See BS's blog for yesterday, 16th October- West Yorkshire Birding - there is a link on this page.
Top birder Bri, for finding and photographing a Caspian Gull at Fly Flatts yesterday afternoon. Probably a first winter bird. A great reward for a lot of hard work day after day on the local patch and in all conditions. These are tricky birds to identify at all ages though there have been a growing number of reports in the UK in recent years but none identified in Calderdale, until this one !
Like a true birder - BS was careful about not jumping to conclusions on the birds identity but checked it out with others after KM suggested Caspian and then supported by comments from other experienced birders.
Well done Bri. Think you deserve a reward !!
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Monday, October 16, 2017
Mixenden Reservoir
Had a walk around the site late morning trying for late warblers in the shrubbery areas around the western edge. Nothing much doing at all until a call from BS lifted the gloom "pinks over Queensbury >SW"
A few minutes later they came overhead, heard first then seen high over - 44 of them towards Wainstalls. Thanks Bri
A distinct lack of small birds around the site.
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Sparrowhawk
1 L B B Gull
A few Common and Black-headed Gulls
40+ Jackdaws
A few minutes later they came overhead, heard first then seen high over - 44 of them towards Wainstalls. Thanks Bri
A distinct lack of small birds around the site.
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Sparrowhawk
1 L B B Gull
A few Common and Black-headed Gulls
40+ Jackdaws
Friday, October 13, 2017
Brighouse to Lee Mount
Early warning at 09:39 this morning from DF - Pink-footed Geese over Brighouse >W.
11 minutes later they were over Lee Mount 51 of them - a great sight - thanks Dave !
Interesting that last week when the 'pinks' were on the move in the blustery wind it was taking them over 15 minutes minutes to get here. Conditions were more favourable for them moving today.
Also from home today, 3 Redwings passed over >W just after dawn and later a Sparrowhawk as well as the usual pair of Great-spotted Woodpeckers and 2 Nuthatches on the garden feeders.
11 minutes later they were over Lee Mount 51 of them - a great sight - thanks Dave !
Interesting that last week when the 'pinks' were on the move in the blustery wind it was taking them over 15 minutes minutes to get here. Conditions were more favourable for them moving today.
Pink-footed Geese
Another 'shout' from DF at 12:37 - with another c60 >W over Jay House Lane, Clifton but they missed me this time so wonder if they came up Shibden Valley or Queensbury maybe (??)Also from home today, 3 Redwings passed over >W just after dawn and later a Sparrowhawk as well as the usual pair of Great-spotted Woodpeckers and 2 Nuthatches on the garden feeders.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Fly Flats etc.
I did the rounds this morning thinking the poor weather might produce something, though sideways rain at Fly Flats would deter most birds - nothing there other than a lost looking brown cow down by the former Twite feeding area !
Mixenden Reservoir was similar other than 2 L B B Gulls and 3 alba Wagtails >W
The highlight .... ...was 1 Pink-footed Goose still in the fields with 20 Canadas at Cold Edge.
Mixenden Reservoir was similar other than 2 L B B Gulls and 3 alba Wagtails >W
The highlight .... ...was 1 Pink-footed Goose still in the fields with 20 Canadas at Cold Edge.
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Shibden Head
A stroll up the valley this afternoon didn't produce a lot but the weather was pleasant, warm and dry.
1 Green Woodpecker calling
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Common Buzzards (distant)
2+ Sparrowhawks
2 Kestrels
1 Grey Wagtail
6+ Jays
Usual small birds including 2 Goldcrests
1 Song Thrush
6+ Mistle Thrush
1 Green Woodpecker calling
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Common Buzzards (distant)
2+ Sparrowhawks
2 Kestrels
1 Grey Wagtail
6+ Jays
Usual small birds including 2 Goldcrests
1 Song Thrush
6+ Mistle Thrush
Mistle Thrush
North of England Raptor Forum
The annual NERF Conference for 2017 is being hosted by Northumbria Ringing Group at City Campus East, Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Other enquiries: email nerfconference@gmail.com
Monday, October 09, 2017
Stodfold area (between Mixenden and Ogden)
Not a lot found this afternoon
4 Mistle Thrush
Adult female Sparrowhawk
2 Jays
72 Canada Geese on Mixenden Reservoir
6 Stock Doves
No sign of any Stonechats at the lower end of the golf course.
48 Pink-footed Geese over Lee Mount at 15:30 as we pulled the car up outside home. Count verified by BS who got them going over near Fly Flats a few minutes later. Thanks Bri
4 Mistle Thrush
Adult female Sparrowhawk
2 Jays
72 Canada Geese on Mixenden Reservoir
6 Stock Doves
No sign of any Stonechats at the lower end of the golf course.
48 Pink-footed Geese over Lee Mount at 15:30 as we pulled the car up outside home. Count verified by BS who got them going over near Fly Flats a few minutes later. Thanks Bri
Todays other news
A nice photo of a Tree Sparrow today from JM at a site near Jay House Lane
Tree Sparrow (click photo to enlarge)
Several reports from yesterday and today of Redwings arriving in Calderdale from the continent along with just a few Fieldfare. Sightings from Mixenden plantation, Northowram, Claremount, Walshaw Dean and Gorple areas. We can expect a good influx within the next week or two - always dependent on weather conditions !
A Swallow today over Northowram (AC) and another Stonechat at Wainstalls (Dave B)
From yesterday a single Whooper Swan at Ringstone (GS and AT) and an unknown number of Whooper Swans over Fly Flatts - heard in the fog, but unseen ! (BS)
From yesterday a single Whooper Swan at Ringstone (GS and AT) and an unknown number of Whooper Swans over Fly Flatts - heard in the fog, but unseen ! (BS)
Sunday, October 08, 2017
Swales Moor
In interesting afternoon along Ringby top in the sunshine !
Nice to meet John and Sue up there as well, shame you left when you did with a Peregrine, a Raven and a Stonechat not long after you left. !
At least 4 Great Black-backed Gulls including one that landed on a roof-top next to a Lesser Black- backed Gull showing the difference in leg colour and size, which is not always easy to appreciate. Several Herring Gulls also moved through > W
1 Kestrel
1 Common Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Pied Wagtails
Not many small birds about other than a few 'mipits' and Goldfinches though, as usual, plenty of corvids.
Nice to meet John and Sue up there as well, shame you left when you did with a Peregrine, a Raven and a Stonechat not long after you left. !
At least 4 Great Black-backed Gulls including one that landed on a roof-top next to a Lesser Black- backed Gull showing the difference in leg colour and size, which is not always easy to appreciate. Several Herring Gulls also moved through > W
1 Kestrel
1 Common Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Pied Wagtails
Not many small birds about other than a few 'mipits' and Goldfinches though, as usual, plenty of corvids.
This adult Gt B B Gull towered over the L B B Gull and the Carrion Crows
Peregrine with a very full crop (looking directly into the light)
Tuesday, October 03, 2017
Pink-footed Geese - update
What a day for those of us who had the opportunity and the good fortune to continue with the bonanza of 'pinks' still moving >W and >NW over Calderdale from this morning.
The birds were obviously struggling against the gusting westerly winds and skeins were getting split up and struggling to catch up with the leaders. It's amazing the in-built urge to keep moving even when conditions are far from perfect. In one instance this afternoon a flock of 40 came down to rest on Warley Moor between Slade (opposite the wind-farm) and the Rocking Stone. Despite other flocks passing overhead they were not interested in moving on !
With thanks to AC, DF, MS, VJ et al for the frequent updates from Northowram, Jay House Lane - Clifton, Highroad Well and Warley Moor/Fly Flatts.
The total for the day (thanks partly to photographic counts) and discounting duplications comes to 1,726 though with such a big movement of birds it's likely that other skeins were missed. Some may well still be going over during the night and maybe into tomorrow. (?)
The birds were obviously struggling against the gusting westerly winds and skeins were getting split up and struggling to catch up with the leaders. It's amazing the in-built urge to keep moving even when conditions are far from perfect. In one instance this afternoon a flock of 40 came down to rest on Warley Moor between Slade (opposite the wind-farm) and the Rocking Stone. Despite other flocks passing overhead they were not interested in moving on !
With thanks to AC, DF, MS, VJ et al for the frequent updates from Northowram, Jay House Lane - Clifton, Highroad Well and Warley Moor/Fly Flatts.
The total for the day (thanks partly to photographic counts) and discounting duplications comes to 1,726 though with such a big movement of birds it's likely that other skeins were missed. Some may well still be going over during the night and maybe into tomorrow. (?)
Pink-footed Geese
'Pinks' on the move late morning over Calderdale starting with 35 over Lee Mount at 10:38 closely followed by 38 over Northowram - then it continued.....In blustery conditions some of the skeins were all over the place but persisted W> or >NW till over lunchtime.
Counts over Lee Mount, mainly looking towards Swales Moor, were 35, 16, 25, 31, 12, 50 and 25 (counts checked from photos) - totalling 194 and maybe more to come this afternoon.
Other reports came in from AC at Northowram and from DF at Jay House Lane, Clifton so there may be some duplication, possibly up to another 200 to 300??
Also moving this morning over Lee Mount, mainly (>W) were c45 Meadow Pipits, 20+ unidentified finches, 8 Swallows (>SE), c60 Starlings, 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Sparrowhawks and 2 Common Buzzards. A good morning to be outside !
Other reports came in from AC at Northowram and from DF at Jay House Lane, Clifton so there may be some duplication, possibly up to another 200 to 300??
Also moving this morning over Lee Mount, mainly (>W) were c45 Meadow Pipits, 20+ unidentified finches, 8 Swallows (>SE), c60 Starlings, 1 adult Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Sparrowhawks and 2 Common Buzzards. A good morning to be outside !
Monday, October 02, 2017
Lee Mount
Out doing a few jobs this morning then on arriving back home soon after 10 am got out the car to hear a Raven "Cronkin" high above me. Soaring about and display tumbling for a few minutes over the ridge above Shroggs Park so I shot in for the camera, wrong lens on !! Then the bird was away towards town centre direction. What a bird, fantastic and only the second record for this location in over 40 years !!
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Stonechat bonanza !
This species seems to have had a very good breeding season and birds are now either dispersing from local sites or arriving in Calderdale from other areas and being seen by several observers.
A bird mainly seen on the moorland fringes, especially where there is some rough ground including heather, billberry and brambles etc - and fence posts to perch as lookout post for prey.
14 together on a fence line yesterday at Walshaw Dean (NCD DF)
6 at Ogden - Lower Brockholes earlier this week (PJWS) and still 6 there today.
11 at Fly Flatts last weekend (BS) and 6+ there yesterday
6 at Cold Edge today (PJWS)
1 at Jay House Lane, Clifton today (JM)
5 at Fly Flatts today (BS)
Plus other numerous sightings over the last few weeks.
Stonechat (male below and female above at Cold Edge April 2017)
A bird mainly seen on the moorland fringes, especially where there is some rough ground including heather, billberry and brambles etc - and fence posts to perch as lookout post for prey.
14 together on a fence line yesterday at Walshaw Dean (NCD DF)
6 at Ogden - Lower Brockholes earlier this week (PJWS) and still 6 there today.
11 at Fly Flatts last weekend (BS) and 6+ there yesterday
6 at Cold Edge today (PJWS)
1 at Jay House Lane, Clifton today (JM)
5 at Fly Flatts today (BS)
Plus other numerous sightings over the last few weeks.
Stonechat - typical habitat (click photo to enlarge)
Rose-ringed Parakeets
Nice shot below from RS of three individuals at Friendly - Sowerby Bridge. They have been reported for some time from that area though expansion into the rest of Calderdale is quite slow - for now !
They are also sometimes known as Rose-ringed Parakeets as well as Green Parakeets. (Psittacula krameri). An introduced species from South Asia and sub-saharan Africa, they are now feral in several European countries. Thanks for the photo Richard.
They are also sometimes known as Rose-ringed Parakeets as well as Green Parakeets. (Psittacula krameri). An introduced species from South Asia and sub-saharan Africa, they are now feral in several European countries. Thanks for the photo Richard.
Friday, September 29, 2017
Fly Flats and Withens Head
Fly Flats
2 Wheatear and 6 Stonechats on the walls alongside the top road and 2 Wrens !
Female Merlin after a load of 'mipits' across by the wind-farm towards Thornton Moor
1 Raven >N
1 Kestrel
2 distant Common Buzzards
Red-legged Partridge (heard)
Red Grouse
Withens Head
1 Wheatear
1 Kestrel
2 Wheatear and 6 Stonechats on the walls alongside the top road and 2 Wrens !
Female Merlin after a load of 'mipits' across by the wind-farm towards Thornton Moor
1 Raven >N
1 Kestrel
2 distant Common Buzzards
Red-legged Partridge (heard)
Red Grouse
Withens Head
1 Wheatear
1 Kestrel
Ogden and Mixenden Reservoirs
First thing in the rain - and still hoping for some terns !
Ogden
Passerine Alley (path to east side of reservoir)
1 Green Woodpecker
3 Chiffchaff
5+ Goldcrests with a small tit flock
1 Bullfinch
10+ Blackbirds
1 Song Thrush
2 Jays
100+ Meadow Pipits high >W after the rain stopped
1 female Wigeon
1 Cormorant
1 Kestrel
Male Sparrowhawk put up c60 Chaffinch on the far side weedy shoreline
Mixenden
1 Chiffchaff
Ogden
Passerine Alley (path to east side of reservoir)
1 Green Woodpecker
3 Chiffchaff
5+ Goldcrests with a small tit flock
1 Bullfinch
10+ Blackbirds
1 Song Thrush
2 Jays
100+ Meadow Pipits high >W after the rain stopped
1 female Wigeon
1 Cormorant
1 Kestrel
Male Sparrowhawk put up c60 Chaffinch on the far side weedy shoreline
Mixenden
1 Chiffchaff
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Ovenden Moor
1 Wheatear on the top near the wind farm this afternoon and a solitary Raven - not much else - other than 22 Red Admirals moving >W
