Waxwings from the garden.......Get in....

Doing a bit of vis from the house today I noticed a small flock of birds coming up the valley distant at first...must be Starlings ??....look a bit pale ??...coming closer ???..... bloody waxwings trilling calls get in......ran round to back garden 12 Waxwings at the top of next doors trees...all calling together...brilliant ..then they flew off north not to be seen again....the ups and downs of birding...no photos ..dammmm.

Jay House lane

popped up Jay House lane today,plenty tree Sparrows  about also jays,lapwings,Goldfinch,greenfinch the odd Meadow pipits and a Nice Dipper on the stream..Now all I need are GP and Snipe....;;
1.Great Crested Grebe 2. Little Grebe 3 Cormorant.4 Grey heron, 5 Canada Goose,6 Mallard,7 Tufted duck ,8 Goosander,9 Sparrowhawk,10 Kestrel.11 Coot , 12 Moorhen ,13 Golden Plover 14 Lapwing , 15 Snipe ,16 Black headed gull ,17 Common Gull , 18 Herring Gull ,19 LBBGull , 20 GBBGull , 21 Stock Dove ,22 Woodpigeon , 23 Collared Dove ,24Feral Pigeon ,25 Little Owl, 26 Tawny Owl ,27 Green Woodpecker ,28Great Spotted woodpecker , 29 Skylark ,30 Meadow Pipit.31 Grey wagtail 32 Pied wagtail ,33 Dipper ,34Wren ,35 Dunnock 36 Robin , 37 Blackbird ,38 Fieldfare,39 Song Thrush, 40 Redwing, 41 Mistle Thrush , 42 Goldcrest , 43 Long tailed Tit , 44 Blue Tit, 45 Cole Tit , 46 Great Tit, 47 Nuthatch , 48 Treecreeper , 49 Jay , 50 Magpie ,51 Carrion Crow , 52 Rook, 53 Starling , 54 House Sparrow ,55 Tree Sparrow , 56 Chaffinch,57 Greenfinch, 58 Goldfinch ,59 Siskin ,60 Redpoll,61 Bullfinch, 62 Linnet.+ 3 unknowns,hopefully Snow Bunt,Whooper Swan and Lesser
+ Teal, PFGoose,Woodcock , Goldeneye , Kingfisher , Buzzard,Mute Swan ...68 so far.....

Harold Park...that makes 65...for the foot it challenge

My first trip to harold park today produced Mute Swan 5 ,Tufted Duck 40+,great Crested grebe 1 and a host of coots,mallards,canada geese and moorhens,there are more of these here than in the whole of Calderdale..?????Also one Cormorant. 1.Great Crested Grebe 2. Little Grebe 3 Cormorant.4 Grey heron, 5 Canada Goose,6 Mallard,7 Tufted duck ,8 Goosander,9 Sparrowhawk,10 Kestrel.11 Coot , 12 Moorhen ,13 Golden Plover 14 Lapwing , 15 Snipe ,16 Black headed gull ,17 Common Gull , 18 Herring Gull ,19 LBBGull , 20 GBBGull , 21 Stock Dove ,22 Woodpigeon , 23 Collared Dove ,24Feral Pigeon ,25 Little Owl, 26 Tawny Owl ,27 Green Woodpecker ,28Great Spotted woodpecker , 29 Skylark ,30 Meadow Pipit.31 Grey wagtail 32 Pied wagtail ,33 Dipper ,34Wren ,35 Dunnock 36 Robin , 37 Blackbird ,38 Fieldfare,39 Song Thrush, 40 Redwing, 41 Mistle Thrush , 42 Goldcrest , 43 Long tailed Tit , 44 Blue Tit, 45 Cole Tit , 46 Great Tit, 47 Nuthatch , 48 Treecreeper , 49 Jay , 50 Magpie ,51 Carrion Crow , 52 Rook, 53 Starling , 54 House Sparrow ,55 Tree Sparrow , 56 Chaffinch,57 Greenfinch, 58 Goldfinch ,59 Siskin ,60 Redpoll,61 Bullfinch, 62 Linnet.+ 3 unknowns,hopefully Snow Bunt,Whooper Swan and Lesser
+ Teal, PFGoose,Woodcock , Goldeneye , Kingfisher , Buzzard,Mute Swan ...65 so far.....

SNOW

|A Rare Moth for Calderdale in January,,ah Tissue...

A walk round the village,shibden valley and bare head Tuinnel on thursday produced this Tissue moth hibernating in Bare head Tunnel,its a rare moth in Yorkshire and a first this century for Calderdale.It hibernates as an adult and will fly in the spring and summer.Also my first Green woodpecker of the year,Little owl,Redwings and 13 canada geese.Top day

More Pinks on the move

Noticed 10 herring Gulls going north at 3.10  so had an hour to spare so headed to the field with the dog in tow..A few Stock dove flushed from the dilapidated barn and 4 Fieldfare headed north.I could hear Pinks but could not see um , about 2 mins later I picked um up over Hx town center(aprox) there were 165 due west.about 100 Redwing headed northLoads of BHgulls were going south.A flock of 100+Pinks soon followed and then a massive skein way to the south of aprox 250....At 6.15 in total darkness another 100 or so went right over the house sending the dog crazy...Pink heaven again.....

50 up then upto 61

First thingtoday was a cormorant high west which  was   my 50th species within 1 mile of the house.With that i set off to Cromwell Bottom along the old red beck past Sunny bunsers round the lake then back over Southowram.I added  11species,Buzzard ,Kingfisher ,Teal and Nuthatch all in splendid plumage.6 Grey heron,little Grebe,Goldeneye,Redpoll,35 Siskin,5 skylark and a treecreeper good stuff...That makes 61 in total of the 65 I was expecting. Missing Tufted  duck, Tawny owl and Green woodpecker is woeful but still time to get them..
1.Great Crested Grebe 2. Little Grebe 3 Cormorant.4 Grey heron, 5 Canada Goose,6 Mallard,7 Tufted duck ,8 Goosander,9 Sparrowhawk,10 Kestrel.11 Coot , 12 Moorhen ,13 Golden Plover 14 Lapwing , 15 Snipe ,16 Black headed gull ,17 Common Gull , 18 Herring Gull ,19 LBBGull , 20 GBBGull , 21 Stock Dove ,22 Woodpigeon , 23 Collared Dove ,24Feral Pigeon ,25 Little Owl, 26 Tawny Owl ,27 Green Woodpecker ,28Great Spotted woodpecker , 29 Skylark ,30 Meadow Pipit.31 Grey wagtail 32 Pied wagtail ,33 Dipper ,34Wren ,35 Dunnock 36 Robin , 37 Blackbird ,38 Fieldfare,39 Song Thrush, 40 Redwing, 41 Mistle Thrush , 42 Goldcrest , 43 Long tailed Tit , 44 Blue Tit, 45 Cole Tit , 46 Great Tit, 47 Nuthatch , 48 Treecreeper , 49 Jay , 50 Magpie ,51 Carrion Crow , 52 Rook, 53 Starling , 54 House Sparrow ,55 Tree Sparrow , 56 Chaffinch,57 Greenfinch, 58 Goldfinch ,59 Siskin ,60 Redpoll,61 Bullfinch, 62 Linnet.+ 3 unknowns,hopefully Snow Bunt,Whooper Swan and Lesser
+ Teal, PFGoose,Woodcock , Goldeneye , Kingfisher , Buzzard...

Creeping towards 50

Added a  few more  this  weekend  with two goosander over the house this evening thats 49.There are some terrible omissions Nuthatch ,treecreeper,green wood and Tawny Owl are just nowhere to be seen,very strange.... as last year/month they were easy ,with Tawny owl calling from the roof of the house.??all species have been seen within 1 mile of my house as the crow flies there have been a few flyovers pink feet,Goosander and Gulls mainly.I am very pleased with so many species so close to home...


1.Great Crested Grebe 2. Little Grebe 3 Cormorant.4 Grey heron, 5 Canada Goose,6 Mallard,7 Tufted duck ,8 Goosander,9 Sparrowhawk,10 Kestrel.11 Coot , 12 Moorhen ,13 Golden Plover 14 Lapwing , 15 Snipe ,16 Black headed gull ,17 Common Gull , 18 Herring Gull ,19 LBBGull , 20 GBBGull , 21 Stock Dove ,22 Woodpigeon , 23 Collared Dove ,24Feral Pigeon ,25 Little Owl, 26 Tawny Owl ,27 Green Woodpecker ,28Great Spotted woodpecker , 29 Skylark ,30 Meadow Pipit.31 Grey wagtail 32 Pied wagtail ,33 Dipper ,34Wren ,35 Dunnock 36 Robin , 37 Blackbird ,38 Fieldfare,39 Song Thrush, 40 Redwing, 41 Mistle Thrush , 42 Goldcrest , 43 Long tailed Tit , 44 Blue Tit, 45 Cole Tit , 46 Great Tit, 47 Nuthatch , 48 Treecreeper , 49 Jay , 50 Magpie ,51 Carrion Crow , 52 Rook, 53 Starling , 54 House Sparrow ,55 Tree Sparrow , 56 Chaffinch,57 Greenfinch, 58 Goldfinch ,59 Siskin ,60 Redpoll,61 Bullfinch, 62 Linnet.+ 3 unknowns,hopefully Snow Bunt,Whooper Swan and Lesser pecker (we live in hope)
Plus...... Pink footed goose + Woodcock .total so far 49 .target 65

In the Pink

Well what a day for pinks,started with a 155 low and noisy flock at 9.20 then a 51 soon after both heading due west.A few groups of Wood pigeons a 53,27 and a 9 heading wnw and a lesser BBGull north.Fieldfare and Redwing heading west in small mixed groups.
Then a 125 skein way out over Castle Hill about 12ish,mid afternoon saw a 321 and then closely followed by a 204.What a great day......Pity i had to go out as more came over as dusk approached.

More Pinks

Pinks on the move again today with a 45,60 and 120 all west, also good moves of 350 Redwing and 100 + Fieldfare west .150+ lapwing at shelf Moor,14 stock Doves,1 Pied Wag and a small flock of Chaffinch 30~ south made for a interesting morning walk.

Local walk

 

Not a bad afternoon walk but i did miss all the Pinkies going over??.Great spot , pied wag ,meadow pipit , 11 greenfinch 2 linnet and a Woodcock all added to the footit year list.

FOOT IT update..

1.Great Crested Grebe 2. Little Grebe 3 Cormorant.4 Grey heron, 5 Canada Goose,6 Mallard,7 Tufted duck ,8 Goosander,9 Sparrowhawk,10 Kestrel.11 Coot , 12 Moorhen ,13 Golden Plover 14 Lapwing , 15 Snipe ,16 Black headed gull ,17 Common Gull , 18 Herring Gull ,19 LBBGull , 20 GBBGull , 21 Stock Dove ,22 Woodpigeon , 23 Collared Dove ,24Feral Pigeon ,25 Little Owl, 26 Tawny Owl ,27 Green Woodpecker ,28Great Spotted woodpecker , 29 Skylark ,30 Meadow Pipit.31 Grey wagtail 32 Pied wagtail ,33 Dipper ,34Wren ,35 Dunnock 36 Robin , 37 Blackbird ,38 Fieldfare,39 Song Thrush, 40 Redwing, 41 Mistle Thrush , 42 Goldcrest , 43 Long tailed Tit , 44 Blue Tit, 45 Cole Tit , 46 Great Tit, 47 Nuthatch , 48 Treecreeper , 49 Jay , 50 Magpie ,51 Carrion Crow , 52 Rook, 53 Starling , 54 House Sparrow ,55 Tree Sparrow , 56 Chaffinch,57 Greenfinch, 58 Goldfinch ,59 Siskin ,60 Redpoll,61 Bullfinch, 62 Linnet.+ 3 unknowns,hopefully Snow Bunt,Whooper Swan and Lesser pecker (we live in hope)
Plus...... Pink footed goose + Woodcock  .total so far 41.target 65

Northowram to shibden valley

A steady walk to start off the year , down the valley to shibden park then off to shibden valley return route.A total of 34 species the highlight 48 Pinkies heading wnw seen by Bri , Dave and Nick as they headed west over calderdale.a Little Owl, grey wag,10 fieldfare,7 Redwing and a nice flock of 35 Goldfinch.

Morpeth / cresswell beach

A quick trip up north for early  new year celebrations,birding with big hangover...3 Waxwing,2 sparrowhawks,500+ Pink footed Goose,28 Curlew north,77 Dunlin north,30 Redshank north,20 Eider,6 Oycks.

Feather from ogden moor

Found this feather on a ripped up carcass on ogden moor today definate raptor kill .There were no other id features but i think I sorted it out.? Would anyone like to guess what it is.??

Ogden.

Ogden to the windfarm and back was cold and birdless , except for  good numbers of Red grouse all over the moor.1 lessed Black backed Gull, 1 Cormorant , 7 Redwing , 4 Fieldfare and a load of mallards and BHGulls around the res...7 herring Gull and a Great spot from home..............

White Crow and X mas greetings

This superb photo xmas card  was taken by a good friend and what a great shot it is.
Today I also saw the White Crow for the first time at Queensbury golf club good to know its still around.It looks a real hard case that crow.

January targets..

1.Great Crested Grebe 2. Little Grebe 3 Cormorant.4 Grey heron, 5 Canada Goose,6 Mallard,7 Tufted duck ,8 Goosander,9 Sparrowhawk,10 Kestrel.11 Coot , 12 Moorhen ,13 Golden Plover 14 Lapwing , 15 Snipe ,16 Black headed gull ,17 Common Gull , 18 Herring Gull ,19 LBBGull , 20 GBBGull , 21 Stock Dove ,22 Woodpigeon , 23 Collared Dove ,24Feral Pigeon ,25 Little Owl, 26 Tawny Owl ,27 Green Woodpecker ,28Great Spotted woodpecker , 29 Skylark ,30 Meadow Pipit.31 Grey wagtail 32 Pied wagtail ,33 Dipper ,34Wren ,35 Dunnock 36 Robin , 37 Blackbird ,38 Fieldfare,39 Song Thrush, 40 Redwing, 41 Mistle Thrush , 42 Goldcrest , 43 Long tailed Tit , 44 Blue Tit, 45 Cole Tit , 46 Great Tit, 47 Nuthatch , 48 Treecreeper , 49 Jay , 50 Magpie ,51 Carrion Crow , 52 Rook, 53 Starling , 54 House Sparrow ,55 Tree Sparrow , 56 Chaffinch,57 Greenfinch, 58 Goldfinch ,59 Siskin ,60 Redpoll,61 Bullfinch, 62 Linnet.+ 3 unknowns,hopefully Snow Bunt,Whooper Swan and Lesser pecker (we live in hope)
Plus...... Pink footed goose and F**** Pigeon.total so far 39.
Going to try and see this lot in January on foot from my house and back....Trips to Soil Hill,Jay house lane and Cromwell Bottom, will have to be completed to get any where near 65 species

Northowram to shelf moor

A good walk today from Northowram to shelf moor.Loads of Redwing on the move north, 1 meadow pipit,16 Mistle Thrush,12 Goldfinch ,8 Chaffinch ,6 Stock Dove ,40 Lapwing and still no Fieldfare.Total 29sp  today and 36 so far around northowram on foot only.
Wednesday....low fog and rain,3 Long tailed tits in back garden and a Snipe over south.................

Seasons Greetings

                (Eagle Owl undisclosed site in yorkshire summer 2012)

All the best to one and all for the festive season and hope its a great new year.Andy.....Tawny owl this evening calling in the valley and a few Redwings and Stock doves but little else......

Keeping it local

http://birdingbyfoot.blogspot.co.uk/

My Footit area

Had a trial walk today within half a mile of my house ,and found 30 species of bird,including 21 lapwing ,2 jay , 6 LTTits,Kestrel,Sparrowhawk,19 Stock dove, 1 Grey Wagtail ,Redwings on the move s/w about 20+ , 1 Mistle Thrush and other common Crows,Gulls  and residents. No Linnets,Greenfinch,Fieldfare,ducks,Geese or |Pied wags,

Quiet walk 2

Same walk one week later,still deadly quiet with a covering of snow ,a flock of 14 goldfinch,loads of corvids numbering 300+ mainly Jackdaws a few Carrion Crows and 20 Rooks.You can tell its cold cos the first Lapwings have moved down from shelf moor with 10 in the horse field today.I did count 70 at shelf as well today.3 Fieldfare,1 Redwing and 2 Mistle thrush.On the bird table Chaffinch,Cole,Blue and Great Tit,Dunnock,Blackbird and 20+ house Sparrows.Sparrowhawk been active but no kills this week around the garden.

Quiet walk

Sunshine but cold today made for a brisk walk around the village perimeter.A small flock of Long tailed tits(5),1 Grey wag in the horse manure fileld ,34 Fieldfare went west,2 Chaffinch ,a few BHGulls and Commons heading n/w and a quick view of 62 lapwing up on Shelf moor........

More Sparrowhawk carnage

 

Young female Sparrowhawk is getting well into the swing of things,with another 2 Feral Pigeons in my garden alone this week.(pic above)
  A Dipper at ringstone was only  my third for the site and a flock of 21 Twite on the side of the road in a small quarry on the way to Blackstone Edge was a real bonus.
  Its been a strange week as there seems to have been a  complete clear out of Redwings,Fieldfares and Waxwings and no vis at all.
 The Nordic type Jackdaw was seen on Wednesday onwards and the Herring Gull at Brods has returned for its 3rd winter.

Shelf moor and sainsburys Yeasterday

                                   Candle snuff Fungus

Quick look at shelf moor area today saw 187 Common Gulls,25 Lapwing.4 Mistle Thrush,6 blackbirds,20 Starling,,6 Redwing and 12 Fieldfare,down in Northowram 37 Black Headed Gull.7 Heralds in Bare Head Tunnel are well worth a look and 1 Little Owl near here....Waxwing yeasterday in Brighouse

Great morning

A good morning for late autumn vis started slowly ,then picked up around 9ish all species going its own way.
1 Cormorant west
917 Woodpigeon s/w 22 north
148 Starling west
5 Herring Gull west
96 Redwing nn/east
212 Fieldfare s/w

Northowram to Shelf

Cheers Darrell

White - Tailed Starling

A heart stopping moment at shelf moor today,as I was counting the Starlings(311) a white tail resembeling one of the rare wheatears flipped across my bins..............only to reveal a White tailed Starling never seen one with a pure white tail before...40 lapwing,12 common Gull and one BHGull on a pretty grim day.Flushed a Woodcock from the field and 13 Stock Doves were the first group of the winter ....

Classic Woodpigeon

Early November clear blue skies and light ssw or wnw and its mass Woodpigeon moves s/w or ssw.In the last 3 days 4500 have passed over in the amazing shapes these large flocks make shimmering across the sky.The classic long cigar, tight tennis ball and long tail streamers were all observed today as numbers soared from a few early doorsto a few groups of 500 +.Lets hope it continues but the weather looks like it may put a dampner on the job,,

Sparrowhawk frenzy

had plenty of sightings of Sparrowhawks over the last few weeks with the adult male and female putting in many attacks on next doors pigeons and Collard doves.I have only seen the young male once since last month but the young female is a monster.
  I have seen it hit at least 2 pigeons over the weekend and fail to kill.Yesterday Ann from next door came running round saying there was a pool of blood in her garden and there was a dead bird in the tree.Sure enough a beheaded pigeon was hanging upside down dripping blood all over her nice new flaggs.Apparantly the Sparrowhawk had got the pigeon stuck on its foot and could not get it off until it flew headlong into the tree and this freed it from its talons.It returned 3 hours later and took the beheaded carcass off for another feed.
 Today it was in my garden with a very large feral pigeon pinned to the lawn taking large bits of feathers out of its breast,suddenly the pigeon broke free and both birds flew off and hit the car feathers flying in all directions.The sprk chased the pigeon under the car running along the path.The pigeon nipped round the front wheel and escaped.i saw the sprwk hunting high over the cricket pitch a bit later so it was still hungry......