Whiteholme

Ringed plover 2
Common sandpiper 1
Wheatear 2

Common Scoter

 8 Common Scoter and  4 Great Crested Grebes at Baitings Reservoir this morning.

Ringstone

A couple of nice shots of juvenile birds from John M today.

 Black-headed Gull

Common Whitethroat

The Withens etc.

No sign of the Black Redstart this morning though it was seen later on yesterday further up the lane when it flew back to the farm around 17:30 (DP)

We followed, not long after BS checked this morning and met up with PB at the site, but no show !

We later checked The Withens, mast area and Withens Head Farm ( opposite wind farm) and all the stone walls but didn't have time to check Slade and the long pile of stones between the Withens and Fly Flatts.

Lapwing still with chicks up there was nice to see but the Curlew seem to have moved off in good time this year.

Black Redstart.

                                                                                                          Photo B.S.
Yesterdays amazing find for DJS and AT.
No sign this morning but was very elusive yesterday. A Robin is feeding young up there and keeps giving it the chase around.
BS

Bright Yellow Canary

Any body missing one?

Seen mid morning in Norland

Poor record shot taken with phone but quite a distinctive bird

Cold Edge

Thanks to Alan T for the lift so we could do Cold Edge from The Withens this morning. Glorious weather but not many birds showing so we concentrated on butterflies. How amazing was that, to see so many different species plus one or two day flying moths.

Swifts and Swallows and 5+ Tufted Duck on the lower dam, a few B H Gulls, usual Canada's, a few Goldfinch, a Kestrel and a distant Buzzard was the best we could muster - till we returned !

On passing Moorlands Farm we were suspicious about a small bird flitting about the ruined barns thinking maybe Black Redstart (?). Our thinking was soon confirmed. A Black Redstart, juvenile. It was continually harassed by a Robin and hopefully it will stay around for a few days.
AT got a few shots off to post later. BS also found the bird later on though it was proving to be quite elusive at times.

Black Redstarts are scarce breeding birds in Britain and this juvenile is probably a dispersing bird from the north or east coast or even continental origin though the latter seems les likely given the time of the year(?).

If anyone goes looking for the bird then please respect the residents privacy and do not enter the grounds/ buildings for obvious safety reasons. Best viewed from the nearby public footpath/track.

See West Yorkshire Birding link for some smart pictures of the bird taken later in the afternoon by BS.

Sand martins

Found a very small nest site this afternoon . Around 6 nest holes in the river bank , up to 6 birds over the field busy feeding
Also in a different area a female merlin

Lee Mount

Our local pair of Blackbirds are busy feeding young again - first sighting of them carrying food this morning so hope they can raise the clutch to fledging stage this time after earlier failures.

Shibden Valley

A juvenile jay eating my rasberries! I've never before had a proper look at the crown of a young jay. My three general bird guides do not even mention how it differs from the adult crown.

Lee Mount

Two juvenile Peregrines late morning. They drew my attention by the 'racket' they were making ! (described in English (if that's possible)a..... 'rehk' 'rehk' 'rehk' ,

Binoculars to the fore....one was carrying prey, maybe a pigeon sized bird with longish legs trailing underneath and guess that's why they were squabbling (?) I still can't be sure what the prey was, the prey looked dark which would normally put a wader as questionable then wondered about a Moorhen. I shall never know.
They both flew off still 'rehk'-ing in the direction of Dean Clough / Town Centre.

Whiteholme

Around midday huge numbers of Swifts were flying SW in a force 4 westerly.
I counted 300 in about 15 minutes, and the passage continued at the same pace when I stopped counting Swifts to focus on what else might be moving.

I logged 47 House Martins SW in 40 minutes. No Sand Martins however.

Other than these, just one Wheatear at Blackstone Edge.

Terns !

Just in case any terns arrive locally in the next month or so this is well worth careful study - just in case !!


https://www.birdguides.com/articles/common-arctic-and-roseate-terns-photo-id-guide/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter170719&eid=591763&_ccCt=61lLjFApnjJsszPZbtdyr8H6YQ4PtPc8dy3ful8T%7eWZFwSDKpEoiPc%7egqpRqXqVn

Ringstone ...Green Sandpiper

Popped up to Ringstone today.....Swifts , Swallows , Kestrel ,,Cormorant , 5 BH Gull , 6 LBBGull , 3 Tufted Duck , 3 GCGrebe , 300 + Lapwing ,2 Oystercatcher , Moorhen with chick , and I flushed a Green Sandpiper by the overflow , it flew along the dam wall and landed in front of the hide , it was still there when I left...

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier over Lower Gorple this morning.

Great White Egret

Some very nice pictures from John M of the egret this afternoon on the River Calder at Cromwell Bottom . It flew off towards Elland at 16:10.

Shibden Park

As I approached the lake at 0945 I saw a Great Egret flying above the water. It did a couple of circuits below tree height, then departed over the trees to the southwest.

 The white cygnet has pale legs, and a pale bill (contrast bill of the normal cygnet at top of first picture). But it has some brown in the plumage, so does this mean it's not a Polish Swan?   Note: Thanks Andy for the reference to the BB article on Polish Swans ( britishbirds.co.uk/article/polish-mute-swans/  ); the photo with this article shows a bird with a similar amount of brown to ours, so ours looks good.

Lee Mount

I ended up on Sky-watch most of the day today but the sky was quiet with max of 6 local Swifts, 2 House Martins and a few passing L B B Gulls as well as the garden birds with Song Thrush singing again.
Best of the day was a juvenile Peregrine over >W around 14:30. It was low down and skimmed over the trees heading up the Wheatley Valley.

Ringstone Edge

These are 5 out of a party of 8 Stock doves.

Ringstone Edge

'Continental' cormorant, P carbo sinensis. The rear edge of the bare skin drops vertically from the gape. So the angle of the edge of the bare skin at the gape is obtuse - ie more than 90 degrees.

Common sandpiper.

Fly Flatts

Called up there late afternoon to scope from the top road for an hour.
Must have just missed BS !
2 Barnacle Geese with c 360 Canada Geese
2 Kestrel
4 Raven went over >N
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Lapwing
6 Black-headed Gulls, including one of this years juveniles
1 Herring Gull
15+ L B B Gulls
A few mipits and that was about it apart from 7 Greylag Geese near Nolstar

Mixenden Reservoir etc

Nothing much doing but a Whitethroat in the bushes was surprise there.. Only 6 House Martins there today.

Also called at Nick's early afternoon, we were just at the front door and a Peregrine went over calling and scattering the Feral pigeons.

Ringstone Edge

Little Owl. Taken with Panasonic Lumix TZ80 (viewfinder; 30x optical zoom).

Mixenden Reservoir and Hunter Hill

Nothing much on the reservoir other than feeding House Martins.

On Hunter Hill - Green Woodpecker and a Little Owl were the best birds of the morning.
c120 Lapwings in the fields near Nolstar must now be a post breeding flock.

I checked Slaughter Gap but it's probably a bit early yet for migrants !

Lower down a Jackdaw flock was making a racket with lots of this years juveniles. Probably around 150 altogether.

Not a lot else other than a few Swallows and Swifts, 9 Linnets, some Goldfinch and Meadow Pipits, 2 Mistle Thrush, 5 Blackbirds and 30+ Starlings.

Shibden Park

Still a pair of Mute swans with 5 cygnets. The male still shows the result of what I've been told was a dog attack. And one of the cygnets is white, with a pale bill: leucistic?

Ringstone Edge

Great crested grebe 2
Tufted duck 3m
Kestrel 1f
Oystercatcher 3 south (pm)
Lapwing 95
Lesser black-backed gull 30
Rook 42

Mistle Thrush

Juvenile on Sunday morning and still evading the Magpies and Great Spotted Woodpecker in the evening with the help of some very protective parents.

Dipper

A juvenile Dipper was perched on a stone in the Calder near Robinwood Mill, Lydgate on Saturday afternoon, no sign of the parents at that point. Adult Grey Wagtail also present.

sinensis Cormorant

Canal at Charlestown, 15 June 2019. I have never before seen a cormorant associating with mallards and geese, and being as approachable as this one was. I was 10-15 metres from the bird. When I first saw it, it seemed too 'skinny' to be a cormorant.
The Helm guide (Vinicombe et al, p102) says that on average sinensis is smaller than carbo. But that the only reliable difference between the subspecies is that on sinensis the rear edge of the yellow bare skin drops vertically from the gape, while on carbo this slopes forward; I think the photos show this feature, though I'm prepared to be contradicted!
Typically sinensis is the inland cormorant, while carbo is the coastal one. This difference is mostly irrelevent with a single bird, but the fact that it was on a canal possibly adds support to this bird being sinensis.
(I'm sorry I only had a 10x zoom with me when I took these - and yesterday's - photos).

Common sandpiper

A Common sandpiper in Shibden Park this afternoon was unusual.

Bird report 2018

The 2018 bird report is now out, you can get hold of one from the usual shop, the GO local store at Woodlesford, Pellon price £5.50p. Hopefully they will also be available at the Fox and Goose in Hebden Bridge shortly at the Hebden Bridge birders meetings which take place the first Tuesday of the month.

HEN HARRIER BROOD MANAGEMENT

Hen Harrier Brood Management

In a few months’ time the outcome of the 2019 Hen Harrier breeding season will be announced. Some people will claim that it has been a good year and others will trumpet the outcome as a great year for Hen Harriers in England. Neither of these claims will be true, nor will they accurately reflect the fact that whatever the number of fledglings actually is this year, the population will remain perilously low for years to come despite the fact that there is sufficient space for c 300 pairs in the northern uplands.

If brood management goes ahead as planned 2019 will not be remembered as a good year for the English Hen Harrier population. It will be remembered, by leading conservation groups, including NERF, and Raptor Workers across the country as the year that Natural England, the English Statutory Nature Conservation Organisation betrayed Hen Harriers to placate the grouse shooting industry. An industry that is, according to Natural England’s own data, largely responsible for the unexplained demise of 72% of Hen Harriers satellite tagged by their own staff. With that knowledge it is not unreasonable to assume that a similar percentage of un-tagged birds ‘disappeared’ under identical circumstances over the same period. It is also clear from press releases issued by RSPB that many of the birds satellite tagged as part of their Hen Harrier Life Project have also suffered the same fate on land managed for grouse shooting.

Natural England’s answer to those facts is the implementation of their flawed policy of Hen Harrier brood management on the basis that it is essential for Hen Harrier conservation and will lead to an increase in the English population. That second assertion may be true during the breeding season but it totally ignores the fact that all of the evidence reveals that persecution is more problematic after the chicks disperse from their breeding grounds. Brood management will do nothing to prevent persecution despite claims to the contrary. Anyone who believes that the entire grouse shooting industry will wholeheartedly welcome an increase in the Hen Harrier population is at best delusional. There are members of the industry who won’t even tolerate the small number of birds that already reside in, or transit through, the uplands at the present time let alone an increased number.

Following the confirmation that brood management has taken place this year NERF fully expects an announcement in due course from Natural England stating how many eggs, or chicks were taken in to the scheme, what the hatching rates were from each clutch, what the fledging rates were and confirmation that the birds were released back onto the moors from which they were removed. The project calls for all of the chicks to be satellite tagged prior to release back to the wild and for reasons of transparency NERF expects to read a prompt press release when the birds either die naturally or ‘disappear’ in circumstances that suggest persecution was the probable cause. The press release should include the location of the last known fix from the satellite tag.

Whilst Natural England has the legal right to undertake brood management, because they licensed themselves to do it. However, there is no right way to do the wrong thing and there is, in NERF’s opinion no justification for pursuing the brood management of Hen Harriers. We often hear the Police say that they cannot arrest their way out of the Hen Harrier persecution problem and in part that may be true. However, it is also true that Government policy should not be influenced by individuals or organisations that rely on criminality for their industry to prosper.

Additionally we need to know how much of the significant cost of brood management is being borne, not by the industry which has created the problem through illegal persecution, but by the British tax payer.

Despite the hype that we can expect at the end of the breeding season, 2019 will not be a good year for Hen Harriers in England.

NERF

June 2019

Little Ringed Plover

One juvenile and three adult Little Ringed Plover at a udesclosed site today.

Todmorden

Late post: a recently-fledged Grey Wagtail chick was seen "parked" on a stone in the Calder alongside Todmorden bus station last Thursday. No sign of the parents or any other juveniles in the short time I could spare to watch.

Several Swifts nesting in houses around the Wellington Road area, and there seems to be a reasonable number of House Martins in their usual Nutfield Street nesting area. Starlings had an active nest in a gutter on Eagle Street, which I assume fledged successfully.

Mixenden Reservoir etc.

Mist down on the tops so I called at Mixenden. A few Swifts, 1 Swallow and 30+ House Martins.
2 pairs Tufted Duck
Not a lot else.

Tried Fly Flatts and saw BS briefly in the mist but nothing much else in the conditions other than 2 Common Sandpipers along the top road.
c200 Starlings down Cold Edge Road then went back home, back to decorating !!
At least it's stopped raining !

Luddenden Dean

Thanks to Calderdale Countryside and particularly to Hugh for organising a walk around the upper dean from Jerusalem Farm this morning.

We were fortunate to be able to support the walk with some birdwatching experience and to welcome around twelve others to see what we could find and enjoy in the dean on such a lovely day.

The Cuckoo on the wires was one of the highlights and actually flew towards us to perch on an overhead wire. It looked amazing through the scope !

Also 2 Kestrels and buzzard, a family group of Grey Wagtails, Swallows, Swifts, Curlew and Greenfinch amongst others and Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroat singing from hidden places !

Many thanks to everyone.
David and Jennifer.

Crimsworth Dean

Several observers tried the dean today in the hope of the Roller still being about. MH was very keen and on site at first light (04:30 ish)!! Negative reports only unfortunately, so maybe it's moved on, hopefully to be re-found !
We did manage a Cuckoo still in good song but not  a lot else of note other than 2 Curlew, plenty Lapwings, Willow Warblers and Blackcap still in good song.

Little Egret

Little Egret seen on Sunday afternoon on the River Calder near Hollas Bridge, Sowerby Bridge. (CS)

Roller at Crimsworth Dean

Roller at Crimsworth Dean this evening. Phone scoped across the valley. Best bet is to park in the Hardcastle Crags car park and walk up the track up Crimsworth Dean until you come to the end of the trees, then view in to the valley to the left of the house. The bird was mostly in the bottom of the valley on wires or sat on walls. It also spent some time on the west side high up on wires but always returned to the bottom. Do not take the track to Gibson Mill you will be going the wrong way. Incredible 3rd record for Calderdale 1824, 1844 and now 2019.

ROLLER!!

More details to come, I'm sure, but a roller was seen and photographed in Crimsworth Dean this afternoon by Richard Raynor.

Many local birders got there to get fantastic views of the bird, including myself, AM, NCD, GW, AC, MBr, DF, AZ, et al. I'm sure some people will post photos shortly. Hell of a bird for Calderdale!

Many thanks Richard R for getting the news out so quickly and gave us a chance to see this amazing bird..Cheers AC

Fly Flatts

Another good find for BS this morning with 3 Sanderling. I headed up there late morning and was pleased to see they were still there and I scoped from the top road.
Also there at the time I had a count of at least 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 62 Herring Gulls.

Luddenden Dean - 6th June - for anyone interested in a Calderdale Countryside Walk

https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/leisure-and-culture/whatson/events/bird-walk-through-luddenden-valley

Luddenden Dean

An afternoon in the upper dean on a lovely day takes some beating though a few more summer migrants would be nice.
Cuckoo calling occasionally, but unseen.
Plenty Blackcaps 12+ singing (this species must be one of our most common and vocal summer visitors this year ?)
1 Garden Warbler singing just at the back of Jerusalem farm
2 Chiffchaff
8+ Willow Warblers
2 pairs of Whitethroat at one location was interesting !
No sign of any Redstarts
Plenty Blue and Great Tits at nest sites and feeding young
2 Nuthatch
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrels
2 Curlew
1 Little Owl calling
1 Grey Heron
1 Moorhen
Plus usual species

Ringstone Edge Reservoir

The site turns up some more 'goodies' this morning. 

No sign of yesterdays Purple Sandpiper but I understand Dave T found these two gems around 8:15 - 2 Sandwich Terns. They didn't stay long, heading off >NE but arrived back a few minutes later staying long enough for one or two 'early birders' to see them.  Just enough for some photo's below courtesy of Nick Mallinson. Many thanks Nick. I understand there are some more photo's on Huddersfield Bird blog as well.

Purple Sandpiper

This is the best I could get of Andy C's Purple Sandpiper at Ringstone today

A great find Andy, it was very hard to spot through the heat haze, spending most of its time resting low between the rocks at great distance and only moving  occasionally, here it is with a Dunlin

This crop is massive but the yellow/orange bill can be seen, just!

Hopefully JM managed to get something better

photo by Dave P.....(great photo)

Barn owls

Site withheld for obvious reasons, but a pair of barn owls are feeding young in a natural nest site near Hebden Bridge. First time I've seen any that weren't nesting in a barn or box.

Calderdale

Some very nice shots of scarce birds in Calderdale today from John M

Sand Martins above and Reed Warbler below. Patience pays dividends !

Whimbrel, Ringstone

Another Whimbrel at Ringstone around midday today, great spot by Dave F

Whitethroat  Friday 17th, a fairly common bird but something different for me at Ringstone

And Goosander with 6 chicks was good to see yesterday, river Calder, Cromwell Bottom with JM

Pied Flycatchers return

A couple of pics over on Calderdale-wildlife.blogspot.com
Apologies for not posting them here as well - laptop getting slower!

Female of the pair seen entering the box 23.5.19. A ringed bird. Again on the other blog.