Pink Feet Movement

Caught c100 pink feet going west over Tabor about half 2. Bumped into NCD and he confirmed we had just missed an even greater number (see his blog).  A relatively small dark Buzzard was over the field behind the New Inn for several minutes at lunchtime.  T

RINGSTONE

 

Four Shelduck late afternoon

Other news

Only one report of Pink-feet on the move through today with 1 skein NW towards Fly Flatts over Cold Edge just after 12 noon (MH) along with c100 Fieldfares in the same direction.

Mixenden Res'r

I checked there briefly this morning
3 Goosander
1 f Goldeneye
11 Mallard
c200 mixed B H and Common Gulls and one 1st winter Herring Gull
20+ Redwings over the plantation
60+ Jackdaws
1 Goldcrest

Pinkies !!

Thanks for all the reports today of pinkies on the move mainly through the Calder Valley W or NW from 10 am till at least 4 pm.

I have tried to avoid duplication but in addition to the ones posted by Mike, below looks like c120, 60, 20, 45, 60, 165, 95, 130 and late afternoon 130 and 70. A lot might have also gone through un- noticed !

200 reported over Airdale today and noisy flock heard over Oxenhope in the dark at 19.20 (via DB and HC)

Wonder if these are new birds into the country or just the Humberside/Lincolnshire lot etc moving around. Birdguides not posted anything - any theories ?
Wonder if there will be more tonight or tomorrow ?

Records 2012

Sorry to be a bore but I really need records for 2012 asap within the next 2 weeks if possible (due to the fact that I might be moving home soon). Thanks to all those who have already sent their records in, they are being processed into the data base now. Also if anyone has any photos for 2011 and 2012 could you let me have them on a disc, thanks.

More Pinkies & Waxwings

Three flocks of 120+, 60+ and 20 flew W/NW over EGP this morning - within an hour.
On the ground, a Sparrowhawk made an unsuccessful attack on the Tits at the feeder station.
And just out of area there was a flock of 13 Waxwings at the bottom of the car park at Whiteley's Cafe/Garden Centre - a great view over a cup of tea ! Whiteley's is just by the A62 near Roberttown.

Info Please

Has anyone seen Peregrine falcon roosting at wainhouse tower or in town this winter so far.?? Also has water rail been seen at High royd recently.??

Lee Mount

Thanks to a call from Andy in the Shibden Valley this afternoon about a flock of 48 Pink-feet heading NW - our way. I had nearly given them up, thinking they may have changed direction, but they came over 8 minutes later - no wonder they had taken a while, as they were really struggling in the blustery wind. I couldn't get a proper count over the houses but as they went through another group of 6 followed them, there may have been more? Brian picked them up in the distance from Soil Hill and Nick also from Roils Head with a count of 67. Maybe another group joined the 48 after leaving Shibden.
A good start to the New Year - cheers Andy !

Kirklees Hall estate

A Buzzard drifted over and dropped into woodland -in the Hudds area.
5 Mistle Thrushes in a ploughed field.
Grey Wagtail perched on a 'phone wire was a change from the usual riverside & canalside views.
20+ Goldfinch, 3 Bullfinch and a very flighty flock of 70+ Redpolls in the trees.

Walshaw Dean

Very little about in howling winds.
- 14 mallard on Lower Walshaw. Nothing at all on Middle or Upper.
- f. kestrel on the wall of Upper Walshaw
- 9 red grouse seen and heard.

That's literally all!

Dipper @ the Crags

A quick walk with the kids at Hardcastle Crags didn't produce much other than a dipper at the edge of the quieter mill pond up stream from the mill (to the left of the stream).

Recent news

From 24th Christmas Eve
Fly Flats - nothing!
Withens Head - c60 Fieldfare in fields opposite the wind farm car park.
Cold Edge - 1 Mallard!
Mixenden Res'r - drake Goldeneye and a drake Goosander.

Today and yesterday from Elland ski lake , 14 Goldeneye (JB AC)

Waxwings in Brighouse

Here is a short film of waxwings in Brighouse today.

Filmed by Chris Burns. LINK to film

Hartshead & Bailiffe areas

A low flying Buzzard at Kirklees Hall and c90 Redwings feeding in the stubble fields, before gathering in the same tree.
In the fields above Bailiffe Bridge - 400+ BHGulls and a few Commons; 150+ Starlings; 50+ Fieldfares; and across the road - c200 Lapwings and c20 Golden Plover, but too windy up there to get a decent photo !

Mixenden Res'r

Everywhere seems fogged out and rained off today but I did manage a peek at mixi res this afternoon. Just about 40 BH and a few Common Gulls and 5 Goosander and that was it!

Blog images

Following a recent post on the blog which included a superb photo of a Dipper it has been raised that the use of other peoples photographs without their express permission may be in breach of copyright. Whilst I am sure it wasn't the posters intention to in any way cause a problem (indeed was more to allow us all to appreciate a great photo) I believe there may well be copyright issues here.  I am no expert but the photographer concerned is a professional and has a copyright to the photo displayed on it.  I have attempted to search the web for guidance on this issue and although can't come up with anything concrete there are several documented bloggers who have been at risk of prosecution for using other peoples images without permission.  As a result and to err on the side of caution I have removed the photo, shame as its a superb shot.  If anyone disagrees with this decision and can prove that we are not putting ourselves at risk of potential copyright issues please clarify on here.

Caspian Gulls

There are 4 Caspian Gulls at Neepsend, Sheffield. Our turn now??

See LINK

Various sites

Moor End - Mount Tabor landfill
11 Lapwings

Cold Edge
1 f Goldeneye
18 Carrion Crows
2 Rooks

Fly Flatts
2 Carrion Crows
2 'cronkers'
Red Grouse

Mixenden Res'r
10 Goosander
usual gulls including 1 L B B G

Ogden
2 Reed Buntings by the 'Giants Tooth' and 6 Bullfinch came over high from Thornton Moor calling and dropped into the plantation
Red Grouse heard calling on the moor
1+ Goldcrest and 1 Great Tit but hardly any other small birds in the woodland
1 Dipper below the embankment
A big rock fall recently in the big quarry above Ogden Clough!

Urban waterbirds

http://www.stevenround-birdphotography.com/

Some great shots here..............

A walk down the Hebden on 2nd December produced no stream birds in the depth of the frost, but yesterday there was a dipper and a grey wagtail in the Hebble Beck just outside Dean Clough's Viaduct Cafe, a not unusual sight. Wonder if the water is warmer for them there . . . .