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