Blackstone Edge

 Another male Goldeneye

Soil Hill

 A blustery but clear walk this morning, producing a few good species despite the strong winds

• Highlight was an Osprey that flew north over Taylor Lane at roughly 07:40. Frustratingly I made a real mess of my attempts to photograph it, and it all too quickly dropped below the hill. Remarkably this is the second individual this week, after one flew north over Taylor Lane on the 20th. On that occasion, I also made a pig's ear of the photos! 

• One Jack Snipe was flushed on the check of the wetter areas of the site. 

• There were seven Teal on the NK Pond this morning

• Two Stonechat were on the walls at the bottom of the North Slope. No Wheatear today, although a male had been present on Taylor Lane for the two days prior.

• A single Redwing was at the bottom of the North Slope, and five Fieldfare were feeding on Taylor Lane.

In total managed 42 species this morning, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S131508920

-Osprey

Whiteholme

 2 Male Wheatears. One, first summer, has brownish wings

A third Wheatear flew SE along Byron Edge drain

Blackstone Edge

 Goldeneye pair

Brent Geese

19th March, 3 Pale Bellied Brent Geese at Fly Flats found by BS is only the second Calderdale record. Also had a first summer Red Kite over twice.

Blackstone Edge

 Another male Goldeneye today

Whiteholme

 Singing male Reed Bunting

Soil Hill

 A very enjoyable walk this morning, with a good variety of species. Was hoping for an early Wheatear but it did not arrive.

• Highlight was a Woodcock flushed at the bottom of the North Slope. Also, a single Jack Snipe flushed from a different area.

• There was a single Long-tailed Tit in the garden of Rabbit Dell along Taylor Lane, not a species I have encountered often on Soil Hill. 

• A pair of Raven flew south before returning back north. 

• A single Teal was flushed from the bottom ditch, and two Goosanders flew NW.

• Three Stonechat were at the bottom of the North Slope; 2 females and a male

• A single Lesser Redpoll flew north over Taylor Lane

In total managed 48 species this morning, with Starling being the only notable omission! the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S131089519

-Woodcock

-Jack Snipe

-Long-tailed Tit

Shibden Park

 Cormorant

Blackstone Edge

 This is the first Pied Wagtail I have seen up here this year

Halifax

 Singing Dunnock in Winding Road

Cold Edge Road

Yesterday afternoon I checked some of the fields near Nolstar. Occasionally manage to find small flocks of Skylarks there in March. Probably migrants or birds returning to our local uplands. Big surprise to find a nice flock of 35 though there could have been more hiding in the field undulations. Awful conditions in the wind and snow flurries but they were feeding away. I've no idea what they were finding to eat !

Lapwings and Starlings were also in the same field - all spooked as a male Sparrowhawk flew through. The Skylarks just hunkered down and thankfully, were not detected.

22 Golden Plover also together in one spot on the edge of the moor with vocal Curlews, and more Starlings and Lapwings.

Blackstone Edge

 Male Goldeneye

Also, my first Skylark of the year was at Byron Edge

Whiteholme

 Oystercatcher

1 of 2 male Red Grouse

This is a nice patch of 2 different Cladonia lichens. I think the one with red (spore filled) fruiting bodies is C. floerkeana, while the one with cup shaped fruiting bodies is C. fimbriata.

Byron Edge

There is a single early flowering Coltsfoot by Byron Edge drain: altitude 385m (1263 ft)

 

Hebden Bridge

 Pair of Dippers

This shot shows feather tracts and eyelid quite nicely

Jay House  11-03-2023

The two Curlews (M & F) arrived last week. I think these are the same pair which have been returning for the past six years. As far as I'm aware they have never bred successfully.

 

 Cromwell Bottom Reserve 7-03-2023

The very elusive Water Rail finally appeared briefly this morning until a barking dog came charging by and scared the living daylights out of the poor bird.

Whiteholme

 Teal pair

Shibden Valley

Pair of Stock Doves

Also, on New Bank, my first flowering Blackthorn of the year.

The earliest widespread tree blossoms in spring in Calderdale are Blackthorn (white) and Cherry Plum (commonly pale pink).