Stainland Ringstone Circular

Courtesy of DW along with D Brambling Miller on a bright sunny breezy morning. A slow start but the birds eventually proved satisfactory.

Two finches flew up from the deck in an area where Beech trees were prevalent. DM was onto them with his new bins and confirmed them as a pr Brambling. I'm happy to settle for the fleeting glimpse I got with hope for the future.

At Ringstone Res were a good bunch of Lapwing & Golden Plover along with usual Gulls, 2 Pied Wagtail & many Starling.

A Little Owl called a couple of times but we couldn't nail it.

Other birds include Jay, Kestrel, Blackbird, several Fieldfare & Redwing, LTT, Chaffinch, Goldfinch in fair numbers.

From Park Lane

Here is an extract from an email I received today. NK

I had a couple of Bramblings in last Wednesday but thought I'd leave it to see if it was just another drop-in but there have been a couple here again over the last couple of days and today there were 5 so they could be hanging about in the area. Redwing here too.

We had a Pheasant in a couple of days ago. Haven't had one since 2012.

We've gained a couple of Song Thrushes and a few Blackbirds this week so I'm checking for rings.

Denise

Soil Hill to Empty Mixenden

Soil Hell 2 Common Snipe on top field also a Kestrel here.
15 Golden Plover on bottom field N slope.

Ogden was hard work, pr Bullfinch. Fast moving Tit Flock including Coal & LTT. 1 LBBG among the smaller Gulls.

The stretch from the promenade to Mixenden was awful just 1 Jay and a Kestrel which was outmanoeuvered by the odd bird pictured below above Hunter Hill.

As for Mixenden Res refer to the post title.

Walshaw Dean & Gorple

Courtesy of DP with some good sightings on a cold crisp mostly bright morning.
Oystercatcher, Common Snipe, Jay, Pied Wagtail, 3 Meadow Pipit.
5 Crossbill calling in flight at Walshaw plantation, 12 Fieldfare overhead.

Over at Lower Gorple: 50 Fieldfare low overhead, 1 Mistle Thrush perched, 3 Crossbill perched. 1 each Chaffinch & Pied Wagtail. The reservoir just held c14 Dullard.

A recent visit to Soil Hill

Great Big Story: Tracking 13 Million Birds of Prey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwHbrK8nqwM

Queensbury to Mixenden

Third session this week of poor birding; nothing moving and again long stretches of wondering why I didn't bring a rope to throw over a tree branch.

Soil Hell: 3 Mipit.
I may as well mention that the N slope bottom has now been cleared of all sedges and shrubs and looks as though somebody is building a massive vehicle park (birders won't  need it).

Ogden Res: 2 Herring & 5 LBBG among the small stuff. 1 Cormorant ditto Bullfinch, 3 Blackbird, Moorhen.
Also few dogs, several people and a couple of Cretins.

From there to Mixenden Res boredom won the hour, just a few Goldfinch and nothing in the water save 2 Moorhen. I'm almost at the stage where I could salivate over a Dullard or two.

Week Catch Up

After a nightmare 22 hours setting up the latest version of Windows 10, I practically galloped out of the house for another quick short walk down south. The blustery wind ensured I didn't get ambitious and extend the walk, along with the paucity of birds of course.
In a certain garden: 3 Greenfinch, similar Golfinch, Coalt Tit & Treecreeper which is always good to see, especially round these parts.
Any Snipe that were lurking in Cross Lane were left to it: I couldn't bring myself to flushing anything sheltering from this crucifying wind. c70 Lapwing, few BHG, numerous Starling & 1 Pied Wagtail.

Very weak it was too on Monday 22/10; one of the lousiest days I've had while birding in this hell hole.
Soil Hill 1 Kestrel, 7 Fieldfare, 4 Mipits, 1 Grey Wagtail.
I'd like to blame the hordes of homo sapiens at Ogden Res for the lack of woodland species, truth is Ogden Plantation was just as barren and I was the only idiot in there.
From the res right across to and including Mixenden it was dire: I've seen more action in a mortuary.

Queensbury South

1010 hrs a good hours worth through Littlemoor Park passing the golf course and then down to Cross Lane and back home.
Started off on a downer: opposite side of the frog n toad flattened remains of Tawny Owl.
1 GSW, 2 each Nuthatch & Coal Tit, several Blue Tit, few Goldfinch, 1 Grey Wagtail.
c70 Lapwing, c110 Starling, c20 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail, 5 Common Snipe.

Low Moor Dams

Harold Park Lake 0955 hrs. Not good so just had a cursory 10 minutes.
GCG, 2 Tufted, 5/6 Mute Swan, small gulls, Coots etc.
Other: 1 each Jay & Blackbird.

Park Dam fared better but not exhilarating apart from a female Tufted showing pretend f Scaup white at base of bill, the swine.

1 each Greenfinch & Grey Wagtail, 2 GCG, 3 Little Grebe, 6 Moorhen, c21 Coot, 8 Tufted, 1 Mute Swan, 6 BHG.
A party of c8 small finches were too quick for me to Id.
This area is a stronghold for House Sparrow.

Fly Flatts to Cold Edge

An unexpected offer from DP for a quick visit to FF proved worthwhile.
On the way up a flock of Fieldfare went over at Nolstar with a party of Mipit close by.

Fly Flatts: 1 Peregrine, 4 Golden Plover, 1 Teal, few Mipit.

Return trip Cold Edge: a larger flock of Fieldfare, 1 Pink-footed Goose, few Greylags, several Canada.

It was good to watch 4 Stonechat flit from wall  to bush to fence here, a bird that has been rare for me this year.

Much appreciated Dave.

Queensbury to Mixenden

Soil Hill 16 Meadow Pipit, 2 flyover large Thrush types unid. c30 Lapwing, 3 Common Snipe & 3 flying Dullard.

Ogden Plantation coughed up 8 Redwing, 2 Moorhen & several Chaffinch. 

2 Jay were in the trees by the side of Ogden Res which appeared to have a sub-adult YLG in among the small gull species. The mantle was too dark for Herring but not as dark as graeslii let alone fuscus; the legs appeared to be yellow. The only other large gull here was an adult LBBG, also 1 Cormorant present. Woodland birds were active, Chaffinch being the most notable; a Bullfinch was heard.

1 f Reed Bunting was near the golf course.
Mixenden stile was was busy with birds;10 Goldfinch, 1 f Reed Bunting, 3 Blue & 1 Gt Tit, 4 Meadow Pipit. However the reservoir was poor; 2 Cormorant & a bunch small gulls.

Also 2 Magpie harassing Kestrel Hunter Hill.

Queensbury Bramblings

I just received an email from DS informing that 6 Brambling were in her garden yesterday afternoon, Sunday.
A couple of fine photos were included which I shall post later today after I return from my usual dip trip locally 😍

Photos: DS

Thanks Denise, a bird I didn't do too well on in 2017.
NK 1545 hrs.

Queensbury to Mixenden

I'd lost track of how rubbish birding could be in the part of Calderdale I suffer in but I got a timely reminder early this morning. I'm sure the gusting SW'ly didn't help especially up Soil Hill at approx 0720 where there was just a Crow seen.

Ogden plantation gave some respite as I got a Woodcock in the open by the edge of some conifers; it soon flew off.
The reservoir is the lowest I've ever known it holding 1 Herring & c20 LBBG Gull plus several smaller sp.
There was some passerine movement; 1 Treecreeper and a few Coal & LT Tit plus a few Goldcrest & Chaffinch. Also 1 Jay seen.

The walk from Ogden promenade right up to and including Poxenden Res was the stuff of overworked tear ducts at a Val Doonican farewell concert in Wainstalls on a wet Tuesday evening.
4 Mipit, 1 Grey Wagtail ditto Tufted Duck, 2 Moorhen.

Queensbury South

Decided to ease myself back in locally with a short session down from Cross Lane via Corporal Lane and Green Lane to home. Turned out rather well, surprisingly despite a quiet start.
4 Meadow Pipit, 1 Pied Wagtail ditto Mistle Thrush & Jay. I got a Moorhen on the Green Lane pond which is a first and 2 Common Snipe were at Cross Lane.
5 BHG, c60 Starling & 45 Lapwing were at High Cross Lane.

On arrival home I went into the back yard and was surprisingly rewarded with a singing Chiffchaff from the trees.

A Hellish Life

An aged birder finally clocks off after over 60 years of running himself into the ground, enduring countless arguments and driving himself and others into despair.
At the clearing house where he awaits the final decision on whether it's upstairs or downstairs he's open minded about the outcome having not only trod on a Jack Snipe but a few bird recorders toes and egos also, he hears a conversation thus.

"Satan you may want this one either as foreman in the furnace or networks support depending on your mood"

"Be with you in a tick Peter, I'm just designating this councillor as sewage works clerk"

"Right Pete my lad, what do we have here begob and begorrah"

After a few minutes of reading the newly arrived's CV the cloven hoofed one practically blows a horn with steam and hot coals flying from his ears.

"Holy Beezlebubs Mother in Laws tongues (sic) Peter, this poor sod has been a birder for 60 years and you expect me to accept him in Hades?. The Hell I will, he's suffered far too much already, you keep him" 😱 👿

Cuba October 2

Final day so down to the western mangrove for a mind numbing boring stint with the tide well out. Although the Gull and Tern crew were present in reduced numbers there wasn't a single wader to be seen. Then just as one decides whether to throw the optics into the Caribbean Sea a sanity saver breezes in and drops down a cricket pitch length away. The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is probably my favourite Egret/Heron especially when it poses for photos as they all tend to.

Inspired, I went up to the eastern mangrove and was rewarded with another trip newcomer a Pied-billed Grebe no less. This too allowed a couple of shots before taking to diving and disappearing for a fair while.
The 4 Killdeer all flew in close up to check on me and the Green Heron twice give me a rollicking before doing a photo call.
Others: 3 Great White Egret, 2 Snowy & 1 Reddish, Savannah Sparrows c12, SB Ani 2. Again a couple zipping unid warblers.

After munch it was down to western again for the final sweep and it turned out a reasonable move. I got good shots of both Wilsons Plover & either Piping or Snowy. At this time of year differentiating between these two can only be done after a lot of heartache.
The Spotted Sandpiper finally give itself up for a full diagnosis and a couple more pics although this bird is another neurotic one and never approaches the birder unlike say Semi P Plover does. There were 3 of the latter present, 1 Double-crested Cormorant & another unid radioactive warbler.

I've obviously been bypassed by the Yankee migration but I suppose c54 species isn't to be cried over.

Cuba October 1

Western Mangrove quiet but a pair of Belted Kingfisher certainly woke me up. Previously from the hotel balcony I got the Northern Flicker again before I had a memorable encounter with a Snake crossing a boardwalk through the undergrowth. I decided it was a harmless grass snake type because it was drab in appearance and was not sporting angry red yellow or black stripes. I got the camera going and got some pretty good close up shots before the critter did a cool slithering salsa into the vegetation 🤗.

Eastern Mangrove: I was met with a soaring Common Black Hawk but it didn't hang around too long. A few warblers were doing the rounds: 2 pr Common Yellowthroat, 1 Black-throated Blue Warbler, 1 distant Sedge Warblerish unid and another unknown. I flushed a rail type from 2 yards but it shot into the reeds. Also 4 Killdeer, Little Blue Heron, Savannah Sparrows.