Harrier Roost

We are lucky that our local gamekeepers are not like the ones in Nidderdale and North Yorkshire. Its one of our birding highlights in Calderdale to watch these beautiful moorland birds in winter. The last few weeks has been busy with at least 7 birds being seen . An adult male a thrird winter male ,a 2cy MAle , 2 Juv ringtails , an adult female and a tatty 2cy female. A cream Crown Marsh , Sparrowhawks , Buzzards , Kestrel , Barn Owl and Peregrines....(I missed the Hobby !!!!)

Woodpigeon and PINKS...

Woodpigeon x 11 789 ss/w Stock Dove x 3 s/w Jay x 1 south Raven , 2 (1 + 1) west Great Spotted Woodpecker x 2 south Meadow Pipit x 30 sw Chaffinch x 25 s/w Siskin x 4 s/w Redwing x 200 + s/w Starling 43 west Skylark x 1 Pinks aprox 600 west 260 east

Caspian Gulls and TWITE...!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3 Twite at Fly flatts were the first  I've seen for a while away from the feeing stations , great little birds  , 4 Stonechats , 1 Sparrowhawk , 2 Kestrel and 2 Barn Owls.

GULLS.....

   There are at least 2500 gulls coming into roost at Fly Flats at the moment and probably many more as they are still coming in when its well past dusk.

Aprox 70% are Lesser Black backed Gulls a good mix of Adults , 2CY birds and 1st winters but there are a few still in juvenile plumage only managed 1 intermedius type so far.

27 % are Argenteus British Herring Gulls with a few big Argentatus mixed in .

 The rest are a mixture of Common and Black headed  Gulls  mainly in winter plumage , there were 3 juvenile Common Gulls which looked very odd really dark birds with white collars..!!!

We also found 2  Adult Yellow - legged Gulls and 3 1st winter Caspian Gulls,,well worth a look if you like your Gulls , but its cold on that exposed west bank and it takes 30 minutes to walk there through mud and standing water,,,,,,,NCD and AC,,,,,

Pic DJS thanks

Walshaw Dean Area..

                                     Thanks to Gary W and Matt B for pics
 An excellent couple of visits to Walshaw , ---

Crossbill x 4 (2 red males ), 1 Brambling (f) ,200 Goldfinch ,, 40 Redpoll , 30 Siskin , 15 Chaffinch , 3 Linnet , (6 finches in same field of view) 1 Chiffchaff , 200 Redwing , 60 + Mistle Thrush ,  3 Stonechat , 2 Barn Owl , 1 Marsh Harrier , 5 Hen Harrier (1 male , 2 Juvs , 1 2cy Male and 1 2cy Female ) , 2 Sparrowhawk  , Buzzards , Kestrels, 2 Ravens, 2 juv Peregrine Falcons and 1 Moorland Hawker

Barn Owls....!!!!!

 On the 5th March 2006 , I looked out of my front window and saw a Barn Owl a beautiful sighting hunting low over the grass , it was the first sighting in Calderdale for many years and at least 20 years since I'd seen one. It stayed for a few nights and then was not seen again . A few twitched it...!!!

The next year 2007 the first pair raised 2 young and again this was the first breeding for 20 + years. Since then they have become the commonest Owl in Calderdale and its not uncommon to see many birds (10+)   in an evening up on the moors edge. 

 Last night I looked out the window and there was a Barn Owl hunting the field in front of the house  , to say I was made up was an underestimation , it was the first one since March 2006 ...funny old game this birding lark........

Roe Deer

 

Black -tailed Godwits , Wirral

 

Moths of Fraser's Hill

 

Vines Rustic

                                                         Vines Rustic

Funny how one minute its a mega rare and then next , it becomes a regular autumn species , only 2 years ago I got my first Vines Rustic , last night had 3.... Plenty good moths this week but could be the end of a poor year here in Northowram , mainly due to weather but also a lack of moth motivation from me. Next year will be better...14 Pied Wagtails , 6 Meadow Pipits , 1 Common Gull and 6 Black -headed Gulls this  morning a Tawny Owl in the night and Robins have got there voices back.......

COMMON DARTER in the garden on the 26th September,,,,,,

Northowram Cricket Pitch

 The first 57 Pink -footed Geese over Northowram this morning , Ive seen a few  V formations distantly but this was right over the house. A big move of Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipts the last few days with 38 Meadow Pipits and 18 Pied Wags this morning all on the deck this morning  . 3 LBBgulls , 27 BH Gulls , 41 Starlings , 6 House Sparrow ,2 Blackbirds and a couple of Swallows. 2 Raven over on the 19th and a Chiffchaff in the small trees. A few Jays heading south last few days as well....

   The sun has been good for butterfly's with 10 + Small Whites , 1 Large White , 3 Red Admiral , 1 Comma , 5 Small Copper , 10 + Speckled Woods , 1 Peacock and  a late Purple Hairstreak . Silver Y in the moth trap and the usual autumn fare..........

France .......The Dordonge..

 Although the main purpose of this trip was to play cards(Bridge) the garden was quite superb for butterfly's. If I would have had a net and a bit more time 50 + species would have been possible but very happy with 29 . On arriving at the Old converted barn I had to meet everyone as I did not know anyone there , there was an old apple tree right in the centre of the garden with a few  rotting apples still on the branches, on one of these apples was a Lesser Purple Emperor...ahhhhh do I say hello or try and get a phone shot of the LPM....hahahahah.......

  List of Butterfly's in the garden 

Swallowtail

Scarce Swallowtail

Large White

Small White

Brimstone 

Cleopatra

Clouded Yellow

Wood White /sp

Small Copper

Sooty Copper

Common Blue

Silver -Studded Blue

Holly Blue

Brown Argus

Adonis Blue

Chapmans Blue

Red Admiral

Southern White Admiral

Lesser Purple Emperor

Silver -Washed Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

Weavers Fritillary

Knapweed Fritillary

Glanville fritillary

Gatekeeper

Wall

Speckled Wood (orange form)

Great Banded Grayling 

Small Heath

Also seen from Garden , Black Woodpecker , Great Spot W , Green Woodpecker , Short-toed Treecreeper , Corn Bunting , Alpine Swift , Cragg Martin , Pied Flycatchers , Spotted Flycatcher , Serin , Honey Buzzard , Kingfisher ,  Cattle Egret , GW and Little Egret, ....Also probably missed a 2 tailed Pasha , just flew through the garden at break neck speed ..very large with white band on wing....drat...

Snowdon Horseshoe

 

Raggalds Flood *******

It was great to see the 3 Lapwing chicks fly from breeding at Raggalds flood  , in the same area Little Owl , Wheatear and Curlew.......

Last few days

 I watched an adult male Merlin at Bridestones the other day , twisting and turning  just below the stones it was after a Meadow Pipit ,then a small group of Swallows were alarming and dive bombing the Merlin,It gained height and stooped , plucking a Swallow out of the sky. breath taking........Still plenty Snipe activity at Bridestones and  a good display of common Dragonfly's on the ponds. Adult female and juv Wheatear looked good for local breeders and Stonechats raised one young at least.

13 Pied Wagtails on the cricket pitch and a steady stream of BH Gulls over north.....White Letter Hairstreaks and Purple Hairstreaks have also been seen this week

Chambers Farm Wood

 Silver -Washed Fritillary x 15 + seen in display flights and a pair in cop. White Admiral x 2 , Purple Hairstreak x 5 + , Red Admiral x 4 , Large and Small Skipper , 3 common whites , Ringlet , Meadow Browns , and a few Commas , Small Torts and Peacock ......

A stunning adult male..................

Test

 

Cricket Pitch

 A busy morning on the Cricket pitch  , the Pied Wagtails are up to 9 birds 2 x adult male , 1 adult female and 6 juvs , 7 LBBGulls  4 adults , 3 juvs , 3 BH Gulls all adults  , 55 Starlings , 6 Blackbirds , 8 House Sparrows , 3 Woodpigeon and 4 Linnets ,2 adults and 2 juvs.....It was nice to bump into a Badger the other night and  loads of bats about........

Stocksbridge

  Had a walk around an area near Hunshelf today , the first bird I saw was a juv Wheatear , closely followed by 2 Lesser Whitethroats in some brambles , it was an area of pretty traditional farmland and before long a few Skylarks could be hear calling from the fields. It was great to see Yellowhammers and Linnets in a flock of 35 + birds . Then a small group of 5 Tree Sparrows 2 adults and 3 juvs. A Red Kite drifted over and a few calls of Meadow Pipits going over...a great sound to hear and the onset of Autumn migration........

is that the first sign of Autumn

 Over the last few days , I have seen a flock of 6 Curlews flying west , failed non breeders or  flying family party bit high to get any detail ,a steady stream of Black headed Gulls west , no Juveniles yet , large numbers of Swifts heading mainly south and LBBGulls and Herring Gulls also west. The first family party of Pied Wagtails on the Cricket Pitch today and  as usual here an excellent breeding season for both Starlings and House Sparrow. The local Buzzards are seen every day as well as Sparrowhawks. 2 Juv Green Woodpeckers and and 1 juv Great Spot have been seen down near the woods. 

Spoonbill

 Back down in Nottingham last week , and my good run of birds continued with an adult Spoonbill along the river Trent near Gainsbrough heading north . Flushed a \Green Sandpiper ,Lesser Whitethroats everywhere , 1 female Widgeon was a surprise  among the Gadwalls , Shovelers and Shelducks . Plenty Little Egrets and a pair of very vocal Peregrines.

Bridestones

 Lots of Swifts over Bridestones over the weekend , and a lot of Snipe 'wing dipping' and some general display flight . Golden Plover ,Curlew , Oyck's, Skylarks , Meadow Pipit , and Red Grouse are all showing signs of successful breeding in the area. House Sparrow feeding in one of the fields was an on site tick. Pied Wags , Swallows , Common Heath , Northern Oak Eggar , and a couple of micros to sort out..

Barn Owls and Little Owls are both doing well in the area.

Twite......

 The Twite recovery project folded today , a very sad day for all . I remember flocks of them at Soil Hill , Whiteholme , back of Fly flatts , Langfield |Common held 20 + breeding  pairs when we used to go up and help out the Peregrine watch up there , and at Derby delph they were common...Well done to Tim Walker , Brian Leesey , Nick Carter , Andre Raine , Tim Melling , Steve Downing  etc etc.but Climate Change is upon us......

Swifts ,

 Swift migration is in full flow at the moment with many birds over Northowram and Bridestones the last few days . Swallows seem to have settled down to nest , a few House Martins about as well. Golden Plover , Snipe , Skylark, Kestrel , Fox Moth and Bilberry Hook Wing at Bridestones and55 + Starlings feeding on Northowram Cricket Pitch ,more young every day.....House Sparrows seem to be doing well also...

A dull evening at Bridestones

Lapwing , Curlew , Snipe , Golden Plover , Dunlin , Skylark ,Swallows , Fox Moth , Bilberry Hook Wing ...