Queensbury South

0915-1120 hours in bright sunlight and a reminder that a variable W'ly blow can be annoying at times, as if I needed one.
Littlemoor Park was reasonably active, even to the extent of a modicum of bird music at the start.
Nuthatch, 12 Redwing, 2 Blackbird, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch ditto Coal Tit. Blue/Gt Tits, Robin. Dunnocks.

Then the fun stopped as I hit the track by the open fields; there was simply a virtual emptiness of birds.
From Giles Hill & Cross Lane to Corporal & Green Lane then home, I managed c20 small gulls, 12 Woodpigeon , a couple of Maggot-Pie and Jackdaws. Oh and 2 House Sparrow.

So ends my last local birding session of 2019 the most disastrous year I've endured during my nigh on 20 year sojourn in the place where the most life can be found in the local cemetery. I daren't even contemplate what 2020 is going to be like. Maybe the year I finally manage to ditch all optics and take up a new pastime, like Snowboarding or Alligator wrasslin' perhaps?

Soil Hill to Mixenden

1230-1500 hours. An endurance test but I needed the exercise; birds very hard to come by.

Soil Hell produced a passing Raven and a handful of small gulls.

Back Lane had a horde of c100 Woodpigeon in flight no doubt cheesed off with nearby shotguns a blasting.

Ogden Res was abysmal with just the usual small gulls on the water.

Nearer to the Golf course rough I managed a Greenfinch, pr Jay, 4 Redwing plus 1 each Blackbird & Mistle Thrush.

34 Canada were in a field near to Mixenden Res which sported a f Goldeneye, 1 each Cormorant & Goosander. 1 LBBG was in wth numerous small gulls. 

Falmouth Herring Gull Info

I looked up the EURING Colour Ring project for the Herring Gull seen on Thursday 19/12/2019 to find that it was a local bird. Click this link if interested...

Newquay Birds

One of 5 Rock Pipit seen

Truro and Falmouth

A washout truth be told so birds were hard come by.

A Buzzard near Truro where only Gulls & Dullards were seen on the flooded river.

c70 Lapwing circling over nearby fields and a Grey Wagtail by the roadside.  

Another Buzzard seen on the way to Falmouth along with 4 Shelduck.

Gulls again in Falmouth harbour but one Herring Gull gifted me 3 shots of it perched approx 2 metres away wearing a blue leg ring W:019. I'll report this to EURING a.s.a.p; I've already reported the bird to the local constabulary for theft.

I had a portion of Cheese & Bean pasty left  over; you should have seen the speed at which it went sailing down the gulls gullet.

Newquay Circular

What a slog but what a great day out too in the sparsely clouded blue sky with just a slight breeze whispering. Part of the enjoyment was too see the Atlantic breakers beat the hell out of the rocks while nearby the world renowned Fistral Beacn was smothered in surfers.

Where to start with the birds? Well I suppose with the absentees; I'd forgotten that Auks split the scene when late Autumn arrives, Doh!🤡. However there was still enough interest to keep a landlocked hillbilly happy.

4 Cormorant, 1 Shag, 6 GBBG, few LBBG, numerous Herring & small gull species. The stretch of cliffs just across the frog n toad held in the region of 70 Fulmar with a fair few being open to having their mugshots recorded.

The most common wader was Oystercatcher with 7 Turnstone making it to second place. When I hit the estuary 4 Curlew & 2 Redshank gave reasonable to good views. 2 Little Egret were here also, one very close and confiding.

I was very happy to get 5 Rock Pipit which were supported by about 9 Meadow Pipit. A single Skylark flew over the heathland which also produced 3 of the 4  Stonechat seen in total.

Other players: 5 Greenfinch, 8/9 Goldfinch, 3 Pied Wagtail, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Rock Doves & Woodpigeons, House Sparrow do very well here.

My camera presented me with a problem; I took so many photographs it became too heavy for me to lift. If I get my strength back I should be able to publish some in 2020 😀

Journey To Cornwall

Not much doing on the way down due to the Grey skies and low temperatures methinks.

Managed 4 Buzzard & a Kestrel from the coach along with 1 LBBG and some small gulls.

The service station stop at Gloucestercestershire came up with a Wren, 3 Moorhen, pr Pied Wagtail & a pr of unid briefly seen calling small finch types.

A day out at the coast and estuary on Tuesday so I should pick up my first cliff dwellers for the year (yes I have left it late).

It should be interesting to see to what degree I've shaken off the unwanted stat boosting websites that prompted the header message.

Queensbury to Mixenden

Hard graft but I needed to stop crawling across the ceiling and get the hell out.

Raggalds had a modicum of small gulls both on the flood and sports field.

I reluctantly dragged myself up and over Soil Hell but it coughed up a cracking bird. A Grey Plover took flight and flew toward then down the N slope calling three times. This is my first of the species in 21 months up here.

Ogden Res was quiet but at least the Kingfisher was out busily fishing. A Reed Bunting and a few Goldfinch were also present and the small gulls.

9 Fieldfare 1 Redwing ditto Blackbird & Mistle Thrush were at Hunter Hill bottom as were 9 Canada. A kronking Raven was upstairs.

Mixenden Res held a load of small gulls as well as 2 f Goosander & a Goldeneye. 2 Moorhen & a GSW also present.

Swillington Ings

Courtesy of DW along with DM; a very satisfactory morning session was had.
Hundreds of Lapwing, 4 Golden Plover, 2 Curlew. Numerous Wigeon, several Gadwall & Shoveler, couple Pochard, 5 Teal, 1 Goosander. Few Cormorant & GCG, 1 Grey Heron.

6/7 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard,  pr Peregrine. 6 Stonechat, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer. 3 calling Cettis Warbler.

Couple Meadow Pipit ditto Redwing, 5 Fieldfare, 9 Blackbird, 1 Bullfinch.

Canadas, Greylags, Coots & Moorhens.

Queensbury to Mixenden

A good slog without too many birds to spoil ones enjoyment!

c60 Lapwing at Mountain and a Pied Wagtail with a few small gulls further down the frog n toad.

Jusr 1 each Snipe & Meadow Pipit on Soil Hill.

Ogden Res: 1 Kestrel, 7 LTT, 1 LBBG & smaller gulls.

This Woodpigeon appeared to be having health problems

Nothing seen on trek across to Mixenden Res which held 1 each Cormorant, f Goldeneye & Moorhen 

Queensbury South Awakens

0940-1140 hrs with a really slow start in the park which held a vast amount of nothing much. Sloshing about the field below the golf course I did manage 3 Redwing & 2 Fieldfare with 7 Goldfinch & 1 Grey Wagtail in the track that leads to Giles Hill Lane. Hereabouts was a solitary Herring Gull alongside a couple of BHG.

c55 Lapwing were back in their usual haunt with 4 Common Gull & c16 BHG nearby. A Kestrel flew across > SW. I decided to give any Snipe present the day off due to the cold.

Green Lane was busy for a change, starting with the unusual site of 2 Moorhen feeding in a grass field. The bushes are jumping with untouched berries so it was a relief to see 5 Blackbird and c12 Redwing nervously fluttering about.

A Green Woodpecker called continually from this area and a Pied Wagtail was also present.

Soil Hell to Mixenden

1045 -1245 hrs. The hill is finished for Autumn & Winter birds owing to the spread of Rye grass which has crowded out the majority of any other seed producing plants. The one remaining bare patch really doesn't qualify to be called as such due to downsizing caused by encroachment.

I managed a Crow, 1 Dunnock & a Meadow Pipit for my troubles.

Ogden Res was unexciting; 3 Lapwing over > E, numerous small gulls, GSW. A Kingfisher flew from the promenade up to the top end.

A Green Woodpecker called from Hunter Hill. C57 Canada & a Mistle Thrush were in a field at the bottom. Mixenden Res had  a load of gulls including a Herring. 3 Goldeneye still there and a Moorhen.

Election Fever In The Sticks

The fields and woods were buzzing with the latest topic, namely who to vote for? All present were unified in their opinion that whatever the colour, the party hopefuls were lying through their back teeth in promising their version of the earth.

"I should stand for election and steal lots of votes" joked the Thieving Magpie.

"I'm not against immigration, I have a brood to feed" said the Sparrowhawk as she chased a passing Yellow Wagtail.

The Wise Old Owl awoke from his snooze and when begged for his opinion on whether to vote or not  replied in the affirmative. "One should vote for the party colour that best represents your personal interests. In my humble opinion this narrows it down to the Reds & Blues"

"Reds! gotta be Reds" the Robin interjected. "You must be joking" was the retort of the Green Woodpecker, laughing continuously. "I am of the Blue persuasion" uttered the Kingfisher from his brookside perch.

A murder of Crows restored order and asked the Owl to continue. "Not to vote is irresponsible" was the due response. "However, I urge you to disregard the pie in the sky offers about planting millions of acorns, or importing hundreds of thousands of rodents, or sewing tons of nyjer and barley. Vote for the colour that you think will CAUSE THE LEAST HARM to all us avians!"

The crowd, now maxed out, chorused "Hear!, Hear!"

The final line came from the vicar, a Ring Ouzel, resplendent in his white collar, solemnly declaring "and may the lord help us all"

A Poem To Match The Weather

A bird was sitting in the road and I thought Oh what a waste, 

should a passing lorry shed a heavy load and turn it into paste.

But my thoughts I quashed, it wasn't squashed; it flew off to get mated

before it hit a Combined Harvester and just disintegrated 😬

Bet Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes never wrote stuff as sweet as this eh?

Horton Bank Country Park

1010-1105 hrs started off foggy but cleared up a bit. Nothing exceptional but it made a change to give it a try.

1 Grey Wagtail ditto Jay, 6 Moorhen, c15 Coot. 3 each Canada and Mute Swan. Several small gull sp. & a single 1cy large 'does your head in' type gull.

Judy Hogg & Co turned up which is why the waterfowl were getting stuck in. She told me the Swans were residents not movers and produced just one cygnet this year.

Lots of tree varieties in this location but to no avail; only a few woodland types present. 2 Blackbird, 1 Goldcrest, 2/3 LTT, Blue & Gt Tit.

A loudly calling GSW was out back on arrival home, the first I've had here in quite some time.

Ogden to Mixenden

1045-1225 hrs cold fairly bright with no wind.

Only noteworthy bird at Ogden Res was a Green Woodpecker, otherwise a single LBBG and the smaller gulls.

The walk across to Mixenden was birdless but my ears were entertained by a couple of shotgun blasts one of which flushed a Woodcock. The bird flew rapidly away from Hunter Hill bottom toward the reservoir.

Mixenden Res had 3 Goldeneye, 2 m & 1 f. Also 1 each Cormorant, Mistle Thrush & Grey Heron plus 2 Moorhen. C47 Canada were in a nearby field plus the horde of gulls which included a single LBBG.

Sunny Queensbury South

Also cold 0905-1105 hrs. In the main for exercise value only as yet again (yawn) birds were at a premium.
7 Chaffinch, 1 each Jay, Fieldfare & Blackbird. Dunnocks seemed to be active and the usual park/woodland critters. c12 Meadow Pipit, 2 Snipe but the Lapwing still in absentia.

4 Common & 7 BH Gull with 1 sub-adult phase LBBG over > NE>. 12 Jackdaw and luckily for me as I neared home a last gasp Sparrowhawk being monitored by a Crow.

Recommended Insight To Nature's Past

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000b8p4/unlocking-natures-secrets-the-serengeti-rules

Ogden to Mixenden

Ogden Res 1045-1140 hrs. A few small gulls incl. a Common & 1 LBBG.

The Dipper showed well in brief flight a Jay less so.

Also a noisy Nuthatch perhaps a pr of them, a GSW called briefly.

The stretch across to Mixenden Res was subject to scouring from a stiff E'ly blow.

41 Canada and a Stonechat at Hunter Hill bottom.

The reservoir had 1 each Grey Wagtail, Moorhen, Herring Gull & LBBG with plenty of small gulls alongside.

There was also a birder who was overjoyed he hadn't visited Soil Hell.

West Vale Circular

 Courtesy of DW along with DM. The walk included Blackley and Elland. A pleasant session but yet again birds were hard come by.

Kestrel, 6 Redwing, Blackbirds throughout, c10 LTT. Briefly seen in poor light a flyimg Kestrel/Sparrowhawk.

1 Dipper, 5 Goosander ditto Canada. 1 Grey Heron ditto Pied Wagtail.