Round and about

Ogden...1 Tufted Duck,1 Herring Gull ,5 BH Gull,2 Common Gull and 34 Mallard
Shelf Moor....185 Lapwing,1 Golden Plover and 400+ Starling
Northowram...33 Linnets,4 Herring Gulls ,50 Field fare and 5 Redwing.
A grey ,wet and very windy day.

Gulls

Loads of Gulls at Northowram today including one ArgentatusHerring Gull,5 Herring Gull,270+Common Gulls,125 + BH Gulls,105 Pinkfeet west,35+ Lapwing west,2 Linnet,45 Fieldfare ,2 Redwing,15 Stock Dove and a male Fovx being mobbed by BH Gulls...??
Well worth a look through the gulls if your passing something must turn up in um soon.
On wenesday there were 3 Argentatus (2 adults and a 1st winter) and 1 1st winter argenteus.Also the Linnet flock had increased to 21.....

Strange Cloud formation

There was a strange cloud formation over Northowram yesterday,look like a rock formation from the Rockies USA..any one else see it.????

Large gulls

A good move of larger gulls yesterday saw at lest 250 Herring gulls and 18 GBBGulls ssw.14 Linnets in the field and a Grey Heron looking for an easy meal in he fishpond down the road.

Linnets

A small flock of 8 Linnets today was a nice suprise,5 Stock doves and a lapwing.

Dipper x 2

2 Dippers today on the stream just below Coley garden centre,the first time ive seen them this close to home.1 Grey wag,25 lapwing ,20 LTTits and 3 stock doves.1 female sparrowhawk also.

Twite

What a record a winter Twite,,no rings on it as well,Ive been allowed back in the fields as the cow herd has been put away for the winter,and low and behold after one week without cows we get a twite and a small flock of lapwing and Stock Doves...my first Northowram Twite....

Amazing what you find on the internet.

This surely must be the most emotive and most discussed subject on any of the bird forums. One of the most disappointing parts of this discussion, here or on any other forum, is the total silence from the RSPB. Surely the RSPB should not only manage reserves and persecute egg collectors and others but also represent the views and wishes of its members. Recently they seem to have embodied the gun-ho attitude of FERA, not only with the Ruddy Duck but also Eagle Owls, Monk Parakeets etc. They have also been remarkably silent on the slaughter of 2000 Gannet chicks on Sula Sgeir each year. Isn't it time that the RSPB consults its members about these various slaughters, say through its magazine, and then supports whatever the majority of its members wish?

Information obtained from FERA, on March 7th 2011, under the freedom of information act, stated that the total overall cost of the "Ruddy Duck Eradication Programme" was £3.3M. The number of Ruddy Ducks culled was 7165 and they estimated the current population to be in the region of 100 birds. They also state that 35 non-target birds were killed, thse included Common Scoter, Black-necked Grebe, Mallard, Teal, Little Grebe, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Coot. Obviously this list is not complete as I know of a White-headed Duck and a Slavonian Grebe that disappeared during a cull.

Is there anyone out there, officially representing the RSPB, able to inform us and all its members of their latest position in regard to the culling of Ruddy Ducks, Monk Parakeets and any thing else that FERA considers to be unwanted. I also wish to know what they are doing to stop the slaughter of Gannet chicks. If they are no longer representing their members views but following the wishes of FERA and other government organisations then surely their charity status should be withdrawn and perhaps we should all consider whether our continued support is appropriate

Soil Hill

A very brisk wind blew across a sunny and clear soil hill today.9 Snow Buntings,1 Linnet,1 Woodcock,1 Skylark,1 female blackbird,5 BH Gull,20 lapwing (north)1 Kestrel and 6 carrion Crows made for a most enjoyable visit..

The relentless destruction of wildlife continues

Catalonia has allowed the trapping of 60,000 finches this winter, the quota including 48,800 Chaffinches, 6,500 Goldfinches, 3,500 Greenfinches and 3,600 Linnets. This is ostensibly for the local cage-bird trade.
Spain is a member country of the EU - wild birds such as this are protected by law - supposedly

Hen Harriers
The toffs' most unpopular bird in UK; and they're driving it to extinction in England. When its rioting and robbery by ordinary folk , our prime minister and his cronies get all worked up. I don't hear them condemning their mates for regularly breaking the law to eliminate the Hen Harrier from their estates. This is one of the most beautiful and spectacular of our birds and it only survives as a breeding bird in England because of one estate. The species regularly prospects across moorland over much of the rest of the North of England, it only doesn't breed because it is prevented from doing so. http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=3030
RSPB: English Hen Harriers 'four steps' from extinction
www.birdguides.com
A 2011 joint survey of the English uplands by the RSPB and Natural England found that only four nesting pairs of Hen Harrier successfully raised young; all were on a single estate in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire. This is believed to be the lowest population in England since they recolonised in
Badgers
It is the government’s intention to kill badgers in 2011 as part of a control to stop the spread of Bovine TB in cattle. This is despite robust and sound science that proves it has ‘no meaningful contribution to the control of Bovine TB in cattle’.
The Government is holding a consultation suggesting different methods and asking you, the general public to tell them what you want to see happen. They have said that they will listen to the replies to this consultation but they have not made it easy for people to reply.
The Badger Trust details suggestions as to how to reply. If you do not want to see badgers cage trapped and shot or free running badgers killed with a rifle – please take the time to reply.
Visit http://www.badgerprotectionleague.com/information.php and use follow their guidelines on replying to the English and Welsh consulations. Time is short - Please Do it Now!
Their lives are literally in your hands
Then there are the maltese shooters shooting birds of prey in the UK,
Three persons were on Monday night apprehended by customs at Malta International Airport in possession of dead protected birds.
The three persons were returning from a hunting trip in the UK.

A joint operation between Customs, Administrative Law Enforcement police, MEPA officials and veterinary services officials revealed a number of protected birds including birds of prey concealed in their luggage amongst other legal game.

The birds were protected by international law.

The persons in question are expected to be arraigned in court soon.

Email to a friend





Cyprus doing what they allways do ,the continued destruction of the Amazon and the ever decreasing POLAR ICE CAPS.and people still say its nothing to do with the human race.....

Clear at last

I was thinking that fog would never clear...........
500 woodpigs s/w
10 Canada goose s/w
54 Lapwing north
30 Common Gulls
2 sparrowhawk (locals)

Fogged out

Thick fog all weekend,,,, in the morning on sat ,,,and all day Sunday.
3 Redwing south,14 Canada goose west,1 alba wagtail which called like white(is it too late for White??).100 Woodpigeon eastand 1 large anser sp which eluded id...Also herd Pinkfeet going over but did not see any..

Rough Legged Buzzard (early x mas present)

Went to look for RL Buzzard tO day,just as I was aproaching the area where it had been seen ,I saw a bird being chased across the moor to my right by a Kestrel,it flew right infront of the car .A Buzzard to be sure and as it banked the white rump came into view.Very nice indeed//////////Watched in flight for the next half an hour or so until the cold got the better of me.Many thanks to the chap who found it and to aLL THE MOBILE MESSAGES FROM NICK AND Dave///Cheers Im gonna have a beer or two tonight/
Calderdale list 195
Uk 400 club rules 198

Computer problems

There is nowt worse than your computer blowing up and you then have re-enter 5,000 moth records that you have just done..once is boring twice is insane,,,,,,
12 November
Starlings 158 west
Pink footed Goose 100 west
Redwing 40 south
Fieldfare 30 south
Lapwing 48 west
Snipe 1 south
Chaffinch 15 south
Woodpidgeoan 500 east
Buzzard sp 1 west
Red Admiral 2
Jay 1 ,Great Spot 3, Song Thrush 2,Mistle Thrush 3 and 2 Sparrowhawks around the village.

MEGA MOVE

Woodpigeons on the move this morning from first light all heading s/sw aprox number 16,500,but i missed loads.Largest group must have been aprox 1500 birds but there were so many birds in the sky it could easily have been 2000+. Starlings also in small direct squadrons about 400+,Redwings 200,Fieldfare 80, StockDove 8,LBBGull 1,Common Gull/BHGull 500+,Mipits 3 and Finches in small numbers mainly Chaffinch and Goldies

Any one want to buy some binns...........

Rough Legged Buzzard
Bee Eater
Woodchat Shrike
Black Stork/ Common Crane
Manx Shearwater
Little Auk
Gannet
Puffin
Black Headed Bunting
Hooded Crow, Montys Harrier................................

Evening suprise

20 Whooper Swans flew west this evening along with 3 Stock Doves south and a Great Spotted Woodpecker south.

Just an amazing bird.........................

North,South ,East ,West

Well on Friday Fieldfare and Redwings arrived on Mass with at least 2000 of each along with 200+ pink feet heading west way out by Emily moor mast.
Saturday saw Woodpigs west and Redwings and fieldfare in all directions.
Sunday saw Woodpigs North 500 +,Starlings low north west 1000+ , Jackdaws west 200 + , Goldfinch south 3 small parties,and Redwings going east.????What a mixed bag...

Divers

What a stonker an adult Great Northern Diver today at Ringstone...500+ Fieldfare moving south in two groups with a few redwings mixed in.Lapwings and Golden Plovers in the north field and 20+ goldcrests in the keepers garden.Very pleased with the diver and that now makes my calderdale list not bad for an inland birder.
Red Throated Diver 3
Black throated Diver 4
Great Northern Diver 4
Wont be many Calderdale birders who Can beat that....if any.????

Rain ,Rain and more Rain

Monday morning .....rain...
Redwing 8 s/w
Linnets 14 blogging
Starling 200 + around the village
BHGull 150 +
Common Gull 2
GBBGull 1 Juv/1st winter
LBBGull 11 mostly adult types
Herring Gull 1 juv/1st winter
LTTits,Blue and Great Tit flock aprox 18
4 Greenfinch
robins 2 fighting

A bit of Vis

Before the gale started it was'nt too bad with,Great spot south,43 Mipits s/w ,2 Greenfinch,30 Goldfinch,15 Long t tit, 1 chiffchaff,2 stock dove,2 Kestrels and 5 sightings of sprwhawk,2 pied and 1 Grey wagtail south.3 lBBGull and 40+BHGull west and 1 Grey Heron.....

First Pinks

Had my first pink footed geese over the last couple of days 22 yesterday and 40 today heading west...1 Crossbill flew south calling and 1 great spot the same direction.1 Greenland Wheatear,22 LBBGulls,1 Skylark,120 Linnets 1 Kestrel on soil Hill today...

Jays

Jays seem to be everywhere this week with at least 12 sightings in /over and around the village.2 willow Warblers and 2 chiffs (one singing like it was spring this morning),30 LTTits,2 Grey Herons,2 Grey Wags and the family of sparrowhawks are still around causing chaos.A few LBBgulls west and a steady trickle of Mipits south /west. Loads of Speckled woods about today and single ed Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell..should be good for a few migrant moths this week with perfect weather for them.....????

Morning Vis

A real morning for vis with dark low skies and a small open window to the s/e pity I only had an hour ....
Mipits 175+ s/w
Swallows 150+ s/w
Linnet 17 s/w
Chaffinch 5 s/w
LbbGull 3 s/w
Greenfinch 4 s/w
Pied wagtail 17
Grey Wagtail 2 south
Sparrowhawk 1 female took Blackbird off wall.
Stock Dove 6
Grey Heron 1 west
Golcrest 2

Weekly round up

100 lapwings flew north which must have been the queensbury flock ,3 Bullfinch in the back gaden was a nice supise,a Nuthatch in the wood with 20+ Blue and Great Tits,10 Goldfinch,18 Linnets,8 pied wagtail and a Yellow wagtail south first thing on sunday morning was the best so far this autumn.

Day out in Devon

Cou

nts over the high tide at Dwalish warren included 1500 Oystercatcher, 220 Ringed Plover, 100+ Dunlin, 70 Sanderling, 48 Sandwich and a Common Tern, 25 Knot, 10 Little Egret, six Whimbrel, four Turnstone and three Mediterranean Gull. Two Coal Tit were still present with a Garden Warbler, double figures of Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat, five Wheatear and overhead three Yellow Wagtail. Elsewhere an Arctic Skua was in the estuary this afternoon, 25 Common Scoter were offshore and two juvenile Peregrine were around the site. a flock of 300+ Shag was amazing..............

FLY

A quick walk round fly flatts today produced,1 Peregrine,2 Buzzards,3 Kestrel,1 1st winter male Wheatear,1 Reed Bunting,2 LBBGulls ,5 Mipits and about 70+ Swallows s/w.

Evening suprise

10 Gooseander west was a nice suprise tonight with large numbers of Swallows
starting to gather in the evening and Great Spotted Woodpeckers are starting to be seen on a regular basis.

Young Male Sparrowhawk coming for his tea.

logspot.com/-LlAanuUEBqs/TkBEKCi_wxI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/-9e-GHZtkWk/s320/sparrowhawk%2Bjuv.jpg" />

Weekly round up

66 House Sparrows on the lawn on sat morning broke all records for this species.A couple of Nuthatches in my dads garden at Lightcliffe was nice.Swifts still showing well in the evening at Northowram.Golfinch,Linnets,Mistle Thrush, Common Gulls ,Kestrels and Sparrowhawks the only other birds of note.

Whiteholme

An amazing 55 Small tortoiseshell butterflys along the drain and a Whimbrel was herd calling overhead.A few grouse chicks were flushed and a beautiful male Merlin was seen very well sat on a fence post.1 Common Scoter on the reservoir made enjoyable trip.The mad local crow killer was most amusing..saying its gods will to kill raptors and Crows its in the bible you know .ITS GODs WILL...

Sunday

3 stock doves,88 Jackdaws ,5 greenfinch,3 Goldfinch,1 House Martin ,25 swallows mainly juvs with lots of ariel feeding between adults and juuvs.a new colony of 25 House Sparrows and 3 Sand martins heading N/west
Also this week a very strange sight of a Magpie carrying a dead House sparrow in its beak.???It may have picked it up dead off the road.? the male and female sparrowhawk have been attacking the sparrows all week but I think they are stating with there 3rd brood as I have seen them copulating this week.?

Over the weekend

A real feel of Autumn over the weekend with LBBGulls and BH Gulls on the move east and west.55 House sparrows,3 Stock Doves , 6 goldfinch , 4 pied wagtail ,Sparrowhawk taking Collard Doves in the back garden,plenty of young starlings and Jackdaws about and a Hobby hunting the first gathering Swallows(about 30).Swifts in good numbers and a couple of House Martins.

Queensbury..Littlemoor park

A walk round littlemoor park in queensbury today started well just before the park with 32 Lapwings in the usual place.A colony of Ringlets in the park was a real treat with at least 25 individulas with a few pairs in cop.
A singing garden warbler and plenty of Swifts and swallows around.8 BH Gulls flew over and a juv Great spot and 2 juv Robins made for a good trip to this new area for me...

Ogden

A very nice adult yellow Legged Gull with 15 LBBgulls and 15 BHGulls, 1 Bullfinch ,willow warbler, Goldcrest and cole Tit.

4 Sand martin ,1 House martin,3 Swallows, 10 Swifts,2 BH Gull and 1 LBBGull on the move n/nw this evening

Over the weekend

First LBBGulls on the move west this week,a large flock of 77 woodpigeons in the field and the Stock Doves are definatly breeding nearby.2 sanderling ,12 Ringed plover,1 LrPlover,1 Twite,1 reed Bunting,2 Lapwing,10 Curlew,5 redshank,3 Common sandpiper, 8 Dunlin at Fly Flatts on saturday.Also the first juvenile and mixed flocks of Starlings on the cricket pitches.

Hobby

iwas watching swifts from the garden all weekend heading noth,everytime a dark cloud came over masses of swifts came down with the clouds.last Night at 6.16 a large falcon was seen amongst the swifts at first i thought it was a peregrine but as it turned sideways a Hobby was the only definate bird it could be.I watched it for about 2 minutes following the Swifts along the valley to shiden park ,I reckon this bird was a 2nd summer bird.

Swifts

Masses of swifts heading north all weekend ,also great Black backed Gulls in small parties heading east and west.First Linnets back on breeding grounds this weekend.

WALES

a great trip to wales in glorious spring sunshine produced,Chough,Black guillimot,Little egret 3 ,Puffin,10 species of Butterfly and a good selection of moths,the highlight a flock of 400+Sandwich terns

Wales......

Wales

The Amazing Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha)

Buzzards.???

Today at about 2 ish I heard a Buzzard call twice all the corvids were going crazy but I didnt see it,I just got a call fron an experienced birder in Northowram that he was convinced he saw a Honey Buzzard today about 2.15..!! a few mipits and Swallows north today and a Willow warbler calling in the valley.

Down sarff

A bit of survey work produced singing males of...2 Lesser whitethroat, 4 Grasshopper Warbler , 6 Sedge warbler,8 Reed warbler,5 yellow wagtail,displaying Marsh harrier ,Treen sparrow,yellowhammers,and this beautiful brimstone nectaring on dandillion

Weekly round up

Red tailed Bumblebee...
The first Blakcaps could be herd siging in the vally on the 7th and swallows and meadow pipits were heading south in small numbers all week.A couple of Redwing herd in the evening .House sparrows are well underway with nest building..

First Swallow

My first Swallow of the year today heading north about 6.30...also its my earliest ever 01.04.2011..had 2 chiff chaffs singing yesterday down the valley

Last few days

A quiet week except for a drumming lesser pecker near Stoney Lane Brighouse,27 Stock doves east down the valley and this Red Sword grass at hardcastle craggs.

First migrants

Last night I could here redwings heading north over the house and this morning Meadow Pipits along the same route.
3 Chiff chaffs at EGP along with singing grey wagtails and displaying Goosander.Small tortoiseshell ,Peacock and Comma all over the place and 6 Orange Underwings.

Northowram to Beacon Hill and Back

A good passage of Meadow Pipits(10 +5 +2) and Chaffinch(15 +2 +3) over Beacon Hill and a Great Black Backed Gull over as well.2 Greylags on Shibden lake means they are now well and truly every where in Calderdale.....

Jackdaws

A good count of 78 today above the house,1 1st winter herring Gull west and a good move of Common Gulls west over the weekend.

More woodcock

toay I walked down the valley and flushed 4 yes 4 woodcocks along the stream realy good views.also a Roe Deer faced up to my youngest son it actually crossed the field and was within 50 feet of him at one point,with antles at the ready,he charged it and it ran off for cover.Great spots,Stock Doves and loads of rabbits.

Along the River bottom

Had a walk this afternoon along the river bottom up to Coley.Started with a pair of stock Doves look for a nest site in local barn.Song Thrush singing its heart out and loads of Great,Blue and Long tailed tits about.Flushed another Woodcock and a calling Bullfinch would not show its self.50 Woopigeons ,45 Jackdaw and 40 FFieldfare and a Redwing went to roost at dusk.

Woodcock

Flushed 3 woodcock today in a new bit of wet ground in a private wood .Also first displaying Greenfinch and singing Song Thrush at work.

Quiet

Highlight of the week in northowram was a small flock of siskin by the church about 25 in all.You can buy these t shirts in tesco's...???????......not very PC these days.

Round and about this weekend

The highlight of the weekend was a lesser spotted woodpecker calling loudly near EGP and a Water rail alarm calling on lagoon 1 at Egp on sat evening.7 waxwings flew over boothtown with 40+ Redwings north here on Sunday morning.Common Gulls at Northowram peaked at 45 this weekend. Tawny Owl and Song Thrush have been herd calling over the weekend.

HX1

75 Pied wagtails over bull green about 5.15,1 Blackbird singing at Bull Green 5.20 and a song Thrush in full song at Heath training centre this morning.

Northowram to Hipperholme and back

Loads of rain and wind ,5 Stock dove,150 Fieldfare,100 Redwing ,5 Mistle thrush,50+ House sparrows,30 Goldfinch,36 Woodpigeons,40 Jackdaw,20 Chaffinch,50 BHGull and 20 Common Gull.

EGP and lots of rain

A cracking adult Cormorant in breeding plumage was the pick of the bunch closely followed by a adult male Pochard and male Goldeneye.Goosander 20+,BHGull 50+ and Common Gull 30+,Coot ,Moorhen and 5 canadas.
(Northowram) An adult LBBGull west,6 Herring Gulls west,400 mixed Fieldfare and Redwings north,40 Jackdaws in pairs and the sparrowhawk took another collard dove during the week.

Amaurobius fenestralis

Found this over the weekend in only house wood thanks Bruce for the id.

Scotland..January

                                               Black Grouse Country


Black Grouse 13
Red Grouse 4
Red Kite    2
Buzzard 10
Raven  4
Pink footed Goose 2000 +
Greylag Goose        100 +
Grey geese(not id to sp)3000+
Mute Swan    6
Whoopers     4
Siskin 1
Yellowhammer 16
Chaffinch         75+
Goosander       1
Skylark 2
Woodpigeon    750+
Jackdaw         500+
Rook         300+
Great spot 2
Fieldfare    25.
Other........14 Fallow Deer,18 Roe deer,1 Hare , 2 Fox and a few Rabbits

Last few days

Went looking for Linnets at swales with no luck but did  see 10 Fieldfare, 1 Meadow pipit, 2 Reed Bunting,3 Skylark and a couple of Kestrels.
12 Waxwings flew around the Police station in halifax town centre and 22 Fieldfare  landed in the back garden for a brief moment also a sparrowhawk  and Little Owl were seen down the lane ....Also 1 herring Gull has taken up residence on  the rugby field at Hipperholme.

New Things..

 Opticron BGA 10 x 42 ,, I would recomend anyone buying a new pair of  bins for £500+ to stop and have a look at these first at £200.o they must be the best bargin around.

 The new bird table has at last been found by the garden birds...today in the garden...32 Collard Dove ,10 Magpie.1 wren , 4 chaffinch,1 cole Tit,3 Blue tit,30+ House Sparrow,2 Robin,1 Dunnock and 5 Blackbird.
Also 55 Fieldfare flew over at 4.10...1 jackdaw in the field today showed a white collar stripe..but I dont think its a continental .Just a bit of albanism....

New year vis

12 - 1.30 

450 Fieldfare n/e
Redwing 150 n/nw
62 Common Gull bloggers
45 Pink feet n/w
22 herring Gull west
2 GBBGull west
2 Stock dove
1 Little Owl
45 woodpigeon west