31st August Hobby

After the Friday Asda shop I did my usual walk over Roils Head, 6 Willow Warblers were in the tit flock but not much else happening so moved on to Tower Hill at Norton Tower where I found a Wheatear sat on a wall. Got the camera out and started to take a few shots but it began to rain so put the camera away and moved on. I had only gone a few yards when a bird came flying towards me, bins up to reveal a superb juvenile Hobby it flew amost directly over me then stooped at high speed into Luddenden Valley where it had a couple of goes at Swallows before moving on at speed towards Warley Village (camera in bag so sadly no photos).

30th August, 2nd Marsh Harrier

Out with SC this evening at another moorland site and I picked up another cream crown Marsh Harrier flying down the valley and over the moors. Probably the same bird that PG had a few days ago but almost certainly a differnt bird from the one I had this afternnoon at Cold Edge. Also 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrels, 2 Whinchat 1 weasel and a wood mouse.

30th August Marsh Harrier

Was going to sit on the bench at my local watch point today but changed my mind when I saw the weather. Instead I got the bus up to Wainstalls and walked to Cold Edge Dams. Why have I come here I thought, will probably just get 1 Black-headed Gull and some poxy Mallards. Looked on the first dam, 1 Black-headed Gull and a group of Mallards, spot on. Was just thinking to myself, how come Pete Grba goes up Walshaw Dean for the first time in years the other day and gets a Marsh Harrier, why does that never happen to meeeee (what’s that!!!) bins up, a Cream Crown MARSH HARRIER on the moor being mobbed by corvids, brilliant. Got the camera out and aimed at the harrier, the bird came into focus but then the camera just shut down. Oh no what’s going on, tried again but the same thing happened again so quickly changed the battery. By the time I had done this the bird had departed, still my 11^th species of raptor in Calderdale this year made it a red letter day. Also had 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Red Grouse, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Pheasant, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Wheatears, 1 Robin, 1 House Martin and a few swallows.

28th August

Had a walk up to my local watch point for a 2 and half hour stint today. Local pair of Buzzards seen on and off also 9 sightings of at least 4 Sparrowhawks, 6 or 7 Kestrels, 24 Swifts, 1 Lesser Black Back, 1 House Martin, lots of Swallows and a few Linnets.

27th August

Walk over Roils Head today, a Whitethroat was new also the Chiffchaff still heard calling, not much else.

26th August

Walk over Roils Head this pm produced 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, 40 House Martins moving west, lots of Swallows and 2 Wheatears at High Road Well Moor. After the rain I had a walk up to the Mount Tabor watch point and hadnt been there long when DJS rang to say that BS had just had 4 Whimbrel at Swales Moor flying in my direction. Turned the bins round and viewed to the east and sure enough 4 waders with down curved bills came into view at a distance so couldnt get a good ID on them. They started to circle over the fields and one called briefly (sounded like a curlew to me) but not sure. BS is sure that at least one was a Whimbrel as he had heard the call. 3 birds were together but the other was some distance away so possibly 3 Whimbrel and 1 Curlew ????. Also had 3 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, 1 Swift and an adult Great Black Backed Gull which is unusual for this time of year.

24th August

A Chiffchaff was new in at Roils Head today, also 15 Willow Warblers and a Sparrowhawk present. One Swift over Moor End Road and a nice Roe Deer nearby.

22nd August

A walk over Roils Head today produced 1 Whinchat but not much else.

21st August

1 possibly 2 Redstarts at Roils Head today, also the Linnet flock must be over 100 by now.

Autumn raptor movment through Calderdale

Scarce lager raptors moving through Calderdale during the last 10 autumns.

Osprey

Only recorded in August and September. First week of September seems to be the peak time for birds moving.

August

23^rd 

26^th

September

1^st, 1^st

3^rd

4^th, 4^th

5^th, 5^th, 5^th

7^th

8^th

15^th

25^th, 25^th                    

Red Kite

August

1^st

3^rd, 3^rd

7^th

16^th

17^th

20^th

22^nd

September

8^th

10^th

13^th

23^rd

24^th

26^th

October

1^st

30^th

November

17^th

Marsh Harrier

August

14^th

21^st

28^th

September

1^st

2^nd

4^th

10^th

11^th

23^rd

October

8^th

Honey Buzzard

September

3^rd

13^th

17^th

Rough-legged Buzzard

October

13^th

November

16^th and 17^th

20th August

First walk up to Cold Edge after trashing both Plantar fascia in my feet in April, was it worth it, NO. Only birds of note were 4 Swifts, 2 Wheatears and 2 Curlews with very short bills.

19th August

Spent 2 hours with DJS looking for Andy Cs Black Redstart near Baitings today with no luck. Only bird of note was a Whitethroat.

More Moths

 Dont get many of these, Dotted Clay I think.

 Phoenix

Lesser Black Back.

Out with Roy last night, went looking for Andy Cs Black Redstart with no luck, infact we hardly saw any birds all evening so returned home and had another moth night instead. Nothing much today just one Lesser Black back at Mount Tabor, thats all.

14th August

 Clay

 Burnished Brass

 Broad bordered Yellow Underwing

Grey Chi

Not much happening on the bird front so got the moth trap out and did 3 hours last night.

Early August

A few migrants have started to come through Roils Head in the last few days. 7th produced at least 20 Willow Warblers in with the Long-tailed Tit flock, nothing on 8th, 1 Wheatear on the 9th and a distant gull which I tried to turn into an adult Med Gull over Luddenden Valley but it was just too far away to claim. 10th, produced the first Redstart of the Autumn at Roils Head with at least 15 Willow Warblers still present. A Sparrowhawk was mobbed by Swallows and a second Spar was seen carrying prey over Pellon later in the day. Last nights ill advised trip to Fairburn with Roy was very dissapointing.

2nd August

Out with Roy this evening, first stop Ringstone but not much there so on to Jay House Lane to check out the Barn Owl box the lads put up in the winter. It had a bird in residence but sadly not a Barn Owl but a Stock Dove, also 2 Tree Sparrows near the feeders. On next to the original Barn Owl site but sadley nothing doing there either, did have 1 singing Yellowhammer though.

1st August

Only bird of note this afternoon was a Little Owl at Work House Lane.

31st July

Usual walk over Roils Head brought a single Crossbill flying south towards West End Golf Course.