Queensbury Predictions 2018

The following are potentials for the area after much thought and consideration.

January - March Cedar Waxing
April - May Egyptian Plover
June - July Roller

August - Remedial Psychiatry

An Appalling Session Rewarded

After enduring staying in for a couple of days I cracked up this morning and did Raggalds to Mixenden Res.

The Flood held just 2 small gulls. Soil Hill had just one imbecile. Ogden Res was refused at the first hurdle; I daren't risk the wet icy footpath after an initial skid.

Mixenden Res had 1 each Grey Wagtail & Cormorant plus the gulls. It also coughed up a personal site record count of 6 Goldeneye - the original Pr and a separate group of a drake and 3 females.

I must do less birding more often, it can be rewarding.

Casual Review of 2017

Some Random thoughts from memories of this year without referral to records submitted on Birdtrack. There is no pattern e.g chronological order and being in probably the worst area for birding in the country no doubt the negatives will outweigh the positive 😁.

First thing that comes to mind is the paucity of Autumn/Winter migrants. Jack Snipe and Snow Bunting sightings have been dismal. I've not had the former this year and the only Snow Bunting was back in February. Soil Hell used to produce both but this venue is now overgrown and needs a good churning up on the top. Brambling and Waxwing are also on the No Show list, inspiring the thought that global factors are an issue rather than local ones. Whooper Swan numbers have been low so I count myself lucky to have seen 7 of them within the last month or so.

Spring migrants clanged big time; in previous years I've always managed Redstart and Wood Warbler but not this season. Spotted Flycatcher appearances have also been at an all time low.
Other missings include Merlin, Hobby & Short-eared Owl. On the other hand I'm happy with my tally of Barn, Little, Tawny & Long-eared Owl, Buzzard & Sparrowhawk.
Ring Ouzel is another bird that seemed to give Soil Hill a miss along with Whinchat. However both species appeared in the HX Golf Course and Hunter Hill area. This is where I also got my best Wheatear counts which again was down in numbers on the hill from hell.

Some good news now. I did get 8 Shelduck on Mixenden Res back in May, and a drake Pochard in the summer months. 3 Little Ringed Plover also showed up here on the same day that 3 Dotterel were in the Cold Edge area. An unusual record in June was a pr Pink-footed Goose and a loudly calling Turtle Dove at Ogden Res. Finally I just remembered that Woodcock showed better this year than in the previous two.

So, 2018 looms and along with it a resolution or three. Firstly I must try and do more local drinking and less birding. Secondly, I must do more birding in other more productive parts of the country and of course abroad. Thirdly, this year I must rid myself of this over positive attitude to birding in general 😎

Raggalds To Swalesmoor

Arctic Queensbury conditions in a 0815 hrs start which I'd like to say was enjoyable in challenging windy and snowy weather - that's what I'd like to say 😬👎.
Raggalds Flood was full but empty. The field at the top of Roper Lane opposite the Ale House held c45 Lapwing and a similar no. of small gulls with more of the latter on the sports field.

On Xmas Day I was informed by a very reliable local stalwart that in the past few days hundreds of Fieldfare & Redwing were to be seen on Swalesmoor, so off I trudged. I didn't seen any but I'm not too pissed off given the way the stiff W'ly wind blew the snow straight into my 👀s. There were a few large gull sp. present along with the smaller and the usual plethora of caaawvids. Also 1 Pied Wagtail & 3 Meadow Pipit.

On the way back home Shibden Head produced a GSW but that was it really. Oh! I did get a reminder that the area is a notable stronghold for House Sparrow.

Same Old Route

An outing of exercise value only all told. A strong W'ly wind loosened a few teeth and tested the insulation properties of one's clothing.

c30 Lapwing at Mountain. Raggalds Flood had just  7 small gulls.
Soil Hell was passage only.
Ogden was gash so much so I thought a distant Gull was a potential Kittiwake but I  now accept it was the manifestation of a rancid imagination.

Mixenden Res. F Goldeneye very actively diving but the drake seems to have departed. I now wonder if this female can't fly through injury. Also 2 Cormorant and small gulls.

Raggalds to Mixenden

Light rain and misty throughout visibility poor
Raggalds Flood 2 BHG only. Plenty more on the sports field.
Soil Hill 1 Meadow Pipit & Wren.

Ogden Res was difficult to work but I'm positive the Teal from yesterday have left.
A few large gulls seen but accurate Id  impossible.

The old trooper BHG bearing leg ring X2T6 was on the railings. This bird originates from the Hiddensee N Germany.
6 Coal Tit seen, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Chaffinch, 3 Blackbird and one unid flying Thrush.

Mixenden Res was mist shrouded to the extent I could only see halfway across the water but I'm pleased to say a drake Goldeneye has joined the long staying female.
Canadas & Jackdaws in the fields here.

Queensbury and Ogden

Local Tawny Owl sounding off at Bleedin 'Ell O'clock Tues 19 Dec.

I had a medical appointment this am so ruled myself out of a trip with DW & DM. Here's a double edged sword; I'm deemed a fairly healthy old bugger by the physician but I'm an envious one to boot.
Here's why.

10 Teal on Ogden Water. A similar number of LTT & Goldcrest not on the water and the killer blow 5 (Five) Treecreeper seen throughout the woodland! Also 1 GSW.
Methinks there's been an influx from the continent so I think I know where I'm going tomorrow.

Well done lads.

Raggalds to Mixenden

Raggalds Flood still 80% frozen over at 1030 hrs with just a fly over Pied Wagtail there.
Soil Hill was chronic. 1 Herring Gull over NE.

Ogden was contaminated by the usual Dullards & small Dulls. A Moorhen has discovered the benefits of hanging around Ducky Corner. The misery was broken by a Kingfisher seen perched in a bush on the Western shoreline and then flying over the drink.
Others: 2 Kestrel, 3 Meadow Pipit ditto Blackbird.

Mixenden Res still holds the f Goldeneye as well has a Moorhen, 2 Cormorant, 1 LBBG ditto Herring Gull, several Canada and the small gulls. 3/4 Blackbird in the Stod Fold area.

Low Moor Gulls Ringing News

Nigel,

Many thanks for the sighting and photo.
It is difficult to make out the final digit of the colour ring.

Based on the age of the bird at ringing it could be 71,72 or 79.
What I can say is that it’s a bird which was colour-ringed ringed at Harewood Whin landfill site, to the west of York, (53.960 -1.177). The bird was caught using a Cannon Net and is one of around 2500 Gulls which have been caught and colour ringed to date.

Harewood Whin is one of the decreasing number of Landfill sites in the UK where it is possible to operate for the catching and ringing of gulls. Whilst with us the gulls feed on the Landfill site during the day and roost on the floods in Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve or on the Humber Estuary.

The bird was rung on 30th June 2017.

I hope you find this of interest and many thanks for taking the time to report your sighting.

Best Regards

Mike Jackson

PS from NK: The Green ringed BHG seen on the same date appears to be a Norwegian bird.

Horton Bank Country Park

via Queensbury Sth in almost lethal conditions. I saw a number of people give up walking and return to their homes. Contrast this with a young lady I warned about a particular hazardous stretch of ice that I'd struggled with - she almost waltzed across it. Proof positive I'm an old insecure wrinkly.

This was my first visit to HBCP in a few years but I'm glad I persevered as I got a personal site tick - a drake Tufted Duck.

Another good record was the sighting and photographing of 4 Herring Gulls among the several BH & c8 Commons that were present.

Also present: 6 Mute Swan, 3 Canada, c8 Moorhen, c17 Coot, Dullards.

Just a few Lapwing, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Mistle Thrush, Dunnock & Great Tit seen on the Queensbury/Shelf Moor stretch.

Who Would A Birder Be?

Just before lunch time today I could stand being hovel bound no longer so despite knowing the weather forecast, I togged up and went through Littlemoor Park and returned home via the Cross Lane route. It was a very quick walk and incredibly wet to boot, needless to say birds weren't exactly bountiful.
c35 Lapwing, c100 Starling, 1 Meadow Pipit, 4 Blackbird, 2 Chaffinch, few Goldfinch.

It did prompt me to publish these pointers about the pitfalls of birding that have been festering in the recesses for a month or so.

There isn't enough light about to see any birds with/It's far too sunny and the light is hitting me straight in the eyeballs.

There is too much rain, apart from getting soaked it's keeping the birds down/I wish it would rain, the ground is rock hard and it will drop some birds in.

This severe gale that's blowing should drive some cracking birds into our area/For chrissakes when is this bleedin wind gonna stop it's no use going up Soil Hill in this crap.

The extended cold snap should bring us some morsels from the West:East:North/I hope this frost goes and it gets warmer I can't stand being out in it for too long.

These binoculars are great, the high definition gets me another 90 yards of clarity/These binoculars are rubbish, I never get any good birds.

This camera is shite it can't take any good photographs.

Queensbury and Low Moor

Another session in icy conditions and brilliant sunshine.
Just after seeing 20 Lapwing in the adjacent fields I bumped into a Shelf birder in Cross Lane. He mentioned he was looking for Brambling reported a day or so previously by a colleague. I spent a few minutes searching but couldn't even manage a Chaffinch. Pr Pied Wagtail on the return home.

Low Moor 1050-1225 hrs. Harold Park Lake coughed up many BH Gulls one of them sporting a Leg ring (White on Green) on the right limb and a metal ring on the left. I took a few pics and think I'll be able to discern the country of origin at least.
Others: 1 Herring & several Common Gull, 1 Goosander, c24 Tufted Duck plus the Coots, Moorhens & 4 Mute Swan.

Park Dam had another leg ringed Gull, this time a 1st Winter type LBBG. The ring was black on yellow Y:7? possibly Y:77 on the left leg, the right leg was unadorned. Once again I should be able to determine the country of origin. It looks as if I'm going to be busy tomorrow.

Others: 3 Cormorant, pr Mute Swan, 1,GC & 3 Little Grebe, 16 Tufted Duck, Coots, 7 Moorhen, 1 Goosander, several BH & Common Gulls, 1 Herring and another LBBG. Pr Great Tit,,1 GSW.
Blackbirds seen throughout.

PS The Yellow leg ringed gull ain't a LBBG as stated. I should have gone the other way, it's a HERRING and was ringed in York - details to follow.
I have given up on the BHG the vague details don't tie up with the ringing project codes. 

Shibden Valley Trek

An exhilarating yomp  through the light snow, ice and thick mud of the valley in brilliant sunshine, the kind of day that makes you feel alive (zombies - I didn't mean to upset you).
Some good news about the NW track that leaves Swalesmoor Road and heads down in the direction of the old YWA building. Men in machines have cut a swathe through the area and done away with the potentially dangerous overgrown ditch, also removing fallen tree trunks.

(Hoss thought:This poor sod must be a simpleton)

Birds were sporadic but there were some quality moments, e.g at Bare Head Tunnel I disturbed a male Sparrowhawk that had just made a kill. It flew a few metres into the undergrowth carrying off a Robin sized bird. Presumably the same hawk was seen about 50 mins later flying across Shibden Head.

A Buzzard came out to do a lap and a half for 2/3 minutes. I walked past a bramble patch and was surprised by a Thrush type that twice called loudly as it flew close toward me. It veered off and dived into cover but was so quick I could only narrow it down to Song Thrush or Redwing respectively by sight. Hopefully when I play the call back from Xeno Canto I'll nail it.
Others: 1 Grey Wagtail, Kestrel & 1 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 8 Blackbird, 2 Jay ditto Chaffinch, 1 Pheasant & several Jackdaw.

Swillington Ings

Courtesy of DW with DM representing Northowram on a mild calm day. In no particular order: Red Kite, Buzzard, c12 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Goldcrest, 5 Reed Bunting ditto Pied Wagtail, c20 Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinch.

The water was Fowl: a really good count of Pochard all things considered c22 birds  present. 6 Goldeneye, similar Pintail, several Goosander, Shoveler & Gadwall, numerous Tufted, a few Wigeon.
2 Redshank, c300 Lapwing, c11 GBBG, few Herring Gulls, Cormorants, Greylags, 2 Grey Heron.

Not forgetting Willow Tit👀😁, (Pics by DW) Kingfisher, Stonechat.

Saved By The Swans

Raggalds to Mixenden via Soil Hell and Ogden approx 1020 hrs. 11 Lapwing on the Flood, few small gulls in the vicinity.
Once again the Hellish Hill had nothing to offer on the top but a Kestrel. Down at the bottom were c210 Lapwing and a Grey Heron.

At 1125 hrs I had just gone down the Adventure Centre slope toward the Ogden plantation when I turned round for some inexplicable reason. Oh boy! 7 Whooper Swan were flying over > SE going across Soil Hill southern slope in a direction that would take them over Bradshaw and Queensbury.

Ogden Res had 2 drake Teal out in the middle, 1 LBBG, small gulls and a few Canadas.
The walk to Stod Fold and Mixenden Res produced a couple Chaffinch, 4 Blackbird, ditto Redwing, 1 each Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk & f Goldeneye.

PS A Tawny was hOwling at nightmare o'clock this morning over the back yard and a Grey Wagtail was on BD Mills roof as I returned home.

Low Moor Circular

Queensbury to Low Moor and back via Shelf Moor. It's the old story: drop below the heights of the parish and you will get birds.

Low Moor Dams: 30 Tufted Duck, 11 Goosander, (26 & 8 at Harold Park respectively. 2 Herring Gull and numerous smaller varmints.

1 each Cormorant, Grey Heron & Grey t Crested Grebe 😏😀. 2 Little Grebe, c50 Canadas, 8 Mute Swan, c8 Moorhen & an epidemic of Coot. 2 Chaffinch, 1 Mistle Thrush, 8 Blackbird.

Shelf Moor: c22 Lapwing, c18 Meadow Pipit, 1 each Pied & Grey Wagtail, 3 Blackbird ditto Fieldfare - my first local of the winter.