Soil Hill, Ringstone Edge & Cromwell Bottom

   Had an enjoyable day out birding around Halifax with Harry Coghill. We started at Soil Hill (of course) where we flushed two Jack Snipe, had a flyover Golden Plover, a heard-only Redpoll and two Raven blogging in glorious conditions above the fog.

  Whilst there a message came through from DF that there were two drake Pintail on Ringstone, which would have been a Calderdale tick for us both. So we finished off our loop around the Hill before heading over. Upon arriving at Ringstone we quickly found the Pintails in the middle of the reservoir, with two drakes and two females sadly never coming close. In addition, a pair of Wigeon was close to the willows on the north bank.

-Pintail

  Now midday we decided to head over to Cromwell Bottom for a Calderdale tick of Scaup for HC. We arrived but couldn't spot any Scaup from La Casa so headed down to the canal bank. From one of the spots where it is possible to view through the fence we managed to pick out the Aythya flock at the western end of the lake but viewing was nearly impossible. We did manage to pick out the female Scaup, but couldn't make out the male. At least four Goldeneye were also on the lake, along with four Coot.

  Whilst we were watching we spotted a group of four ducks come in from the west and circle the lake. Although we only caught the end of the group, we noticed that the first bird was certainly a drake Wigeon. Fortunately, the group looped around and we were shocked to see the other three birds in the group were female Pintails, so a different group to Ringstone. They looped high above the lake three times, before heading off southwest, although the Wigeon later returned and landed on the lake. 

-Pintail & Wigeon

We finished off the day with a visit to Jay House Lane, but failed to find any Tree Sparrows. 

In total managed 32 species at Soil Hill, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S206721238

In total managed 14 species at Ringstone Edge, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S206725297

In total managed 32 species at Cromwell Bottom, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S206733532

Shibden Park

Single Mute Swan still here. The knob at the base of the bill is a little more swollen than in the photo of 5 November - suggesting that the bird is a male?

Stump Cross

3 Greenfinches: a welcome sight

Short -toed Eagle..Accepted by the BBRC

 

Whiteholme

 1 of 3 Ravens. I still sometimes have difficulty separating Raven from Carrion Crow when a flying or perched bird is seen against the sky, from the side, and there is nothing nearby for size comparison. There is not a vast size difference between a large Crow bill and a small Raven bill. The new photographic 'ID Handbook of European Birds' mentions a useful Raven feature that can be seen well in the lower photo of this bird (which has a small bill for a Raven): "the distal part of the upper mandible is strongly curved".

Red -throated Diver

 Red -throated Diver in Hebden Bridge today for its second day..Mayroyd Marina and Falling Royd...

Latest news

Still no news of the Slavonian  Grebe following the recent frost and icing on the lake at Lee Dam where it stayed for a good while. Several check have been made by several observers at the dam and nearby water bodies including the River Calder and the Rochdale Canal.

A lot of interest today with another Calderdale rarity. A Red-throated Diver found in a most unexpected location - the marina at Hebden Bridge where it appears to have stayed most of the day. Later reported on the canal and the river. As far as I know the last report was of if it drifting down towards Mytholmroyd so it could well be worth looking for tomorrow or the next day or two.

Grebe update..

 The Slavonian Grebe still at Lee Dam today but the water is freezing up rapidly other than the inlet stream (BL). The bird will probably move on elsewhere if the freeze continues......

A single Snow Bunting yesterday from Rishworth Moor (TW) but no sign of it today (LD)

North of England Raptor Forum

The recent conference last Saturday was a very interesting and informative day. Very well organised, this annual event this year was held locally at the Shay Stadium. 

Masses of hard work and dedication from many people. Not only out 'in the field' but also for producing  NERF's most recent publication. Great encouragement all round to every one of us to 'keep up the good work'. With thanks especially to our local stalwarts and organisers on the day - SD and TW.

The 2023 publication is available to download for free on the NERF website.

https://raptorforum.wordpress.com/

Beacon Hill

 10 Red-legged Partridges

Some of the news from the last few days......

The Slavonian Grebe was still being seen at Lee Dam though the pond was icing up yesterday. If the icing gets worse it may move on but for the present it seems to be content to stay at this site. (BL et al) 

4 Whooper Swans went west over Mytholmroyd on Tuesday (MJB), perhaps the same 4 that were present on Baitings res'r on Monday (SB). A single Whooper was on the Albert Road, Pellon Res'r yesterday afternoon (NcD).

2 Common Scoters were on the ski-lake at Cromwell Bottom yesterday (M.Sh).

There were also several reports of Barn Owls being seen in daylight late afternoons - obviously out hunting early during the cold, icy weather.

A few Crossbills, Siskins and Redpolls were reported around  Walshaw Dean along with a few Fieldfare (MJB AC). Fieldfares and Redwings were also seen around the Akroyd Park area and Cunnery Wood in the last few days (RH).

A very smart looking adult Mediterranean Gull has also been showing on and off at Ogden Water in the last week or two (DJB, JJL and BS et al).

Shibden Park

1st cy female Tufted Duck. The iris is orange, (not bright yellow).

Also, 2 males.

Update

 Scarlet Tanager has been reported again at Shelf today so hopefully stay around a while longer.

Slavonian Grebe also seems to be settled at Lee Dam and feeding well according to the reports.

I had an interesting spell on Soil Hill this morning with 24 species. Jut a bit disconcerting with three dogs charging around the top so stuck to the Ned Hill track and the view to the north. Pretty good views of the Yorkshire Dales Three Peaks but many of the hill tops to the south and west were covered in low cloud.

A few limited signs of movement with small groups of Fieldfare, all heading >NE and ended up with a total of 120 plus a single Redwing. Even more interesting were 5 Blackbirds together, following the same route as was 1 Grey Heron. 

Buzzard overhead looking very worn or damaged on the primaries and 2 others distant, really high.

Two adult Herring Gulls passed over too and a Kestrel was sitting it out on a telegraph pole. 

A decent flock of c120 Pink-footed Geese way to the south heading west.

26 Lapwings nearby and 2 Teal on the pond.

Common Buzzard

This afternoon along the canal towpath between Luddenden Foot and Brearley and a check of the wetland and river. Pair of Goosander and aGt least 250 Canada Geese with the long staying single Barnacle Goose. 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

A single Grey Heron was on top of an old nest but wonder how long the nesting tree will last with the Ash die-back progressing apace in the valley.

Barnacle Goose with the Canadas

Scarlet Tanager

Bird of the year for Calderdale and Yorkshire with this North American bird turning up in Shelf. A bird which I understand normally winters in South America. Well done to the finder and for those who managed to see it today including AC. MJB. JJL. and DJB. et al. Unfortunately it did not show during the two and half hours whilst I was there - similar for GS! Pleased to hear that NCD and RA  did manage to see it later on in the afternoon. Further reports in due course hopefully.

Ah below - thanks Daniel

SCARLET TANAGER - SHELF

Well...

  We don't exactly get many MEGA-level species in Halifax, so it was a bit of a shock last night to see the news break of a Scarlet Tanager visiting a garden in Shelf! An American passerine in Halifax! Absolutely ridiculous!

  Fortunately the bird, which had apparently already been present for a week, stayed another night and was still present this morning. During the day, from first light, it showed only a handful of times and never for an extended period. I've seen figures quoted on social media estimating more than 500 twitchers passed through the area today in the hopes of seeing it! And it was great to see many Halifax birders among the masses!

  Fortunately, the bird has no aviary rings, and being a first-winter male, it is the correct age for a genuine migrant. Hopefully, the various authorities will not have any issues accepting it. Should it be accepted, it will represent just the eighth record of this species in Britain, the third on the mainland, and most importantly, the first for Yorkshire! 

  Hopefully, it will continue in the area for some time yet. The bird can be viewed from the end of a cul-de-sac called Bridle Dene, just southwest of Shelf Park. 

  An absolutely incredible record; an American passerine in Halifax! Unbelievable! 

-Scarlet Tanager

In total managed 47 species at the site, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S202128681

Shibden Park

Tufted Duck: 3 males

Around and about

Headed off up Todmorden way this morning. Mist still clinging lower down the valley but at Lumbutts / Mankinholes it wasn't too bad at all. 

Once I located Lee Dam finding the Slavonian Grebe was no problem. A real stunner as was a Great-Crested Grebe on the same pond. At one stage the smaller grebe caught a fish and was rapidly pursued by the larger grebe but the 'Slav' won out.

Also around the site were 1 drake Teal, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Moorhens. 60+ Redwings flew over the fields accompanied by a couple of Fieldfare. 9 Chaffinch flew over along with 2 Coal Tits around the buildings.

Good to meet up there with several other birders including PD and LD (thanks for the lift up Lynne). Thanks too for all the stunning photos posted in recent days on the blog and the group messages..

This afternoon I had a check on Hunter Hill and Balkram Edge with the mist still clinging and a cold NE wind.

5 Grey Partridge, 1 Little Owl and 200+ Jackdaws in the fields looked to be gathering as a pre-roost flock. Also 120+ Starlings were also gathering nearby the Crossroads

Slavonian Grebe

 Some more pictures today from  P B - thanks Paul

Yesterday - 5th Nov

Couldn't post yesterday - of course the highlight for me was heading down to Cromwell Bottom ski-lake mainly on the track of the recent Slavonian Grebe just in case it was drawn down to this site. It wasn't there but I did manage to find 2 Scaup, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Goldeneye and 2 Goosander on the lake. From today's news the grebe has been showing well, still in the Todmorden area. Well done to PB for the early morning find and photos and to DJB and MJB for this afternoons update and photos of the grebe and the two Scaup.

Brian Leecy sent me a very nice shot of the 'Slav' on the canal at Todmorden seen over the weekend.  Thanks Bri for being happy for me to post on here.

Grateful thanks too to, as far as I know, the original finder Bo M - well done.

Slavonian Grebe (BL)

Where might it turn up next ?

Lumbutts Lee Dam & Cromwell Bottom

  Soil Hill was fairly steady this morning, as the VizMig season slowly dries up. The highlight was 538 Fieldfare south, including one without a tail, and 297 Redwing south. The best of the rest were 35 Chaffinch south and 5 Lesser Redpoll. There were still seven Teal on the NK pond, which seem settled in for now, having been present since the last week of October.

  As autumn winds to a close, MJB and I spent the day checking different sites around the Calderdale area. Our first port of call was Lee Dam in the Lumbutts valley, where PB relocated the Slavonian Grebe that had been seen on the Todmorden Canal two days ago. It showed fantastically well at times, catching a few perch in the shallows but spending much of its time in the middle of the reservoir.

  Leaving Lee Dam, we checked New Mill Dam just down the valley and had a drake Mandarin. Next we checked Whiteholme in case something interesting was visiting, but it was not. A quick check of Ringstone brought us a drake Gadwall, which is presumably the same bird originally found by PD on the 3rd November. A Little Grebe was also on the reservoir here. 

  We ended the day checking out the Ski Lake at Cromwell Bottom, to see if the two Scaup found by DJS the previous evening were still present. Initially it looked like they might have moved on, as we could only see seven Tufted Ducks and three Goldeneye from the restaurant viewpoint. It was not all lost however, as MJB spotted a pair of Shoveler sleeping at the very far end of the lake. 

  Walking along the canal to get another perspective, we were able to refind the Scaup. They showed well but it was difficult viewing from the towpath and we eventually went back to the restaurant, from which they were now viewable. With clear views, we decided that the birds were a 1st winter female and a 1st winter male. 

A thoroughly enjoyable day of inland birding!

-Slavonian Grebe

-Greater Scaup

-Gadwall

-Shoveler

In total managed 44 species at Soil Hill, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S201550604

In total managed 22 species at Lee Dam, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S201584281

In total managed 16 species at Ringstone Edge, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S201584345

In total managed 27 species at Cromwell Bottom, the full list here; https://ebird.org/checklist/S201584373