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