It was great to see the 3 Lapwing chicks fly from breeding at Raggalds flood , in the same area Little Owl , Wheatear and Curlew.......
Friday 26 July 2024
Tuesday 23 July 2024
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
Wednesday 17 July 2024
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..................
Tuesday 16 July 2024
Thursday 11 July 2024
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........
Tuesday 9 July 2024
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........
Saturday 29 June 2024
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.
Wednesday 19 June 2024
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.
Sunday 2 June 2024
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.
Tuesday 28 May 2024
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...
Thursday 23 May 2024
A dull evening at Bridestones
Lapwing , Curlew , Snipe , Golden Plover , Dunlin , Skylark ,Swallows , Fox Moth , Bilberry Hook Wing ...
Tuesday 14 May 2024
Romania May 2nd to 11th 2024
4 Demoiselle Crane ..bird s of the trip.......
May in Romania is an amazing ornithological bonanza, migration off the Black Sea is phenomenal. Last year we recorded 209 species and this year 202 ,(without going into the mountains).In total 231 species in 3 weeks . Goshawk , Artic Skua , Pallid Harrier , Lesser Kestrel , Scop's Owl , Levant's Sparrowhawk , Hen Harrier , Black-eared Wheatear , Quail , Corncrake , Greater Flamingo , Yellowhammer, Kentish Plover , Green Sandpiper , Icterine Warbler, Wood Warbler , Little Bittern , Middle Spotted Woodpecker , Caspian Tern , Cettis Warbler and Desmoiselle Crane were new to Romania for me..
This spring we managed to hit the passage of Black Terns and again Nightjar passage over the sea at Vadu.
A one and a half mile walk in Badabag Forest produced at least 30 Icterine Warbles singing on territory , 15 Red Breasted Flycatchers and 10 Wood Warblers , Hawfinch were common , the highlight was a male Collared Flycatcher singing from a clearing in the wood . Common Glider was an excellent find and Glanville Fritillary showed exceptionally well . Lesser Spotted and Middle Spotted Woodpecker nests were found. and Syrian Woodpecker was commonly seen.
On the coat near Istria there were apox 5000 + Black Terns (100's of White Winged Black and a few Whiskered mixed in) feeding just above an area of arable fields and a flock of 400 + Ruff and 10 + Red footed Falcons in the same fields, 100+ flock of Little Gulls were on one of the nearby lakes.30 Red throated Pipits , 2 Honey Buzzards Drifted over and in the bushes Barred Warbler , Wryneck and Lesser Grey Shrike. White Pelicans were moving north and this is when Gary picked out the birds of the trip 4 Demoiselle Cranes , a lifer for all of us. Even those old buggars who saw the dodgy one at Spurns many years ago (AC,AZ and NCarter). Gary also picked out a Lesser Kestrel that if accepted will be only the first for 21 years....
No let up in the birding as we headed to Vadu , Lesser Spotted Eagles ,lots of Monty's Hen and a couple of Pallid Harrier , Isabeline , Black -eared , Pied and Northern Wheatear , a small flock of 4 Woodchat Shrike , Rollers , Bee Eaters , Red Backed Shrikes ,waders on every small pool , mainly Wood Sands , Curlew Sands , Ruff and Little Stints but occasionally Temminck's and Kentish Plovers. Palla's Gull can be seen flying overhead most days on the coast.
Vadu was birding heaven , same as last year with many highlights , but 57 + Nightjars in two days was exceptional. Broad billed Sands .
Great views of Levants Sparrowhawk displaying was another highlight.
Monday 13 May 2024
Romania Moths and Butterflies
Mallow Skipper
Grizzled Skipper
Scare Swallowtail
Small White
Large White
Green -veined White
Eastern Bath White
Eastern Dappled White
Orange Tip
Common Blue
Small Blue
Eastern Baton Blue
Brown Argus
Silver -studded Blue
Clouded Yellow
Pale Clouded Yellow
Large Copper
Small Copper
Small Heath
Red Admiral
Wall Brown
Comma
Queen of Spain Fritillary
Glanville Fritillary
Spotted Fritillary
Common Glider
Lasts years Butterflys not seen this year ,Swallowtail , Camberwell Beauty , Black -veined White , Silver Washed Fritillary and European Map (32 species)
Moths
Four - Spotted
Sunday 12 May 2024
Romania..10th May 2024...Vadu sea watch and migrant search
An amazing day at Vadu , Romania
Seawatch 10.00 - 11.30 and 16.50 - 18.00
Nightjar ,x 40 , mostly female singles , 2 x 3(3 f + 2f + 1 m) )and 2 x 2 (3 f and 1 male) l , mostly very low to the sea north , but a few in off...
Artic Skua 4 north and 1 south
Black -throated Diver x 4 ,,3 north and 1 blogging
Little Tern x 5
Hoopoe 1 in off
Bee-eater ----small groups north and in off
Black Tern x 150 + north
White winged black tern x 20 north
Whiskered Tern x 2 north
Sandwich Tern x 20 north
Common Tern x 10 north
Pallas's Gull x 1 adult summer north
Slender billed Gull x 2 north
Little Gull x 2 north
Med Gull x 20 + north
Yellow legged Gulls ---30 +
Baltic Gull x 1 adult north
Pygmy Cormorant x 6
Greater Cormorant x 10
Great Crested Grebe x 8 north
Grey Plover x 25 north
Sanderling x 2
Curlew Sands x 10 north
Dunlin x 8
Swallows , 100's in off east
Red throated Pipit x 1 (landed on beach then off north)
In the dunes and bushes and small ponds
Lesser Grey Shrike x 9 , Red backed Shrike x 21, LEO x 2 , LRP x 2 , Quail x 3 , Stone Curlew x 2 , 5 Nightjar in bushes..
Spotted Fly 20 + , Barred Warbler x 1 , RB fly x 2 , Pied Fly x 1 , Redstart x 2 , Garden Warbler x 2 , Willow Warbler x 20+ , Blackcap , Paddyfield Warbler x 2 , Icterine Warbler x 1 , Savis Warbler x 1 , Whitethroat x 1 , 1 Lesser Whitethroat, Red footed Falcon 30 + , Marsh Harrier x 20 , Bittern x 1 , Roller x 2 , Night Heron x 2 , Purple Heron x 7., Tawny Pipit x 2, Northern Wheatear x 8 ..Crested Larks..Yellow Wags , Dombrowskii , feldegg and supercilliaris
On the main Pond
Broad -billed Sandpiper x 7 , Curlew Sandpiper x 30 , Glossy Ibis x 25 , White Pelican x 20 , Dalmation Pelican x 2 , Black Winged Stilt x 20 , Garganey x 21, Ferruginous Duck x 8 , Little Stint 150 + , Wood Sandpiper x 15 , Spot red x 4 , Collared Pratincole x 15, GWEgrets ,Litlle Egret , Lapwing , Ringed Plover
Tuesday 30 April 2024
Liverpool
A stunning male Wheatear above this to me is a Greenland so bright and Orange almost like a different species to the one below which is a classic fem local type , Fox and Shelduck , a few Whimbrel overhead..9+1+1+2..quick dash to Liverpool...!!!!!
Thursday 25 April 2024
White Storks ,
2 White Storks flew west at aprox 17.15 .Only poor views but just managed to get them in the scope before they dropped below the horizon..These are my 5th and 6th White Storks from the house , the first two were from a European release scheme , the 3rd and 4th were from Harewood house and one of these ended up in Luddunden Foot and the ring could easily be seen . No idea on these two but nice to see. Anyway next week they will be everywhere....YAY
Note****there were a few other records of two White Storks in and around the country , including 2 at Burton Mere on the 27th..*****
*******And 2 over Ulverston on the 28th*******
and 3 at Burton Mere on the 30th..will be interesting to see where they came from....
Tuesday 23 April 2024
Ned Hill track
Had a quick walk on to the trees ,Willow Warbler , Robin, Wren ,Skylark , Meadow Pipit , Linnet , Barn Owls , Curlew , Lapwing , Oystercatcher 2 over to Ogden , Swallows , LBBGulls , Starling , Blackbird, Greylag Goose , Jackdaw , Carion Crow , Magpie , Woodpigeon , Stock Dove , Collared Dove , Pheasants , BH Gulls 6 north , Heron , 6 Roe Deer....
Thursday 18 April 2024
River Trent , Gainsbrough
A week in Nottingham doing some survey work , so this morning I had a walk on the River Trent 3 Lesser Whitethroat (such a shame we dont get these in Calderdale anymore) 4 Whitethroat , Widgeon , Gadwall , Shoveler , Little Egret , Teal , Shelduck , Willow Warbler , Blackcap , Yellow Wag , House Martin , Sand Martin , Swallow, Curlew , Lapwing , and them BOOM..2 Common Crane south along the river. Could do with them in Calderdale as well......
Saturday 13 April 2024
Bridestones ..
An excellent fall of 16 Wheatear at Bridestone's on the 11th ,with some stunning males in with them, full orange front and deep slate grey back with jet black masks , some looked Greenland types but did'nt seem that big .? A pair of Ravens were causing chaos with the Lapwings and Curlews and its always nice to see proper breeding Red Grouse such a beautiful red eye cover and that call is iconic. The first two Emperor Moth and a Northern Eggar caterpillar was also the first of the year. Skylarks , Snipe, Meadow Pipit , Kestrel and a distant House Sparrow could be heard calling...and a Woodpigeon kill looked like Peregrine
Saturday 6 April 2024
Bridestones
An early morning visit produced 23 species including a pair of Wheatear ,Raven ,Curlew , Snipe , Oyks , Lapwing , Meadow Pipits , Skylark , 90 + Golden Plover , Barn Owl and a Sand Martin north(last night)..roll on some good weather with light winds....
2024 so far....
Red Grouse , Fieldfare , Starling , Golden Plover , Snipe ,Oystercatcher , Curlew , Lapwing , Barn Owl, Hen Harrier , Buzzard ,Kestrel , Merlin , Stonechat , Rook , Carrion Crow , Magpie , Jackdaw , Raven, Common Pheasant , Mallard , Pink-footed Goose , Stonechat , Wren ,Woodpigeon , Stock Dove , Feral Pigeon ,Collared Dove , ,Robin , Mistle Thrush , Crossbill , Greenfinch , Chaffinch ,Reed Bunting , Meadow Pipit , Grey Heron , Pink-footed Goose , Canada Goose , Pied Wagtail , Wheatear , Black -headed Gull , Lesser Black backed Gull , Common Gull , Herring Gull Sand Martin., House Sparrow
Saturday 9 March 2024
Whooper Swans......
A message on the local grapevine of Pink Footed Geese S/W at 17.50 got me straight out looking , amazingly the loud call of Whooper Swans could be heard as soon as I got out of the house, 158 heading N/W ....great to see and hear....takes my garden count to around 650...!!!!!!