Soil Hill & Ogden

  At lunchtime I went down to Ogden to have a look at the drake Shoveler found in the morning by BS, on the way picking up JJL, also on his way to see the bird. We quickly picked up the Shoveler on the east bank, but as we were making our way towards it I was distracted by one of the gulls in the middle of the reservoir. 

  Helpfully it was not particularly distant and it took no time at all to confirm my suspicions that the bird was a Mediterranean Gull. It was bathing in the middle of the reservoir, occasionally flying around, for around 15 minutes before it flew to join the gulls roosting on the west bank. We headed round and had very close views of the bird preening, before after around 20 minutes it flew off south towards Mixenden Reservoir, and did not return whilst we were there. 

-Mediterranean Gull

-Shoveler

In total managed 23 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S201112759

  The morning on Soil Hill was very frustrating, with the fog only beginning to lift at around 09:00 and even then not clearing fully until after 10:00. Fortunately there were good numbers of thrushes still to be observed with 574 Redwing and 580 Fieldfare, but many others heard only in the fog. The only other bird moving in any numbers were Starling with 226 heading southwest. 

  Additionally of interest were three Teal on the NK Pond and four Grey Partridge on Perseverance Road. 

-Fieldfare

In total managed 42 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S201091557

Trektellen count here; https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/767/20241102

Copley area

We tried Hollas Bridge area and the fields the south side of the railway this afternoon.

2 Buzzards showing well, 1 Grey Heron , 2 Moorhen, 1 Fieldfare, 5 Mistle Thrush, 1 Jay, 1 Grey Wagtail

6 Cormorants went over high, heading down-river - and just on leaving, a Little Egret dropped into the lagoon.

Other reports from earlier today included a good number of Fieldfare and Redwing in Luddenden Dean (MH). 

A 400 mixed flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares were also reported from Blake Dean - along with a Ring Ouzel.  (HBB)

1st November - Cromwell Bottom

1 Little Egret, 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Cormorant, 1 imm drake Goldeneye, 4 Goosander, 5 Grey Wagtail, 10 Moorhen, 1 Mute Swan, 6 Tufted Duck.

Ogden, Back Lane.

Fog still lingering and no sign of any moving birds today so I tried a familiar spot this morning.

Fewer birds here than yesterday but nice to be getting some thrush's, all very wary about disturbance.

5 Fieldfare, 30 Redwings feeding on hawthorn berries, 12+ Blackbirds, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush.

8 striking Bullfinch feeding in hawthorn bushes.

2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers - both carrying spruce cones into cover.

That was about it....

Cold Edge

 Hard work finding birds up there this afternoon....

165 Canada Geese, 3 Mallard, 1 Moorhen, 1 Grey Heron and a flyover Cormorant >S.

1 Red Grouse. Little else other than a few gull sp. and corvids.

Ogden - Back lane

Set off out this morning looking at the local hills covered in mist and low cloud and wondering where to go !. #

Finally ended up at Ogden despite 'the clag'. Not a bad move with plenty of activity in the woodland there. Lots of small birds with Blue/Great/ Coal and Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests. Several finch sp. including several Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch, 8 Goldfinch, 4 Bullfinch. Also a Reed Bunting and 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers.

Thrushes in good measure 14+ Blackbirds, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush, 60+ Redwing and a flock of freshly arrived Fieldfare looking disorientated, finally heading in a long stream 140 + towards the wind-farm and into more fog. Also a single Raven.

Failed to get any photos other than a distant DJB heading down the slope after his early stint on 'The Hill'.

Soil Hill

 This morning finally saw the first Fieldfares of the autumn arrive on Soil Hill. Despite the low cloud, fog and generally gloomy conditions, a few flocks of thrushes still passed through Soil Hill, along with a few Woodpigeons and a variety of finches. 

• The highlight of the morning by far was two Hawfinch that flew southwest at 07:25. Sadly they were too quick for me to get any photos. A written description is provided below

At 07:25 I recognised a distinctive call, similar to Redwing but sharper and shorter. The source of the call was helpfully not far away, being two short-bodied finches with an undulating flight not too dissimilar from Starling. I got on the birds quickly through the bins, and saw the distinctive wing-bar confirming that the birds were Hawfinches. Sadly, they were already level with me and quickly moving away. I grabbed for the camera but was not quick enough, only able to watch them fly away from me heading southwest.

• In total I had 226 Redwing go southwest, with 45 northeast and 200 Fieldfare southwest with another 17 northeast. Birds were clearly disorientated by the fog, with other flocks heard within the cloud but not low enough to be counted. 

• There were also a few Woodpigeons moving, with 312 southwest and 96 northeast, but the problems were similar to the thrushes in that the conditions made it difficult to properly gauge ongoing movement. 

• A few finches were on the move, including 23 Chaffinch, a single Brambling and Lesser Redpoll, with nine south and seven north. 

• Finally a Merlin flew south

-Fieldfare

-Redwing

In total managed 45 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S200772902

Trektellen count here; https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/767/20241030

Castle Carr Road

 An interesting walk on a lovely afternoon.

2 adult Herring Gulls on the top of two telegraph poles just after Bridge Terrace. There were two last year on and off even through into spring 2024 so suspect they are the same two - we will never know !!!

Nearby  - 2 Stonechats, 2 Kestrel, 2 Meadow Pipits and Buzzard and pleased to find the pair of Little Owls down the hillside. Also some distant Redwings.

Also some 20+ Redwings reported from NK near Brookhouse, Ogden.

Soil Hill

 The forecast of early morning fog was fortunately incorrect, and although VizMig was quite slow there was decent variety of birds moving over the three and a half hours spent watching. The highlight on passage was six Brambling, with a flock of four and then two singles. 

  It has been a good autumn so far for Jack Snipe on Soil Hill, with the first individual recorded on the 24th September and then being seen on four dates before today, although many days I have not checked for them to reduce disturbance. Today was the first day I used my thermal imager to try to find them, and it was also the first day with two individuals. 

-Jack Snipe

In total managed 43 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S200673369

Trektellen count here; https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/767/20241029

1st winter Caspian Gulls.....

Nick has asked me to post these photos of Caspian Gulls located at the Fly Flats gull roost last week on 21st and 22nd October by him and Andy. Three individuals photographed. 

Another one suspected but not fortunate enough to get any photos of the fourth bird. 

Nick would welcome any comments.

Caspian 1 - one photo above of the center bird 

......................................

Caspian 2 - 2 shots - above centre, 

and below centre right)

.......................................

Caspian 3 (below 4 shots)

 above-  showing underwing

above left - in flight showing wing bars and black tail band

above - centre front showing white underwing

above - centre front facing left

Cromwell Bottom & Ringstone Edge

 With heavy rain in upland north Calderdale I headed to Cromwell Bottom for the morning, and struck lucky with a Little Egret on the River Calder near the Avocet works. It then flew off, heading upstream and appeared to land, but I could not refind it. 

-Little Egret

  After I headed up to Ringstone to see if the weather had brought down any wildfowl. On the reservoir were a few gulls but otherwise only Mallards. Despite the terrible conditions, I did pick out a Wigeon flying over which is presumably the same bird present here yesterday found by PD. It did not stop, continuing into the gloom.

-Wigeon with Mallard

Cromwell Bottom

A quick visit this morning to check the ski-lake, though viewing is still frustratingly limited, I did mange to pick out a drake Common Scoter, a first for the year for me !

A Little Egret was present in the woodland overlooking Brearley wetlands this afternoon (MartynH)

Fly Flats

I went up to see if the 3 Twite were still present from the last couple of days. No show unfortunately. Looks like they have moved on. I did go armed with some Nyger seed which I scattered about in an attempt to encourage them to stay awhile if they do return. A Wren was in and out of the juncus there !

A lovely bright sunny morning with a good breeze. Didn't find a lot else other than 3 Red Grouse flew across the road, 3 Stonechat still at the north end and 280 Woodpigeons went >SW while I was there.

A  few Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls  were loitering on the water.

Shibden Park

Tufted Duck: adult male moulting out of eclipse, (bright yellow iris, adult bill pattern)

Fly Flats

Prompted by a sighting from AC and NCD last evening of 3 Twite at the north end of the reservoir I headed up there this morning. Poor conditions with fog/ low cloud and visibility not good at all. Fortunately all three birds were still there feeding on the 'weedy' embankment. Quite approachable, given stealth, I managed a few shots in the poor light. These are the best I could do of 2 of the three.

Formerly a common site on local moorlands and it's fringes in years gone by. They suffered a catastrophic decline in the south Pennines and I would certainly class them as a rarity in Calderdale nowadays. My last previous record at Fly Flats was at the same spot with just one bird on 19th Oct 2018.

Not a lot else in the conditions other than 3 Stonechats, 2 Meadow Pipits, 12 Carrion Crows, 1 Jackdaw, 1 Red Grouse. Visible migration was also evident with 650+ Woodpigeons passing through in several groups via 'The Nab' - they seemed to know the direction they were heading.... but who knows in that fog !!!

Lee Mount and Hardcastle Crags

Just an hour of VisMig in reasonable conditions between 8:30 and 9:30 this morning over Swales Moor. Mainly on the watch for more Redwings. A trickle of them >S with one larger group of 80 and ended up with a total of 170 and not  a lot else.

Late morning into the afternoon in Hardcastle Crags. A noisy flock of Pink-footed Geese went over-head >W but unseen whilst we were in the woodland just after 11:00. 

The whole woodland was so quiet for small birds. We did make an effort (!!) to spend some time on top of 'The Crag' (up the hill beyond Gibson Mill). More birds from there with 300+ recently arrived Redwings regularly getting spooked, appearing anxious in their new surroundings though still fantastic to see in such large flocks. Also a Green Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Buzzards along with 2 Ravens getting hassle from the local Carrion Crows.

Soil Hill

   After two days of solid fog, it was nice to actually get back up the Hill and see more than 100 metres! In the preceding days, quite a few Redwing seemed to have arrived with myself and JJL hearing plenty passing over us on the night of the 15th.

  So, I was hoping for a good passage of Redwings over Soil Hill today, with 1866 going south between 07:30 and 11:00, although DJS comfortably bested this total just over the Hill. There were a few other species on the move as well, notably my latest-ever Swallows at this site, with six going south during the morning. 

  A few notable totals from this morning, all south;

1866	Redwing
263	Woodpigeon
208	Starling
33	Chaffinch
22	Siskin
8	Lesser Redpoll
6	Swallow

-Redwings

-Swallow

In total managed 47 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S199202682

Trektellen count here; https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/767/20241017

Hebden Water, Hebden Bridge

Dipper

Cromwell Bottom

The day started off with interest....Whooper Swans on the move being reported passing over Calderdale in small groups as well as skeins of Pink-footed Geese (DJB, SiB, AR et al) and a Little Egret over Northowram (AC).

I met up with AT at Cromwell Bottom. had a good catch up and a good look round to see what we could find around the reserve. The site was really quiet for small birds other than a few Robins, Great Tits and a Wren etc. A Little Grebe and Moorhen were just above the weir along with a Grey Heron, a Cormorant flyover and later Jays were calling. A Dipper on the river and Mute Swan on the canal.

The ski-lake was a nightmare to get any sort of view at all but we did find an early returner with a female Goldeneye along with a pair of Tufted Duck. Just a few gulls including 1 adult Herring Gull and adult LBBG.

Later on in the day we had a report of a single Whooper Swan on the ski-lake (MSh) - another good find.

Whiteholme

1 of 8 birds here today - 5 Crows, 3 Meadow pipits

Soil Hill etc....

I tried Soil Hill this morning (though later than DJB)!!

I didn't pick any movement at all other than some birds that were really high  >SW too far away for any idea what they were. I only did the summit, as was NK so we had a nice chat. 1 Stonechat, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Jays went >N I watched them out of sight. Another Jay 'blogging', 1 Kestrel and a hand-full of Meadow Pipits.

Report from Rochdale birder (SA) at Blackstone Edge of 16 Whooper Swans went over heading >SE around 10:00. Time to watch out for some more over Calderdale any time now, hopefully more skeins of Pink-footed Geese too. Occasionally both species can be heard overhead during the night !

North of England Raptor Forum

 A local event in Halifax. Not to be missed for anyone interested in Birds of Prey. Their struggles to survive and their conservation.

https://raptorforum.wordpress.com/2024/09/09/bookings-for-the-annual-raptor-conference-are-now-open/

ALSO....................

 

On Thursday 17th October at 7:30 pm, in conjunction with the Calderdale Bird Conservation Group, we will be hosting a talk in the Visitor Centre by Andy Huyton about birding in Romania.  There are limited places available and attendance is free of charge. 

 

Please reserve your place by following the link below.

 

https://buytickets.at/cromwellbottomwildlifegroup/1427247

 

You will be asked to register your name and email address and will receive confirmation (or otherwise) of your place(s).

Beacon Hill

 An interesting hour this afternoon heading up Long Lane and around the beacon. 

A Stonechat was a new one for me up there. Plenty, 40+ Goldfinch on thistles and a flock of 38 Linnets lined up on some overhead wires then flew across to land on the roof of a barn full of hay.

Buzzard and a Green Woodpecker also heard, 1 Jay and a Little Owl calling.

Hunter Hill area

23 species this afternoon - the best was a pair of Little Owls. They seem to have been scarce around my usual haunts in the last year or two even though I systematically check many of the traditional spots. It was nice to come across these two and making a lot of noise between them at one point.

Also distant were 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Jay, Kestrel and Barn Owl.

Castle Carr Road

 Sunday afternoon 6th October - 

Stonechat (1 of 3 present)

Kestrel

Wheatear

Withens Clough

Reservoir circuit this afternoon in the sunshine. Plenty of shoreline with 3 red-head Goosander, but no waders on it other than a flock of c45 Lapwing that know the spot where they are well hidden !

Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Raven and at least 3 Kestrels. 1 Green Woodpecker calling and a small flock of Goldfinch near the plantation. Unable to locate any Stonechats today.

15 species in total.

Soil Hill - 5th October

Sky was 'dead' - nothing moving at all, that I could see, other than 2 Redwings and a single Mistle Thrush both species heading south through the gap between 'the hill' and Ogden.

I didn't venture down to the bottom of the north slope but viewed from the top. A single Jay was 'blogging' along with a few Meadow Pipits (14+) and a Kestrel. 9 Rooks also went past towards Illingworth, probably having vacated their roost.

Soil Hill and other updates

 An interesting couple of hours on 'the hill' this morning. Not a lot on the top other than 2 Snipe flyovers and 6+ Meadow Pipits, a Kestrel, 7 Red-legged Partridge and a few Common Gulls.

The north slope and tree lined gully were a little more interesting though, as expected, no sign of Sundays Yellow-browed Warbler. It was nice to find 3 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Chiffchaff and a number of Goldfinch along with a Moorhen on 'the pond'. Good to head back up the slope with NK who later on found a Whinchat just above the Ned Hill track. I missed that one but found a nice Wheatear in the YW field along Ned Hill Road.

No sign at all of any visible migration.

Wheatear

A scarce bird today for Calderdale nowadays. From JJL with a drake Pochard at Ringsone. Some nice photo's on Johns blog.

Checking the big gull roost at Fly Flats early evening NCD and RA managed to find 5 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, with a Little Egret dropping in towards last light.

Just a flavour of recent news.!

We don't get very many reports of Great White Egret in Calderdale even though they are reported fairly regularly from some other sites in West Yorkshire. Of great surprise therefore was 8 - yes 8 found at Ringstone (DF) on the morning of 22nd September. They didn't linger and moved on around 09:40. A quite exceptional record.

A Little Egret was also seen near Copley on Friday 27th September (CS)

Skeins of Pink-footed Geese were being reported over Calderdale from 9th September with good numbers on the move mostly in a westerly direction though some later ones were easterly bound. In the last week or so the numbers reported have tailed-off though there could be more any time now. day or night.

A few Swallows are still around, possibly with a few House Martins though now mostly on the move. Swifts and Sand Martins are well gone. Chiffchaff's are still being reported as well as a Blackcap yesterday (PB) from Luddenden Dean and there is still time for some Wheatears.

A scattering of winter visitors has appeared in the last few days with a Redwing being reported from Slack Top (SiB) and then c10 in Luddenden Dean (PB) yesterday as well as others from Sowerby (MB). At least 24 Redwings were over Ogden this afternoon with 14 Mistle Thrush, a Song Thrush and a few Blackbirds making the most of rowan berries (DJS). Goldcrests also seem to be arriving in suitable locations including Cromwell Bottom (KC) and Luddenden Dean (PB).

It is well worth listening out for more Redwing flocks. Try after dark and with decent hearing they may well be heard passing over. ! (sorry don't think I can add the call on here)

Also from JM - a local Tree Sparrow ringed by SD in May 2019 is still going strong at one of our sites. Now aged 5yrs and 4 months. Amazing considering the average life-span is 2 years.

Black-headed Gull, J0190, black on white

I now have data about this bird from 'ringmerking.no', the Norwegian ringing scheme based in Stavanger.

It is a male that was ringed as an adult on 21/4/2021 in Oslo, Norway. Since then it has taken up long-distance commuting. I'll list where it has been seen between then and now:

1/4/2022 Oslo, 24/6/2022 Oslo

20/12/2022 Shibden Park

14/4/2023 Oslo, 12/5/2023 Oslo

27/11/2023 Shibden Park, 4/1/2024 Shibden Park

6/4/2024 Oslo, 10/5/2024 Oslo

22/8/2024 Shibden Park, 28/9/2024 Shibden Park 

Oslo is about 1050 km (650 miles) NE of Halifax

Soil Hill

 Absolutely amazing scenes on Soil Hill this morning! My most wanted dream bird for the site!

It was a slow morning of VizMig over Soil Hill today, with just a few Meadow Pipits and Woodpigeons heading south from first light. At 08:05 I thought I heard the call of a Yellow-browed Warbler in the North Slope Tree-Line about 20 metres away from my watchpoint, but a search found nothing. However, about 15 minutes later I heard it again and this time the source of the call flew out of the bushes being hotly pursued by a Chiffchaff. I followed it to where it landed and set off to get a closer look, now certain that it was a Yellow-browed Warbler. Helpfully it flew back out of the scrub it had landed in and returned to the North Slope Tree-Line, and I was able to grab some poor flight shots which confirmed my suspicions!

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER!

My 128^th species on Soil Hill!

Over the next two hours the bird showed on and off in the willows and hawthorns at the bottom of the North Slope Tree-Line, sometimes well but usually at the back of the trees where viewing was more difficult. Strangely it only ever called when it was receiving grief from the Chiffchaffs that were present, only on one occasion calling of its own accord. This made it difficult to track, as did its apparent decision to keep to itself, not associating with the small tit flock that was in the area.

An absolutely brilliant bird, incredible to think that this little piece of Siberia has ended up here in Pennine West Yorkshire!

Also of note, I had my first Great-spotted Woodpecker for the year on Soil Hill as well, which is my 100^th species on Soil Hill in 2024! 

-Yellow-browed Warbler

In total managed 40 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S196856766

Trektellen count here; https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/767/20240929

Shibden Park

I remember last winter seeing a Black-headed Gull here with a white ring. It had been ringed in Norway. I'll send details of this bird to the BTO.

 

Shibden Park

Tufted Duck female

Beacon Hill

Little Owl

Soil Hill

 Despite the poor weather of the last few days, the Hill has still hosted a few interesting birds worth reporting here. 

  Today, despite the gales, saw a Red Kite drift over heading SE. The birds progress was slow as it drifted from Thornton Moor Reservoir south, eventually cutting directly over the North Slope. In addition, there was a single Wheatear on Taylor Lane and two Golden Plover flew over heading SE.

  Yesterday there was a break in the weather enough to give the bushes on the Hill a good check, and this produced a immature Whitethroat at the bottom of the North Slope, which is my second latest here after last years October bird. Additionally, there were two Wheatears around, as well as four Chiffchaffs.

-Red Kite

-Whitethroat

-Wheatear

In total managed 29 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S196606561

In total managed 41 species yesterday (26th), the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S196505694

Hunter Hill (am) Castle Carr road (pm)

 A poor morning in the 'claggy' hill fog which was stubborn to move with little wind to move it on.

Very few moving birds observed other than a few gulls, 6 Swallows and 18 Meadow Pipits >S. Around the site a decent mix of species including Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 6 Skylark, 40+ Meadow Pipits, 30 Goldfinch and a single Linnet.

An afternoon stroll along Castle Carr Road didn't turn up much but it's always nice to come across a pair of Stonechats and a single Wheatear with a single Red Grouse calling on the moor.

Cold Edge and Hunter Hill

Some Vismig late morning turned out very well with a few decent birds and a continuous trickle of migrants. Highlight was two cream crown Marsh Harriers coming up from Cold Edge dams, rising all the time until they were really high drifting >NE over Mixenden res'r and beyond. One was slightly larger than the other, probably an adult female with an inner primary gap whilst the other bird was fully winged. Watched until out of sight.

Most of the movers were >SW including 157 Meadow Pipits and 3 Snipe being the best. 3 Swallows went >N.

On my way home and passing the Delvers in Wainstalls, a juvenile Peregrine 'whacked' a Woodpigeon with a flurry of feathers flying. Miracle..... as the Woodpigeon escaped into the trees and the Pere moved off. Don't know what state the Woody was in ?

This afternoon we had a walk around the dams. A lone Pink-footed Goose was in a field but not a sign of any Canadas ! No duck other than a few Mallard and single Moorhen. 1 Sparrowhawk went over. A large flock of 80+ Goldfinch on thistles and 40+ Meadow Pipits in the same field. 

Shibden Park

Little Grebe 2

Soil Hill

 Winds finally switched from east to WNW this morning, so was able to get up to Soil Hill and not have to deal with fog and murky conditions. Although there were no numbers of birds on VizMig there were a few notable species during the three hours I spent on the Hill between 07:30 - 10:30.

• The morning's highlight was a Great Egret that flew north at 09:40, coming up the Ogden valley and continuing northwards towards Keighley. This is a full patch tick for me, my 127th species on Soil Hill. Possibly one of the eight Great Egrets seen at Ringstone by DF on the 22nd.

• A Cream-crowned Marsh Harrier flew southeast at 09:10, tracking from behind Thornton Moor Reservoir, and passing over towards Bradford. It is possible this bird never made it into Halifax airspace, as it must have been very close to the border as it passed over Keelham.

• The only species that passed over in any numbers this morning was Common Snipe, with a record total of 24 birds either going SW or dropping onto The Shay. These were complimented by the first Jack Snipe of the autumn, which flushed from the usual location at the bottom of the North Slope. Three Golden Plover that went south were the only other waders on offer. 

• The migrant species selection was limited to just two Chiffchaffs in the North Slope Tree Line. 

-Great Egret

-Marsh Harrier

-Common Snipe

In total managed 39 species today, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S196311736

Trektellen count here; https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/767/20240924

Ringstone Edge

 Did the rounds of Soil Hill, Whiteholme and then Ringstone today, and it was at this latter site where something interesting finally appeared with this nice White Wagtail that dropped onto the shoreline adjacent to the road in the company of a female Pied Wagtail. Sadly it did not stop all that long, before both birds flew off northwards.

-White Wagtail

Cold Edge

Tufted Duck

Soil Hill

Sadly I had already resigned myself to my first Spotted Flycatcher-less Autumn since 2018. But this morning the easterly winds delivered this very showy individual in the Koi Farm Copse off Taylor Lane. My latest individual at this site. 

Nothing else of note today, greatly hindered by the fog.

-Spotted Flycatcher

In total managed 32 species this morning, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S195653886