30th Jan, Gulls and Geese

Ring-billed Gull at Mirfield today, digi scoped images. Leica apo 77x32 with fuji f30.

White-fronted Geese at Fairburn Ings, digi scoped images

A rare chance to bird outside of Calderdale for just a couple of hours this PM with Roy. First stop was Mirfield where the Ring-billed Gull was picked up after a brief seach. This was a lifer for Roy as were the 8 White-fronted Geese we then had on a flying visit to Fairburn Ings.

29th Jan

Out this afternoon with SC, after another drive around looking for possible Barn Owl sites we ended up looking for Hen Harriers again, this time with no luck. We did however have a brief Common Buzzard and a rather suprising sighting of a Merlin.

26th Jan

Kestrel and Sparrowhawk over Ovenden Wood this PM and at least 34 Magpies probably roosting at Brackenbed Care Home Pellon at dusk.

25th Jan

60+ Common Gulls at Heath ill Road+ a few Redwings and Fieldfares. Flushed a Skylark at Tower Hill, not much else about.

24th Jan

c100 Pink-footed Geese flew north west over Pellon at 1.35PM. Not much else about just 8 Fieldfares at Heath Hill Road.

23rd January

Went looking for Hen Harriers today after 8 blank attempts late last year. Sparrowhawk, Greylag Goose, Red Grouse and pheasants were all we got until late on when we had 2 but more likey 3 rintails sighted, excellent!

22nd Jan

Out and about with SC looking for possible Barn Owl sites this PM. Jay House Lane produced c30 Tree Sparrows, 47 Golden Plovers at Harts Head a flock of Redwings and 50+ Lapwings. Not much else about c300 Jackdaws going to roost at Elland.

21st Jan

A brief visit to Elland GP with DJS this PM produced 12 Cormorants, 6 Goosanders, 2 Goldeneye, 7 Tufties, 1 GCGrebe, 6 Redpolls, 1 Nuthatch, 1 GSWPeckers, 2 Bullfinch, lots of Blue and Great Tits and Gordon and Wendy.

20th Jan

Not many birds about today but a Roe Day seen in its usual spot.

Sport mixed fortunes

So Leeds UTD go down 3-1 to Arsenal in the FA cup, probably a good thing in the long run after they nearly blew promotion last season. On the other side of the Atlantic however my other team the New York Jets are for the second season running just one step away from the Super Bowl after pulling off an unbelievable result in beating the Patriots on thier own ground, for those who no nothing about NFL it would be like England beating Brasil in Rio.

A local first

Walked over High Road Well Moor this PM and was supprised to here a Raven calling in the distance, bins up and there it was being chased by a Carrion Crow. It flew up Heath Hill Road towards Mount Tabor so I followed in the hope it may have come down in one of the fields, no such look, but I did see something almost as scarce, 2 Calderdale birders in the form of JC and AH who zoomed passed and waved.

Goose Day

Over 300 Pink Feet flew west this PM over Pellon.

Found this bird at High Road Well Moor, when it flushed from behind a wall.

It circled several times and then turned up over my house before returning to Mount Tabor where it settled in the same field only to be flushed by a dog walker.

Waxwings

Back on line after internet being down for a couple of weeks. Spent the last 3 weeks typeing peoples records into the group recorder progamme, its becoming a nightmare only 3 people including myself are using it, somethings are going to have to change in the future. Anyway it was nice to see my first Waxwings of the new year, c200 at Woodlesford this PM. Also had a flock of Fieldfares at Heath Hill Road and a Kestrel at Tower Hill.

8th January

100+ Herring Gulls went west at Pellon this PM, also a few LBBGs in with them. Not much else about.

All I got for christmas was

After my shopping trip to ASDA I returned home skint, every thing had gone up due to the VAT increase, so I put on the Motorhead CD my brother got me for crimble and heard a track called EAT THE RICH (very apt i thought). Album of the week though is one I havent heard for donkeys years, again supplied by my older brother, Signals by RUSH, the base playing is superb.
Was supprised to get a Motorhead album for Christmas, I stopped listening to them 20 years ago, o well OVERKILL OVERKILL OVERKILL OVERKILL.

December 2010 highlights

Whilst trying the camera out on Common Gulls above I found this first winter Mediterranean Gull at Mount Tabor which stayed for over 2 weeks.

November 2010 highlights

Local Sparrowhawk was seen daily causing havoc, probably attrackted to large numbers of Waxwings present.

My 4th British Pied-billed Grebe turned up at Hollingworth Lake just over the boarder.

A calderdale scarce bird turned up at Mixenden Res in the shape of an adult Little Gull found again by DJS.

October 2010 highlights

A local male Hen Harrier.

One of two adult Med Gulls at Scarborough.

Velvet Scoter at Filey Brigg.

Best find of the year, juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard at Buckton.

Lapland Bunting at Spurn.

Great Grey Shrike at Spurn/Kilnsea.

Raddes Warbler at Kilnsea.

Pallas's Warbler at Sammy's Point.

Highlights Sept 2010

A rare trip to the east coast brought some good views of Arctic Skuas off Filey Brigg.

Sandwich Tern.

Arctic Skua.

Found a first winter Med Gull off Filey Brigg.

Best local bird was this Arctic Tern at Ogden found by Dave Sutcliffe.