Monthly Archives: June 2010

I found myself at the other side of Huddersfield today and had a couple of hours to spare so I had a walk around Deer Hill in what turned out to be a warm but windy day. Birds seen were nothing out of the ordinary but there was a good number of Swallows about skimming the newly cut fields with Swifts taking the higher air currents. Higher up the lane Willow Warblers calling from the small wood and then the “chipping” sound of Common Snipe (year bird) sat boldly on the fence post, plenty of Meadow Pipits about with Linnets and a Kestrel hunting the fields Lapwings in good numbers not a day for the numbers game but a good couple of hours walk.

It all started Friday night the 17th when I found myself standing next to a bush for 2 hours at Edderthrope Flash for a bird I hadn’t seen since 1993 and see we did, the bird was a Marsh Warbler which kept popping out now and again just to keep the attended crowd interested. Along with the warbler more warblers like Garden, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Reed, Willow and Chiffchaff. None warblers Cuckoo, Litte Ringed Plover, Redshank . On our way out and whilst in the car we were joined by a Barn Owl crossing the road in front of the car it had us scrambling for our binoculars again we watched for a good 10minutes has it hunted the grass verges and at one point was taken out by a Kestrel.

 The fun didn’t stop there I was back Saturday morning the 18th to find a splendid male Garganey, this duck is a summer visitor which spends the winter in Africa. I was on then to Old Moor for more Warblers to add to the list namely Sedge and lesser Whitethroat so I ended up with 9 species of warbler for the day which I didn’t think was to bad but I was hoping to catch some on video/pictures but ended up with a Dunnock which took over the Whitethroat perch that I was hoping for. 60 species for the day List Here

Leisure day today out with people from Church so birding takes a back seat and chatting seems to take over but birds we saw and some good ones in and amongst the banter, I did manage to pick out a few warblers around Old Moor Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler,Reed Warbler (good views of this shy bird at Wath Ings Hide) along with Whitethroat here. Also at Wath Ings hide Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers and Redshank on the wader side. All the usual common ducks etc Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler and Tufted. A good morning beautiful weather once again, no photos, and didnt get down to the new Bolton Ings hide that I think will have to be a day for me

Day List :-

Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Kestrel, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Redshank, Black Headed Gull, Common gull, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, linnet,Bullfinch, Reed Bunting

Today was to be Pipits and Flycatchers and trying to find the ever elusive Tree Pipit which for me is fast becoming a bogey bird. Pipits I did find but it was to be Meadow Pipit in what is a reliable HBW area site for Tree Pipit, along with Meadow Pipit there was Swallow, Swift, Curlew and Reed Bunting.

It was on then to the Langsett Area for Flycatchers and for the hoped for two species we get in the British Isles. Spotted Flycatcher I did find but Pied Flycatcher I didnt along with the Spotted Flycatcher there were Willow Warblers, Garden Warbler, Siskin, Blue Tit, Swallows and Swits. Not a very successful day in the hoped for species I set off to find hope tomorrow and Old Moor are better

Meadow Pipit