Monthly Archives: January 2015

Getting myself a little bit behind in writing up my posts on this blog this was a visit out to Old Moor again even if it was only for a couple of hours, so this post is going to be short anyways.

The birds were good when we managed to see some as the waters were quiet mostly from most hides. We did manage to see various duck species namely, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, the Moorhen and Coot and we finally caught up with a male Goldeneye, beautiful bird it was. Most bird activity was around the feeders i.e. bird garden and Tree Sparrow farm here you could find Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Tit, Pheasant, Dunnock, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Yelllowhammer, Robin, Collard Dove, Woodpigeon, and a few Redwing but the male Brambling still remains elusive once again

The List [in no particular order] ;-

Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Tit, Collard Dove, Woodpigeon, Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Black headed Gull, Common Gull, Cormorant, Lapwing, Starling, Crow, Canada Goose, Dunnock, Tree Sparrow

Redwing

Coot

I decided on taking in a new local reserve today and Cromwell Bottom was to be the place I would be visiting situated between Brighouse and Halifax so very local for me being only a 15min drive away. I arrived at about 9am and noticed the car park feeders were in full swing with Blue and Great Tit doing the acrobatics with Dunnock and Robin feeding on the ground. After chatting with one of the locals I hit the reserve going over the bridge and taking a right turn alongside the boundary fence and the river, down here I found Bullfinch and Wren, the river was in full flow after the last couple of days rain so nothing was around here. I entered the reserve near the weir, there was no bird activity at all, I came across  lots of little pond areas which maybe good in the summer months for insects, may have to come back to find out, I walked over the common following the very good paths and came across a dell area nicely laid out with bird feeders, a seating area with screen, time for photos

Robin

Bullfinch

I left the area after about half an hour due to a dog going thru the area and the birds scattering, I managed to see here before that Blackbird, Bullfinch, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnock and Chaffinch.

I then managed to find my way around the canal and the ski lake where there were a few Gulls mostly Black Headed but with a single Common a Cormorant, a few Goosander ♂ and ♀, Mute Swan and Canada Geese on the Canal.

Canal View

So not a lot of birds found over a big area, may have been the day with the winds, more dogs than birds, the dogs not being under control on a nature reserve, dog fouling in places, dogs yapping at my legs, so more of a dog park than a nature reserve, so I personally won’t be coming here often, summer months early before the dogs arrive may be an option

Cromwell Bottom Website

First day out of the new year and it would have been silly to have passed the Blyths Pipit site without calling in to say hello. It was cold and the Pipit didn’t show all that well either but see it I did for a magnificent 30 seconds and it didn’t show for another 30 minutes whilst I was there so off I went down to Old Moor RSPB and the car was a warm place.

I arrived at about 11am and planned the garden hide first to rattle a few shots off, the prime seats were taken and were taken by the same two people for at least two hours whilst I was there, but nether mind there was plenty of birds here and a few species to see plenty of Chaffinch, Bullfinch,Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit a few Woodpigeon, Stock Dove and Pheasants

Blackbird

Onwards then towards the family hide and here I could it was going to be a quiet day, few wildfowl about but I could see plenty of Wigeon with Tufted Duck, Mallard, Cormorant, Lapwing, Starling and a couple of Linnets flying past.

The next call was down at the Wath Ings hide seeing nothing on my way down except the few Black headed Gulls overhead. From the hide more Wigeon with Teal, Shoveler, gadwall, Mute Swan, Shelduck a Grey Heron on the left hand banking, Common Snipe (14) down in front of the hide busy probing away at the mud, but no Goldeneye for me. Back then to the garden hide thinking I’d grab 30 minutes before a snack in the prime seat..nah!

Blue Tit

After dinner turned left at the junction and down to Bittern hide not much happening here either did get a glimpse of 2 distant Little Egrets. Last call was around at the Tree Sparrow farm to see the fore mentioned along with Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Robin, Bullfinch. and no Brambling for me today worth another call soon

On the way out Redwing and Blackbirds feeding on the berries near the gate entrance

Bullfinch

The day list in no particular order 🙂

Blyth’s Pipit, Black headed Gull, Goosander, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Starling, Common Snipe, Grey Heron, Linnet, Rook, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Tree Sparrow, Reed Bunting, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Stock Dove, Pochard, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Little Egret