning
1 Wheatear
1 Stonechat
1 Reed Bunting
Distant Raven and a Common Buzzard over Soil Hill
Distant Barn Owl
Nothing at all on Mixenden Reservoir except a Mallard !

Fly Flatts
Pretty quiet in the cold wind this afternoon
2 Curlew
3 Lapwings
Distant Buzzard, Raven, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
BS doing the rounds !

1 male Wheatear at Withens Head - on the walls opposite the wind-farm parking area

Also from PJWS - a nice White Wagtail today at Whiteholme Reservoir. Seen photo's on the phone.

Red Kite

Me and Andy C had had this first winter/second calendar year Red Kite at Walshaw this afternoon, very close, fantastic.

Lee Mount

A single Brambling on the feeder this morning feeding on sunflower seeds (through the window)

Showing aggresion towards a Dunnock

Mixenden Reservoir

21 Whooper Swans on there this afternoon from AZ. A very nice find. BS has some distant photos on West Yorkshire Birding. No sign of the birds when I passed, viewing from Whitegate, unless they were out of sight under the embankment.

Plenty of activity in the Hartshead area this morning. Two male Yellowhammers calling and another distant. Very mobile moving in and out of the recording area.
Tree Sparrows, Great Spotted Woodpecker and plenty of Skylarks as well as a soaring Buzzard plus the usual species.

Cold Edge

Checked a couple of traditional Ring Ouzel and Wheatear spots this morning but nothing doing.
6 Tufted Duck
6 Goosander
1 Little Grebe
1 Redshank
2 Snipe 'chipping'
1 Stonechat
1 Raven over >N
No raptors and no Linnets back yet but a definite influx of Meadow Pipits now on territory snd displaying
2 Skylarks
c80 Starlings
4 Pied Wagtails
Usual Lapwings and Curlew
1 Weasel briefly
Nice to have a brief chat with BS on his way home from his morning stint at Fly Flatts.

Sent from my iPhone

Scammonden area

A very good find in the rain with a Male Ring Ouzel late afternoon yesterday near Moselden (a 'lifer' for PD). Unfortunately it has not been relocated this morning. (PD LD). A  male Wheatear there today.

Mixenden and Hunter Hill

1 Cormorant and a Redshank on the Reservoir this morning. Also 4 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls but not a sign of any duck species.

Elsewhere, between the Reservoir and the golf course.
Pair of Stonechat
1 Reed Bunting
1 Redwing
c200 Starlings
A few Curlew and Lapwing flyovers
1 Kestrel
Meadow Pipits on the move mostly high and >W
1 Skylark
1 Sparrowhawk


Sent from my iPhone

Crimsworth Dean

A walk around the upper Dean this afternoon for Jen to find a 'stonking ' male Wheatear. What a beauty, shame I didn't have the means of taking a decent photo.
I gather BS also found a pair of Wheatear at Fly Flatts as well this afternoon. The move is on !
I still think it's amazing that after, or during migration these birds arrive in such fantastic condition.

Plenty of Curlew, Lapwings, Jackdaws, Starlings and a flyover flock of c60 Golden Plover.
1 Fieldfare
2 pairs Mistle Thrush
2+ Kestrels
1 Raven >N

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Chiffchaff

my first local chiffchaff this morning at salterhebble singing around 7am plus gs woodpecker and nuthatch

Soil Hill

Late afternoon for a couple of hours on the top. Quite a stiff westerly wind up there !
6+ Skylarks
c12 Meadow Pipits
1 Kestrel
c8 Curlew - very vocal
15+ Lapwings
1 Herring Gull >SW
38 Common Gulls >N

Barn Owls

I'm not going to give a location but we have a pair of nesting Barn Owls near me. This is fantastic. Been watching them regularly for the last few days and they look to be doing really well. The person who tipped me off said it was the first time he'd seen barn owls in our area and he's in his sixties.

Fly Flatts

This afternoon viewing from along the top road while BS watched from his usual watch-point. Hoping not to miss much between us !
2 Redshank
2 Oystercatchers
2 Kestrels
A good mix of Lapwings and Golden Plovers, (BS got a decent count of 105) with the Curlew back in evidence after seeming to move away from the high ground during the really atrocious weather up there last week
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls looked to be on patrol ready for any early Canada Geese nest raids.
A few Canada geese and Mallard on the edge of the reservoir mostly under the banking so didn't get an accurate count
A few Red Grouse in evidence
1 Short-eared Owl and distant Buzzard

Wainstalls and Castle Carr Road

A mix of sunshine and wintry showers this morning but plenty of interest.
10+ Skylarks back on the moorland fringes with some birds in song when the sun came out.
Pair of Stonechats
20+ Meadow Pipits
Curlews and Lapwings well in evidence and a single flyover Golden Plover heard.
1 Kestrel
Green Woodpecker heard in the dean
No sign of any Wheatears yet - but anytime soon with a bit of luck !
Sent from my iPhone

Hunter Hill and Stodfold

This afternoon. It was good to get out after that torrential rain all day yesterday. A nice mix of birds around the site which included the lower end of the golf course
11 Curlew
18 Fieldfare
60+ Redwings
80+ Starlings
1 Little Owl
1 Kestrel
1 Reed Bunting
Plus other usual species
7 Pied Wagtails in a freshly manured field - and carefully checked for White Wag's
Herring Gulls were moving west all the time I was there. Not in groups but mostly singles on a broad front so no accurate count. Interesting that we do well for moving Herring Gulls over our area as BS also notes at Fly Flatts on a regular basis.

Lee Mount

A walk around Shroggs Park first thing this morning and it's stopped raining, for a while. !!
Green Woodpecker 'yaffleing'
Great Spotted Woodpecker 'drumming'
Nuthatch 'singing'
3 Brambling near the park lodge
Blue, Great and 2 Long-tailed Tits
Blackbirds, Song Thrush and 2 Mistle Thrushes singing.
Plus other usual species


Sent from my iPhone

Fly Flatts

No let-up with the weather up there this week The gales, rain and gusting wind continue with a vengeance !
Difficult to find anything around the reservoir other than a few Mallard and Canada's.
I eventually found some waders, all sheltering on the flat moor including an unknown number of Lapwings, Golden Plover and at least 2 Redshank.
Apart from that 5 Meadow Pipits were getting blown about alongside the top road.
1 Curlew at Withens Head.

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Mixenden and Fly Flatts

Those gale force winds continue especially so at Fly Flatts. A bit of shelter for the birds from the plantation at Mixenden usually pays off.

Mixenden
Pair of Goldeneye
2 pairs Tufted Duck
5 Goosander
1 Cormorant
12 Mallard
4 Canada Geese
20 B H Gulls but only 2 Common Gulls.

Fly Flatts
A few Lapwings and Canada's but I couldn't find any Golden Plover or Curlews, probably hunkered down on the moor somewhere !
1 distant Peregrine
9 Herring Gulls >w
2 Jackdaws (unusual at this site) >N

Also from JJL this morning, a Chiffchaff singing along the canal side between Elland and Brighouse. Nice one John.

Sent from my iPhone

SEO Cock Hill

Monday 8.50 pm.

Just for information.

Short eared owl near Cock Hill. It flew across the A6033 in front of my car.

Mixenden and Fly Flatts

Westerly gales throughput with spells of heavy rain.
Mixenden
1 f Goldeneye
3 Goosander
1 Cormorant
1 Sparrowhawk

Fly Flatts
1 distant Common Buzzard
1 Oystercatcher
3 Herring Gulls >W
c24 Lapwings on the West Bank
4 Stock Doves
1 Red Grouse

Withens Head
1 Redshank with 8 Lapwings

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Puzzling pipit, possible Icelandic Meadow??

Me and DF took these pictures of an odd looking pipit at Walshaw Dean yesterday. It was very orangey buff coloured underneath but appeared to have pink legs and a dark bill which didn't seem to fit any species. I recall seeing a similar bird some 6 years ago at Castle Carr Road Wainstalls also in March and I came to the conclusion it must be the Icelandic Meadow Pipit. Any thoughts welcome.

Grey Herons.

Spent some time earlier this week watching Herons collecting different kinds of nesting material. Quite enlightening! 

Rooks also were doing the same.

                                                                              

Mixenden Reservoir

3 Goldeneye including one drake
3 Tufted Duck
Drake Goosander
1 Cormorant
8 Mallard

Pepper Hill

An hour or so around the hilltop this morning. A very blustery wind but it stayed dry.
3 Skylarks were the best. Pleased there are some back there.
1 Green Woodpecker heard
2 Buzzards distant
2 Sparrowhawks over Shibden
6 Herring Gulls >W
Pair of Goosander high >SW - they don't half fly at speed, aided no doubt by that streamlined appearance in flight.

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Scammonden and Ringstone

Scammonden mid-morning
Flock of 45+ Curlew along with 30+ Lapwings and c160 Starlings in the Nont Sarahs fields

Ringstone
2 Oystercatcher
1 immature drake Goldeneye
1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Curlew >SE
c180 Lapwing
c160 Starling
2 Buzzards over >SE
1 Kestrel

Grey Heron from Luddenden Foot yesterday

Black-bellied Dipper

Don't know if its know about but I've seen on twitter that theres a probable Black-bellied Dipper, the continental race of our regular dipper, at Cromwell Bottom. I've seen the photos and it certainly looks the part. It's a pretty awesome bird, I'm back in Halifax on Thursday and certainly fancy a look if its confirmed. I don't know if this has already been checked out but I hadn't seen anything on the blog so thought I'd put it up in case.
Hope all is good with everyone in Calderdale

Link to the original tweet:
https://twitter.com/birderpete/status/1101237572565651464
 https://twitter.com/birderpete/status/1101237572565651464
 https://twitter.com/birderpete/status/1101237572565651464
https://twitter.com/birderpete/status/1101237572565651464

Cold Edge

Cooler with a >NW breeze and overcast this afternoon but dry conditions.
3 Barnacle Geese - all un-ringed
190+ Canada Geese
2 Greylag Geese
1 Little Grebe
11 Tufted Duck
1 Redshank
10+ Curlew
6+ Lapwings 
2 Kestrels
Devoid of passerines and only one Meadow Pipit - hopefully they will arrive before too long !

Hardcastle Crags and Crimsworth Dean

We started off with a look across Mixenden Reservoir at the 8 Whooper Swans that probably dropped in this morning and reported thanks to DW and BS. They stayed till at least late afternoon so they could still be there in the morning. Suspect they will be off tonight as it is a clear night for them to move. Let's see.

A good walk around this afternoon and very dry underfoot - we seemed to cover a lot of ground. Fantastic weather, not a bit like we expect in February !
Loads of Curlew and Lapwings in the upland areas with at least 80 Curlew and  maybe 150+ Lapwings. Great to see, though I guess most of them will be moving further north in the coming weeks with a few staying to breed in our area.
4 Pied Wagtails in immaculate condition at Walshaw and carefully checked.
A few Kestrels about and Sparrowhawks in the crags
Plenty Nuthatches calling but the woodlands were pretty quiet apart from 2 Tawny Owls singing briefly, as they do in the day sometimes.