Undisclosed Area

Courtesy DM along with DW.
Hen Harrier female giving prolonged if distant views as it carried  a prey item and dropped into Heather.

Also Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Lapwing, few House Martin, Swallow & Swift.

Queensbury Fly Flatts Blow Out

Another long trek which finally found me out; I'm getting too old to be this ambitious. Still it will be all over when I give up birding altogether tomorrow.
Soil Hill produced 3 Oystercatcher, Curlew & Lapwing and for some strange reason the Skylarks were in song overdrive. Also a LBBG over plus a few Swallow and a Swift.

Ned Hill had 2 chuntering Whitethroat which were put in the shade by a very interesting episode. A bird was down at the bottom of a trackside bush hidden in the undergrowth calling loudly and incessantly. I recognised this as the begging call of a juvenile LEO so I allowed myself a few minutes to see what transpired. No parent was obvious so I followed my own advice along with that of the various birding bodies and got the hell out. Subsequent checks on XENO-CANTO confirmed the caller identity.

It was boredom enshrined from then on for quite some time until I got within half a mile or so from the Withens. First a Red Grouse started calling in flight followed by a noisy Curlew. The cause of this was a low flying Buzzard which circled a few times before moving on.

Fly Flatts made me regret the effort to go there for a number of reasons. The shoreline where I got last visits Dunlin has gone and I only copped for 2 Common Sandpipers throughout. There were 3 sets of Dog walkers doing the deed, not a single gull and the place was generally a non event. The best bird count has to be about 6 Redshank.

I staggered down to Ogden in a last gasp effort and despite the throng was mollified to a degree by 2 House Martin over the water and 5 big gulls on it. 2 of these were Herring, 2 were adult LBBG and the other a 2CY type I couldn't identify as by now I'd lost all will power.

Calderdale Grand Tour

Departed Queensbury 0840 hours; arrived Luddenden Foot 1425 hours. After that yomp I proudly claim to have Luddenden Feet. Visited Oats Royd, Bradshaw, Ogden Res, Withens, Fly Flatts, Luddenden Dean, Booth & Midgley.

Once again the birds were in patches with a mind numbing stretch over moorland that held only a few Mipits and surprisingly a pr Swift. However the scenery and good weather combined with what I did see made it worthwhile.

Oats Royd & Ogden: not much just a few WW, couple Chiffchaff. Withens turned up zilch but things got livelier at FF: 4 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 6 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 4 Curlew plus the Canadas and Greylags.

The top of Luddenden Dean produced another Snipe but also a minor tragedy given that nature is a law unto itself. About two thirds of the way down what must be one of the steepest slopes in England I found a pile of freshly plucked feathers. The carcass had gone but among the many brown feathers was a longer one colored russet/rusty brown indicative of F Redstart. I really hope I'm wrong as there were no live ones at all in the valley.

A Cuckoo called thrice and a Red-legged Partridge showed well enough for a photograph. GSW & Green Woodpecker were heard.

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A few WW, couple of Chiffchaff & Blackcaps were present also a pr Swift. Swallows were floating around throughout the session but not in numbers.
At last House Martins were seen: one in Booth at a nest site and 3 in Midgley.

Back Down To Earth

One Lapwing over Raggalds Pond. Pr Oystercatcher on Soil Hell which it was in a  cold East wind.  Also a Kestrel, Greenfinch, Chaffinch & Pied Wagtail seen.

I tried for a follow up Spotted Flycatcher but couldn't even find the previous one and yet again no Tree Pipit in the Ogden area. A few Goldfinch, 1 Whitethroat, couple Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 2 Jay were here also a GSW.

Hunter Hill bottom coughed up a pr Red-legged Partridge, 2 Reed Bunting and a Buzzard being harassed by Jim Crow.
Mixenden Res was ultra boring.

When I went into the back yard at home this Woodpigeon sat staring me for a couple of minutes without fear before casually dropping onto the food provided by Mr & Mrs DP next door. It hung around for longer just peering at me before it was eventually joined presumably by it's mate. They then started to tuck in; perhaps they have young just over the fence.

South Yorkshire Bonanza

DP kindly forced me into a trip to Broomhill Flash and Old Moor RSPB early this morning, just as I was thinking of giving up birding again. Ah well there's always tomorrow.
It turned out to be a cracking session what with the great weather and 3 tasty birds, one of which was a lifer for me in the UK.

First stop was Broomhill Flash for the Red-necked Phalarope. We got onto this bird within a couple of minutes in part due to the helpfulness of 2 locals locked onto it with their telling scopes. The bird always remained at distance as this photo shows and seemed to use BHGs as it's guardian.

We then moved on to Old Moor and were lucky enough for another local birder coming into the hide and mentioning a Mediterranean Gull in among the BHG hordes. Dave got onto this one with his scope and we were able to see the jet black head, white eye ring and deep red bill with absolute clarity; an unexpected bonus most appreciated.

We knew about the Glossy Ibis from the internet and just followed the crowd so to speak. Hiding at first this British personal first crept out of it's lair to feed more openly and allow a few acceptable photos.

Other players: Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, GC Grebe, Sand Martin, Oystercatcher, Lapwing LBBG, Bullfinch, Tree Sparrow, Reed Warbler.

Queensbury Shibden Valley Circular

No shortage of Spring sunshine in a pleasant walk through this less than genteel terrain. There was however a notable lack of birds at times e.g not a single House Martin back on this late date.
I managed a pr Swift at the Northowram edge of the valley with a total of 10 Swallow throughout.

8 Whitethroat incl 2 at Deanstones Lane, 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 3 WW, 1 Garden Warbler. 1 each Sparrowhawk & Green Woodpecker. Several Goldfinch, pr Linnet, Song Thrush, Bullfinch.

Raggalds to Mixenden

Raggalds approx 0925 hrs. The Flood should be gone by Monday. A pr Lapwing were seen with 3 Swallow across the road.

Soil Hill: pr Canada ditto Lapwing & Oystercatcher. 2 Dullard on the bottom pond, 2 Whitethroat same WW. A pr Swallow hanging round Coal Lane.

Ogden was chronic but on my 5th attempt I finally copped for Spotted Flycatcher. The joy soon dissipated when I crawled up to the traditional Tree Pipit spot - nowt nada nichts zilch. A Tawny Owl called reminding me of one over the back yard 3/4 days ago.

Also a non event was the stretch across the golf course across Hunter Hill bottom
2 each Curlew & Whitethroat, 3 Meadow Pipit, c20 Jackdaw & c34 Woodpigeon.
Mixenden Res: c19 Dullard incl dullardlings. 3 Swallow, 1 each f Goldeneye & Redshank.

Rodley Nature Reserve

Courtesy of DM on a cool grey morning. 1 each Little Grebe & Oystercatcher, 10 Gadwall, 2 GC Grebe, c18 Sand Martin, 6 Swift, c12 Swallow, 4 Grey Heron. Pr Tufted Duck, Greylags & Canadas.

Reed Warbler heard singing, Sedge Warbler both seen and heard well. 2 Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap ditto Chiffchaff, 2 WW.

Also Kestrel, Jay, GSW, Goosander, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, BHG.

A very enjoyable walk round this surprisingly spacious and well managed local nature reserve. The visitor board had a notable list of birds seen this spring. I have a feeling we shall be going back sooner rather than later.

Cromwell Bottom

A very productive session starting at approx 1005 hrs and ending with an annual gem. Let's start on a negative note; there were no hirundines or aplumdi, apodiodi Swift.

Grey Heron, Coot, Moorhen, Dullards. Garden Warbler was a notable bird of the day with 4 singing males, 3 of them seen. 5 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 3 WW, GSW.

Certainly 2, possibly 3 Reed Warbler were singing and just before I left I picked up a loud singing Warbler I've not had in this region for years. A Lesser Whitethroat was blasting out from one of the mature trees contrasting the 2 Whitethroat I got singing from the scrubby patches.

Raggalds to Mixenden

RFlood 1030 hrs now about half full. 2 Lapwing, 1 Redshank, 1 Pied Wagtail ditto Swallow.

Soil Hill: 2 Canada ditto Oystercatcher, 1 Wheatear, 2 WW & Whitethroat, 1 Swallow, 2 Pied Wagtail.

Is it wearing a coat?

No, it's the real thing a Pied Lamb

Ogden Res has to be awarded a medal for it's  consistency in reaching ever higher levels of boredom. Still no Spotted Flycatcher and just a couple each Blackpool & Chiffchaff plus a few WW.
Now a contradiction as I headed for the gold course a pr Siskin were flying around and calling before setting down atop of one. Another annual for the year.

The stretch across the golf course and along Hunter Hill bottom was also torpid. 1 each Whitethroat, Grey Partridge, Curlew & Reed Bunting.
Mixenden Res: 1 each Moorhen & Redshank, pr Swallow. The pr Goldeneye are due to pay council tax if they stay much longer.

Bolton Abbey

On a very memorable day courtesy of DM along with DW.

7 Buzzard, 5 Red Kite, Cuckoo heard, 2 Dipper, 4 Common Sandpiper.
Pr Redstart, 9 male Pied Flycatcher singing.
3/4 Swift plenty Sand Martin, few Swallow, Garden Warbler, few Blackcap ditto Chiffchaff, many WW.

Photos: NK

Mandarin perched up a tree, Nuthatch at ones feet. Curlew in the river. Pr each Grey & Red-legged Partridge.

Good views of a Siskin pair had by DM & DW, I had to be content with a brief flight view but no complaints after the harvest we all enjoyed.

Photos: DW

It was a pleasure to have a conversation with birder Gordon who would like to be remembered to messrs HC & BS.

On a different theme I wonder if any local birders saw the Ring-necked Parakeet in Queensbury the other day. One worthy described it as a Blue-fronted Amazon! This sighting was reported on the online Queensbury forum which I have no personal knowledge of.

HX Golf Course Delivereth

After another mundane search of Soil Hill (2 Whitethroat) and Ogden Res I heard a Cuckoo call 5 times on the E side of the golf course.
Approx 25 minutes later a bird perched atop a small bush turned out to be a male Whinchat. Furthermore it let me take two photograph's before flying off.

Prior to this 4 House Martin had flown quickly over Ogden where 3 LBBG were on the drink.
2 Curlew were at Stod Fold but Hunter Hill bottom was quiet.

My final port of call was naturally Mixenden Res where once again the long staying Goldeneye pr are staying even longerer.
To cap the session 3 more distant Cuckoo calls were heard from the upper reaches of Hunter Hill. The same bird as previous methinks.

So You're A Gull Expert?

The Wall Street Journal: What's a Tough Call in Birding? Identifying a Gull. https://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIwnvWViTg

Queensbury to Shibden Valley

What a slog this was in brilliant sunshine, I wonder how I'll manage in 30 years time when I reach 70.
Cross Lane: Blackbird, Skylark, Reed Bunting, Swallow.
At this stage I'll mention that not a single House Martin nor Swift was seen throughout the trek.

Shibden Head/Valley: 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 each GSW & f Sparrowhawk. Several Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush, c13 WW, 4 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff. The real success story was 9 singing Whitethroat.
Also 3 more Swallow seen and plenty of Linnet.

Queensbury to Mixenden

A Dozen or so Rook were busily feeding on the rugby pitch not a common sight here.
A Redshank was busy on Raggalds Flood which is now receding almost at the same pace as my hairline.

Soil Hill had single Curlew, Lapwing, Moorhen, Oystercatcher & Canada. It also produced a pr Grey Partridge, 3 Wheatear & 2 Whitethroat plus the usual residents and a passing Swallow.

Ogden was depression enshrined. Another slog produced nothing but WW, couple each Blackcap & Chiffchaff.

The trek over the golf course was also fraught with boredom. I searched for Tree Pipit as per DP bird of Friday but got just a pr Meadow Pipit.

Hunter Hill bottom: 2 Curlew, 4 Wheatear, 1 Reed Bunting, Linnets.
I have to apologise at this stage to 2 text recipients who shall remain nameless in order to protect their guilt. On reflection the flighty Whinchat I reported wasn't this species. After a doubt sprang up in my mind I had cause to peruse online birdguides and books.

Mixenden Res was still being graced by the Goldeneye pr. Also a single Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush, Swallow, Moorhen & pr Dullard.

Raggalds Soil Hill Mixenden

Generally a very busy morning apart from the inevitable crap patch at Ogden Res.
RFlood: 1 each Lapwing & Redshank, 4 Crows.

Soil Hill: Pr Oystercatcher, 1 m Wheatear, 2 Curlew, pr Canada, Lapwing, 1 WW.
Ned Hill track was lively with 3 WW and mebbe 3 Whitethroat. There was certainly a pr indulging themselves calling, singing, chasing and general mayhem. Also Swallow, Blackbird and Dunnock here.

Ogden Res was unbearably dull with just 4 Greylag over > SW so I crawled up to the Giants Tooth. I was hoping for Tree Pipit and Spotted Flycatcher; I'd have done better entering Miss Queensbury Pageant 2018.
I did however get 2 good birds in flight namely Redpoll & Crossbill, the latter calling loudly. Also Red Grouse and couple of Curlew on the Moorside.

In the golf course rough nr the stile a Whinchat sang twice weakly then gave a good audible burst from a nearby bush. It then stopped and was never heard again and I gave up on eyeballing it.

Hunter Hill bottom coughed up a pr of Curlew and 2 pr Wheatear. A single Blackbird and Swallow were also seen.

Mixenden Res supported the presumably same long staying pr Goldeneye, 1 each Grey Wagtail & Oystercatcher plus 8 Greylag which departed in the Cold Edge direction as I was leaving. Others incl WW,  Chiffchaff, Collared Dove & Jackdaw.

Swillington Ings

Courtesy of DW in a nightmare outbound journey owing to a traffic accident in the Chain Bar vicinity. Fortunately it was still daylight on arrival at the Ings.

Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap seen. WW, Reed & Sedge Warbler heard several times. Chiffchaff heard once.

Bittern booming followed soon after by a different bird seen in flight. c11 Tern mainly Common but Arctic probable given different calls heard as a group flew around. Unfortunately none came close enough for confirmation.

8 Black-necked Grebe put on a great show in 2 separate locations each holding 2 pairs.

The purpose built Sand Martin lodge must have had c50 birds flying around it with several birds going in and out of the holes. c9 Reed Bunting seen throughout.

Others: Sparrowhawk, pr Kestrel, many Tufted, a fair number of Gadwall and Pochard less so Shoveler & Shelduck, Redshank, Lapwing and a zillion BHG some already incubating.