A very interesting 2 hrs this morning up there picking up a light movement of big gulls and a skein of Pink-footed Geese (eventually)!!!
1 Common Buzzard over and another reported heading down the Wheatley Valley from Ogden late morning thanks to Nigel, but I couldn't pick it up!
54 'pinks' >NW changed to >W as they got over Mt Tabor at 11.05
28 Herring Gulls >W mostly singles though two groups of 9
5 Great Black- backed Gulls (2 and 3) >SW
10 Common Gulls >NE
230 Woodpigeons >NE
1 Pied Wagtail >SW
Around the site
1 Green Woodpecker heard
17 Linnets but no Twite
10 Meadow Pipits
c40 Lapwings over the fields toward Shelf
1 Kestrel
Masses of corvids
Great visibility high today though haze in the valleys - The Red Arrows were giving the sky a going over towards Lincolnshire too. I couldn't pick out the aircraft but the vapour trails gave it away!
Monday, January 20, 2014
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Wainstalls area
A very good afternoon, especially for Little Owls with 2 at Balkram Edge, another 2 along Castle Carr Road and yet another 2 in the upper dean.
1 Sparrowhawk female
1 Common Buzzard over > SW
1 male Kestrel
2 Raven 'cronking' over very high >NW
1 male Stonechat
c180 Fieldfares off to roost
3 Goosander flyovers towards Cold Edge late afternoon
Also of interest were a few small groups of big gulls heading up the Calder Valley late afternoon but they were too far away for identification though they were probably Herring Gulls with Gt B Backs!
No sign of any 'pinkies'. !!
1 Sparrowhawk female
1 Common Buzzard over > SW
1 male Kestrel
2 Raven 'cronking' over very high >NW
1 male Stonechat
c180 Fieldfares off to roost
3 Goosander flyovers towards Cold Edge late afternoon
Also of interest were a few small groups of big gulls heading up the Calder Valley late afternoon but they were too far away for identification though they were probably Herring Gulls with Gt B Backs!
No sign of any 'pinkies'. !!
Starlings II
Went to look for the starling flock in Bacup Road. We were too early for the fly-past so we drove up Sourhall Road. Saw c200-300 birds on wires and in field then they gradually joined up in a huge flock - more birds joining all the time and flew onto one of the pylons on opposite side of the main road. By now we'd driven down to the main road and across it onto a track. After 10 mins or so they took off in a flock from the pylon and swirled above us for 10 mins before settling into long grass/reeds on the hillside. Bob estimated c2,000 birds in total. 20 fieldfare in field at the side of Sourhall Road.
Sandra
Sandra
Shelduck for Ogden
A nice surprise at Ogden this morning with 3 Shelduck on the water in thick fog.
As soon as the fog lifted so did the birds flying a full circuit then off >SW down the Calder Valley.
A site first for me, any more records of Shelduck for Ogden ?
Also present was an ad Cormorant in breeding plumage and a male Goldeneye.
BS
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Other news today
Lee Mount - 2 skeins of Pink-footed Geese, both very close together >W over Lee Mount across lunch - time totalling c200 birds (JS and KS) I was elsewhere!!! so missed another lot.
This is an unprecedented year for such a regular occurances in this New Year over Calderdale (though we are likely to miss a lot - especially at night). I have checked coastal reports and they don't appear to be coming in off the sea at east coast sites so they are unlikely from the continent. It is more likely they are movements from Norfolk and Linc's/Humberside and probably moving towards Southport, Ribble or perhaps The Solway Firth (or Ireland maybe)?
Please keep the reports coming in!
Also today - the 1st winter Scaup was still on the fishing lake at Brookfoot this afternoon (NCD and DF)
This is an unprecedented year for such a regular occurances in this New Year over Calderdale (though we are likely to miss a lot - especially at night). I have checked coastal reports and they don't appear to be coming in off the sea at east coast sites so they are unlikely from the continent. It is more likely they are movements from Norfolk and Linc's/Humberside and probably moving towards Southport, Ribble or perhaps The Solway Firth (or Ireland maybe)?
Please keep the reports coming in!
Also today - the 1st winter Scaup was still on the fishing lake at Brookfoot this afternoon (NCD and DF)
Friday, January 17, 2014
Amazing migration!!
I see on the BirdGuides web site, a report of a Red-necked Phalarope from the Hebrides was fitted there with a geo-locater in 2012 and returned to the same site in 2013. The amazing bit is that it was tracked in the mean time to the Pacific coast of South America - Peru. A round trip of 16,000 miles.
I've not been able to copy the link but the full story is on the BirdGuides and probably the RSPB site?.
Managed to copy part of the report thanks to Bird Guides and RSPB
A tracking device, which weighs less than a paperclip, has helped scientists uncover one of the world's great bird migrations. It revealed that a Scottish Red-necked Phalarope migrated thousands of miles west across the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, a journey never recorded for any other European breeding bird. In 2012, the RSPB, working in collaboration with the Swiss Ornithological Institute and Dave Okill of the Shetland Ringing Group, fitted individual geolocators to ten phalaropes nesting on Fetlar (Shetland), in the hope of learning where they spend the winter.
After successfully recapturing one of the tagged birds when it returned to Fetlar last spring, experts discovered it had made an epic 16,000-mile round trip during its annual migration — flying from Shetland across the Atlantic, south down the eastern seaboard of the US, across the Caribbean, and Mexico, ending up off the coast of Peru. After wintering in the Pacific, it returned to Fetlar, following a similar route.
I've not been able to copy the link but the full story is on the BirdGuides and probably the RSPB site?.
Managed to copy part of the report thanks to Bird Guides and RSPB
A tracking device, which weighs less than a paperclip, has helped scientists uncover one of the world's great bird migrations. It revealed that a Scottish Red-necked Phalarope migrated thousands of miles west across the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, a journey never recorded for any other European breeding bird. In 2012, the RSPB, working in collaboration with the Swiss Ornithological Institute and Dave Okill of the Shetland Ringing Group, fitted individual geolocators to ten phalaropes nesting on Fetlar (Shetland), in the hope of learning where they spend the winter.
After successfully recapturing one of the tagged birds when it returned to Fetlar last spring, experts discovered it had made an epic 16,000-mile round trip during its annual migration — flying from Shetland across the Atlantic, south down the eastern seaboard of the US, across the Caribbean, and Mexico, ending up off the coast of Peru. After wintering in the Pacific, it returned to Fetlar, following a similar route.
Wheatley Valley and Swales Moor
I checked the former landfill site this morning but it was a bit quieter than the last visit. The large grass area was soaked and didn't have the 'wellies' on ! So, I stuck to the tree belt areas.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Song Thrush
10+ Bullfinch - they must love this area
10+ Redwing
3 Jays
A few other usual finch sp. and a few tits around but no sign of Goldcrests
Without the car today so I legged it up to the top of Swales this afternoon in the hope of some 'pinkies' on the move - just my luck recently !!!! too late for Andy's 70 over Northowram about 11:00 and too early for Sheila D's (via NK) c200 over towards Ogden around 15:30
18 Linnet and 1 Twite - just in the weedy area at the top of the lane from Ploughcroft but they were soon off and I couldn't re-locate them.
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
A few Common Gulls roaming around the tops and the usual multitude of corvids
c40 Lapwings were circling over towards Beacon Hill area. They must be feeding in the fields somewhere up Southowram area as they settled back down having probably been spooked by a raptor (?)
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Song Thrush
10+ Bullfinch - they must love this area
10+ Redwing
3 Jays
A few other usual finch sp. and a few tits around but no sign of Goldcrests
Without the car today so I legged it up to the top of Swales this afternoon in the hope of some 'pinkies' on the move - just my luck recently !!!! too late for Andy's 70 over Northowram about 11:00 and too early for Sheila D's (via NK) c200 over towards Ogden around 15:30
18 Linnet and 1 Twite - just in the weedy area at the top of the lane from Ploughcroft but they were soon off and I couldn't re-locate them.
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
A few Common Gulls roaming around the tops and the usual multitude of corvids
c40 Lapwings were circling over towards Beacon Hill area. They must be feeding in the fields somewhere up Southowram area as they settled back down having probably been spooked by a raptor (?)
Starlings
Our nephew tells me that there's a starling roost just off Bacup Road, Todmorden not far from the junction with Sourhall Road. Can't go and see today but will look tomorrow and report back. But perhaps local birdwatchers are already aware. My nephew isn't a birder but he says it's a huge flock and has been coming to roost for a few weeks.
Know anything about this Jeff?
Sandra
Know anything about this Jeff?
Sandra
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Pink-footed Geese still going over
There were about 150 Pinks west over Skircoat during the morning and about 120 west over Brighouse in the afternoon.
It was nice to hear birdsong today as well:
Mistle Thrush at Savile Park
Dunnock at Skircoat
Wren at the Calder/Hebble confluence.
Cormorant (obviously not singing) coming in to the river here saw me and decided to perch half way up a pylon.
Earlier in the week I alarmed a female Goosander under the bank and it swam away giving a croaking noise. Something I'd never heard before.
It was nice to hear birdsong today as well:
Mistle Thrush at Savile Park
Dunnock at Skircoat
Wren at the Calder/Hebble confluence.
Cormorant (obviously not singing) coming in to the river here saw me and decided to perch half way up a pylon.
Earlier in the week I alarmed a female Goosander under the bank and it swam away giving a croaking noise. Something I'd never heard before.
Other news today
The first winter Scaup was still on the fishing lake at Brookfoot this afternoon from yesterday (GD and SL)
The solitary Pink-footed Goose is still with Canada Geese at Scammonden Water (GS)
A drake Goldeneye on Ogden Water as well today from Chris S.
The solitary Pink-footed Goose is still with Canada Geese at Scammonden Water (GS)
A drake Goldeneye on Ogden Water as well today from Chris S.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Cold Edge
This morning - it was cold up there! (probably not as cold as Soil Hill though!!)
There was a lot of activity with birds feeding in very wet fields, obviously picking up earthworms and having a feast!!
c280 Fieldfare
c200 Starlings
c200 B H Gulls
c100 Common Gulls
3 adult Herring Gulls was unusual as they are usually seen passing through rather than staying to feed
2 Kestrels
4 Red Grouse
11 Canada Geese
And to crown it off - a female Merlin sitting on a rock took off soon after I got it on the scope it and it pursued a Meadow Pipit trying to strike it around 10+ times before they were lost from view so not sure what the outcome would be. The mipit had to be very agile!!
2 Little Owls together at Balkram Edge (getting cosy)
There was a lot of activity with birds feeding in very wet fields, obviously picking up earthworms and having a feast!!
c280 Fieldfare
c200 Starlings
c200 B H Gulls
c100 Common Gulls
3 adult Herring Gulls was unusual as they are usually seen passing through rather than staying to feed
2 Kestrels
4 Red Grouse
11 Canada Geese
And to crown it off - a female Merlin sitting on a rock took off soon after I got it on the scope it and it pursued a Meadow Pipit trying to strike it around 10+ times before they were lost from view so not sure what the outcome would be. The mipit had to be very agile!!
2 Little Owls together at Balkram Edge (getting cosy)
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Mixenden and Ogden area
A Sunday afternoon in the area between Ogden golf course and Mixenden Res'r turned up a few interesting birds despite the low cloud, gloom and poor light.
c60 Lapwings went high over the golf course towards Cold Edge direction but lost from view over the hill so they may have come down there or perhaps moving towards the west coast?
1 bonus bird was a Green Woodpecker at Lower Brockholes
4 bullfinch feeding in the hawthorns at the lower end of the golf course
Stodfold area produced c120 Fieldfare and 2 Redwings and 4 Moorhen on the former trout farm pond.
Mixenden Res'r was pretty dead - just 4 Mallard!
c60 Lapwings went high over the golf course towards Cold Edge direction but lost from view over the hill so they may have come down there or perhaps moving towards the west coast?
1 bonus bird was a Green Woodpecker at Lower Brockholes
4 bullfinch feeding in the hawthorns at the lower end of the golf course
Stodfold area produced c120 Fieldfare and 2 Redwings and 4 Moorhen on the former trout farm pond.
Mixenden Res'r was pretty dead - just 4 Mallard!
Other news today
Pinkies again - what a good few days for them passing over our area!
98 over Northowram at 10.10 Andy C - (possibly the same ones as described below from Muxy)
130 over Northowram at 10.45 (AC)
A massive skein over Queensbury with 257 >W at 11.20 (NK and BS) see West Yorkshire Birding blog for some great pictures and Queensbury Birders blog for details.
I missed the lot again!!!!
98 over Northowram at 10.10 Andy C - (possibly the same ones as described below from Muxy)
130 over Northowram at 10.45 (AC)
A massive skein over Queensbury with 257 >W at 11.20 (NK and BS) see West Yorkshire Birding blog for some great pictures and Queensbury Birders blog for details.
I missed the lot again!!!!
Pink Footed Geese
Could well be a good day to see them moving. Big skein just over Mount Tabor(10.15ish) going West.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Other news today
Barkisland - I had a quick look at Bowers Mill pond early on. Lots of potential for some good birds in and around the streamside and woodland there as well.
8+ Teal displaying
1 Dipper
1 Moorhen
10 Mallard
1 Grey Wagtail
Ringstone Res'r
Didn't have long there and good to have had a chat with DF 'on the early shift'!
1 Goosander flew in
c15 Stock Doves headed over towards the north fields
Quite a few Fieldfares and Starlings up there but didn't have time to do a count, similarly a lot of B H Gulls in the surrounding fields and a few Common Gulls
Also a report of
c50 Pink-footed Geese heading over towards Halifax Town Centre at around 10:10 (AC)
Another group of c100 over Cromwell Bottom >NW at 12.35 ish (BH) - perhaps the same group as DJP had over Stoodley Pike - see below Erringden Moor report.
Also a single 'pinkie' with Canadas at Scammonden Res'r this morning (JB)
8+ Teal displaying
1 Dipper
1 Moorhen
10 Mallard
1 Grey Wagtail
Ringstone Res'r
Didn't have long there and good to have had a chat with DF 'on the early shift'!
1 Goosander flew in
c15 Stock Doves headed over towards the north fields
Quite a few Fieldfares and Starlings up there but didn't have time to do a count, similarly a lot of B H Gulls in the surrounding fields and a few Common Gulls
Also a report of
c50 Pink-footed Geese heading over towards Halifax Town Centre at around 10:10 (AC)
Another group of c100 over Cromwell Bottom >NW at 12.35 ish (BH) - perhaps the same group as DJP had over Stoodley Pike - see below Erringden Moor report.
Also a single 'pinkie' with Canadas at Scammonden Res'r this morning (JB)
Erringden Moor
pink footed goose 100apx nw over stoodley pike
fieldfare 60
starling 200
raven 2
gbb gull 3 west
Broadhead clough
nuthatch 1
Friday, January 10, 2014
Mixenden Res'r
5 Canada Geese there today with no sign of the recent Goldeneye or Tufted Duck
Gull numbers down with only 30 B H Gulls and 20 Common Gulls late morning
Gull numbers down with only 30 B H Gulls and 20 Common Gulls late morning
Pink-footed Geese
Pinkies on the move across lunchtime today mostly >W and > NW
c200 over Ovenden at 11.35 (AH)
c120 over Cromwell Bottom at 11.55 (BH)
c150 over Jay House Lane near Clifton at 12.15 (DF)
c300 over Sowerby Bridge at 12.25 (SB)
c50 over Jay House Lane at 12.30 (DF)
and I missed the lot !! Might be some more yet.
Thanks for all the reports. We are very fortunate in West Yorkshire to witness these migrations and winter movements. Keep them coming!
1 straggler over Soil Hill area this afternoon (NK) and another 11 over Northowram (AC)
832 for the day!
c200 over Ovenden at 11.35 (AH)
c120 over Cromwell Bottom at 11.55 (BH)
c150 over Jay House Lane near Clifton at 12.15 (DF)
c300 over Sowerby Bridge at 12.25 (SB)
c50 over Jay House Lane at 12.30 (DF)
and I missed the lot !! Might be some more yet.
Thanks for all the reports. We are very fortunate in West Yorkshire to witness these migrations and winter movements. Keep them coming!
1 straggler over Soil Hill area this afternoon (NK) and another 11 over Northowram (AC)
832 for the day!
Swales Moor
This morning
11 Red-legged Partridge near the top
18+ Meadow Pipits on the top
No sign of the Linnet flock today
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel at Ploughcroft
2 Stock Dove
2 Common Gulls
Usual lots of corvids
Fieldfare 4>W
Woodpigeons 220 >NE
Bullfinch 4 >W
Chaffinch 4 >W
Starling 2 >NW
1 Cormorant >W
11 Red-legged Partridge near the top
18+ Meadow Pipits on the top
No sign of the Linnet flock today
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel at Ploughcroft
2 Stock Dove
2 Common Gulls
Usual lots of corvids
Fieldfare 4>W
Woodpigeons 220 >NE
Bullfinch 4 >W
Chaffinch 4 >W
Starling 2 >NW
1 Cormorant >W
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
Elland area
I tried a quick look at Brookfoot - the ski-lake and the fisherman's pool this afternoon but was unable to locate the weekend's Scaup - or any other diving duck for that matter! Just a decent flock of B H Gulls and a few Common Gulls with 2 adult L B B Gulls.
On the way back we got stuck in traffic on the by-pass - it was worth it though as a Common Buzzard flew over, flapping hard in poor conditions for a raptor, over from Salterhebble area towards West Vale.
On the way back we got stuck in traffic on the by-pass - it was worth it though as a Common Buzzard flew over, flapping hard in poor conditions for a raptor, over from Salterhebble area towards West Vale.
