PHOTO'S

Just some photo's I've taken locally since moving house, now back fully online so should be able to keep you all upto date with photo's and news. Hope you enjoy the pics. Tree Pipit taken using Nokia N90 phone down Nikon S80A scope at Withens Clough.

Fly Flatts

16/07/06 0745-1030hrs hot and sunny vis hazy SSE-2
5 Common Sand inc 1 well grown juv
1m Reed Bunt
1 Goldie
4 Lbb gulls
2 Snipe
2 Grey Partridge
sev Lapwing >E
+ usual sp. BS 

Widdop Rd 15:00 - 17:00

3 Sand Martins Heading East, 4 Kestrels family group, 3 Ravens flew over again heading east and a none birding sighting of interest - a dead Common Lizard, is any one aware of their status in Calderdale? plus the usual mipits.

Marsh harrier

Cream crowned marsh harrier reported this morning at Fly Flatts. (PC).

"The Birds of Ringstone Edge"

Andy Cockroft has placed a draft copy of the above publication in the hide at Ringstone, he asks that everyone reads through it and makes any corrections, additions, changes etc in pencil, he intends to remove it on 1st September with a view to publishing it soon after then. I have looked at it this morning and have to say it is very impressive and includes many of Sean's excellent photos (virtually every page has colour photos), Andy is to be congratulated on this mammoth task, please take the time to proof read it for him.

Black tailed Godwit

2 at Ringstone again tonight.

My garden

A willow warbler with 5 very newly fledged young appeared this afternoon. Judging by the fuss and noise, I think they had literally just left the nest, though I have to admit I didn't know they were nesting in my garden!

Black tailed godwit

Four reported at Ringstone yesterday evening.

Collared Dove or Emu ?

 

Collared Doves

Thanks once again to Colin Campbell for the use of his kitchen after he called me to say the Collared Doves nesting on his patio security light above Shibden have reared a second brood of 2 young. BS 

Grey partridge

The grey partridge pair that have been around the top of Jumble Hole / Underbank recently have produced a minimum of 5 chicks - seen this morning by a neighbour.

Fly Flatts

09/07/06 0800-1000hrs WSW-5 Drizzle then rain
1 Juv Greenshank
1 Dunlin
5 Common Sand + 2 well grown juvs
1 Golden Plover on shore line
2 Grey Wag
2 Grey Partridge
Sev mipits still carrying food
167 Canadas inc young
Not a Twite in sight. BS 

Lee Mount!

Peregrine over tonight at 9 pm - even had time to reach for my bins and fabulous views just over the house. Probably a male and heading SW going to roost somewhere nearby??

A devastated soil hill

07/07/06 1845
4 Singing Skylark
3 Lapwing
1 Curlew
12 Goldfinch
sev hirundines and swifts BS 

Good News from Ringstone

After an unsuccessful trip to West Carlton to see 3 common cranes which have been knocking about I returned to Ringstone this evening for a quick stop at 21:30 and to my delight immediately got onto 1 of the LRP adults which was busy running around and calling. As she/he settled 3 young appeared from amongst the rocks, which was a really nice surprise having been told on Monday that it appeared only 2 of the chicks were left.

Not much else about only a Mallard and some Mipits along with the usual crowd of crows. No sign of the other 2 adult LRP's.

My other trip wasn't a complete waste as I had 2 great views of Barn Owl and paid my first visit to Paul Holme Straits which allowed me great views of what must now rival Blacktoft as the Norths biggest Avocet colony.

Jumble Hole this evening

A woodcock was roding up and down, then a second flew up to join it. Couldn't decide if the second one was challenging it, or display with it. Let's hope he knew.

Earlier, chiffchaff still calling, plus GSwoodpecker, and on Saturday two noctule bats (wingspan = 13 to 16 inches!!)were feeding close to the house.

Another caption competition

Any suggestions?

Update

To fill you in on my sightings over the last 2 weeks since I moved upto Widdop Rd, Little Owl sightings - 1 on walls between Slack bottom and Lea Wood, 1 near the farm before the Packhorse Pub (Ridge), 1 Crimsworth Dean by the ruined farm. Tawny Owl near StoneShay gate widdop rd. c5 Linnets Slack Common. In the Garden, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, House Sparrows, Dunnock, Blue and Great tit's upto 4 juv Blue's and 3 juv Great's. Sparrowhawk, Rook, Carrion crow and Jackdaw's, Chaffinch, 3 GS Woodpecker incl 2 juvs, Collard dove. Pheasant female with 3 juv's in fields in front of house. Also cuckoo calling.

A walk up Whiteholme and Lighthazzles the other week produced the following, 1 adult Redshank with 2 juv's (photo's to follow), Curlew x 2, Skylark x 3, Meadow pipit, Pied Wagtail, Mallard and Wheatear male (my first in calderdale since we where working on the hide.) c6 Twite - 2 colour ringed (red,black,white and red over BTO on right leg also yellow,white,red).

Also had Green woodpecker calling up Crimsworth dean.

Hopefully now I'll be able to keep upto date.

Greetland 1pm

A pair of Raven sailed over Upper Greetland today, going (roughly) East from Barkisland towards West Vale. A great sight, a first for the house.

Crimsworth Dean - am

Sightings from Andy Huyton:

Female redstart seen by previous known nesting place.
Little owl. No sign of spotted flycatchers.