January 2025

1) Red Kite , 2) Peregrine Falcon , 3 ) Kestrel , 4) Sparrowhawk , 5 ) Hen Harrier , 6 ) Buzzard , 7 ) Barn Owl , 8 ) Little Owl , 9 )Tawny Owl , 10 ) Med Gull , 11)  LBBGull 12 ) GBBGull , 13 ) Herring Gull , 14 )Common Gull , 15 ) BH Gull , 16 )  Pink F Goose ,  17 ) Whooper Swan , 18 ) Mute Swan , 19) Coot , 20 ) Moorhen  , 21 ) Mallard , 22 ) Pochard , 23 ) Tufted Duck , 24 ) Scaup , 25 ) , Goldeneye  , 26 )  Shoveler , 27 ) Mandarin Duck ,  28 )  Widgeon , 29 ) Teal , 30 ) Goosander , 31 ) Little Grebe , 32) Greylag Goose , 33 )Canada Goose , 34) Red Grouse , 35)  Pheasant , 36 ) Red-legged Partridge , 37 ) Cormorant , 38 ) Grey Heron , 39 ) Kingfisher , 40 ) Dipper , 41 ) Grey Wagtail , 42 ) Pied Wagtail , 43) Lapwing , 44 ) Golden Plover , 45) Feral Pigeon , 46 ) Woodpigeon , 47 ) Stock Dove , 48 ) Collared Dove , 49 ) Great Spotted Woodpecker , 50 )Green Woodpecker , 51 ) Treecreeper , 52 ) Nuthatch ,  53 )Wren , 54 )Robin , 55 ) Dunnock , 56 ) House Sparrow , 57 )Tree Sparrow , 59 ) Meadow Pipit , 60 ) Skylark , 61 ) Chaffinch , 62 ) Brambling , 63) Goldfinch , 64 ) Greenfinch , 65 ) Redpoll , 66 ) Siskin , 67) Crossbill , 68 ) , Bullfinch 69 ) Reed Bunting , 70 ) , Blackbird , 71) Song Thrush , 72 ) Mistle Thrush , 73 ) Fieldfare , 74 ) Redwing , 75 ) Goldcrest , 76 ) Jay , 77) Raven , 78 ) Rook , 79 ) Jackdaw , 80 ) Carrion Crow , 81 ) Magpie , 82 ) Starling , 83 ) Blue Tit , 84 ) Great Tit , 85 ) Long - tailed Tit , 86 ) Cole Tit , 87 ) Stonechat , 88 ) Common Snipe, 89 ) Jack Snipe ,,,,,,,

    I was aiming for 90 species in January but missed it by 1 ,,,,,, missed , Yellowhammer , Grey Partridge , Woodcock , Twite , SEO , Great Crested Grebe , Little Egret  and Shelduck so 90 + is possible in a good January...or maybe 100 if you have the time and a bit of luck.....!!!!!

xxxx Stop press Male Blackcap first bird seen on the 1st Feb..that is the way it goes...xxxxx

Excellent weather for Duck's

 Its been hard going so far in Calderdale , the best way to describe it is ..GREY...but its been good for Duck's

9 Goldeneye , the displaying males and females at Cromwell Bottom Ski lake are superb , Shoveler 3 (1m and 2 f) , Scaup (m and f ) , Pochard , Tufted Duck 27 + , 40 +  Mallard , 6 Teal have all put in an appearance at Cromwell , a pair of Widgeon feeding along the dam wall at Ringstone and 19 Mandarins on the River Ryburn . Lots of Goosander  about on the River Calder......

River Ryburn and mid January

 A walk along the river Ryburn today produced 19 Mandarin Duck by far my biggest count in Calderdale in fact anywhere , the 12 males  were in perfect plumage and 7 female types . Dipper , Moorhen and Mallards made for a great walk, Cromwell was very busy with 23 Tufted Duck , 2 Pochard , 2 Scaup , 8 Goldeneye , 5 Teal .500 Black headed gulls( the odd one or two with full black hoods)  , 100 Common Gulls , 3 LBBGulls (1 intermedius) and 6 Herring Gulls...12 Tree Sparrows on Jay House Lane on the 14th and 9 Teal on the small pond..

 11 Whooper Swans at Lower Gorple in terrible conditions , 8 Crossbills , Redpoll , Siskin , Cole Tits and Goldcrests in Walshaw Plantation 15th . Had 3 Brambling (thanks Martyn and Carol) today which made 80 species in Calderdale so far this year...

2025 early January

  The Stonechat was still kicking about today which was a good way to start the year and Barn Owl at dusk.

 Hen Harrier , Peregrine Falcon and Crossbills today and some big flocks of Fieldfare at last , around Walshaw plantation.

Scaup at Cromwell with Tufted Duck , Goldeneye ,Goosander Grey Heron , Little grebe and Long-tailed Tits.

  Ringstone was busy with Adult Med Gull ,Kingfisher , Great-Black Backed  Gull high west  , Lapwing  245 + , Golden Plover 260 + and 8 skeins of Pink-footed geese west 1000 + birds involved, 3 Buzzards , Kestrel , , Bullfinch  , Goldfinch and  Fieldfare...5 days 60  species

9th Jan , had a quick look at Ogden but very little except a smart male Sparrowhawk , Goldcrest in the back garden and a Ring necked Parakeet at Shibden Park kept the year list ticking over.70 species in 9 days....its tough out there , every path frozen and one slip and its a broken ankle,,stay safe.....