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Winter Thrushes this week at work flock of Redwing and Fieldfares with the odd ones stopping and soon moving on

Fieldfare

The weekend brought another visit to Sands Lane for the now report Adult Ringed Billed Gull, this was reported on the 21st and is being seen on and off at Sands Lane but today was to be one of those off days but I did get a small bonus in the form of two Redshank [Video Link]. Along with the Redshank today were a great count of Lapwing (100), Pied Wagtail (1), Black headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Canada Geese, Tufted Duck (1 Female), Goosander (1 male), Sparrowhawk (1 thru), Blue Tit, Mute Swan, Mallard

We went to Pugneys this week, Friday the 19th of November, we set off from Huddersfield on a sunny morning arriving at Pugneys in thick fog and were unable to see the lake but not to be disheartened we set off in hope of finding the Long Tailed Duck but it wasn’t to be but Grey Wagtail, Goldeneye ♀♂, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Mallard, Coot, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Common Gull and Great Crested Grebe were all seen despite the fog. So it was to be that Saturday the 20th was catch up day for “the duck” late afternoon after all the chores were done. On arrival at Pugneys we could see the lake this time, so off we went in search of the duck again. This time we soon found it tucked away in the left hand corner giving us fantastic views. Long Tailed Duck ♀ [Video Link] below is a snap shot from video taken, great views of a splendid species you usually see at sea

Long-Tailed-Duck ♀

 

Saturday was our Church group outing which was heading towards Martin Mere this time but due to people having other commitments it was a select group of four and a new destination was put forward and it was to Potteric Carr we went. A uneventful day at Potteric Carr for our group with few highlights Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, and Herring Gull were the gull species about with Robin and Blackbird on the thrush side, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal on the side of waterfowl, Chaffinch and  Bullfinch for the finches, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Long Tailed Tits were about with Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker only heard and not seen, Golden Plover and Lapwing on the wader front with Greylag Geese, Canada Geese and a flock of Pink Footed Geese (70+) high overhead for the goose side and Cormorant and Mute Swan as supporting cast, whilst watching the plovers from the bridge we spotted a pair of Kingfisher on the ditch with a Stoat on the banking side.  As the group halfed in number later in the day the remaining two (me and my wife) had a few minutes in the Willow Pool hide to see close at hand a feeding Water Rail [ Video Link ]

Water Rail

Late Saturday brought news of waxwings in the Huddersfield area so an early door visit on Sunday morning was made to the location to find about 40 birds resting in one of the trees

Waxwing

These delightful birds from the Scandinavian region only had two of us admiring them they remained high in the tree top due to the “Bear in the air” making them very unsettled. The afternoon saw us popping over to Hollingworth Lake to see the Pied Billed Grebe [ Video Link ] that had taken up residence, we were able to view this splendid little grebe from the Americas at close quarters. Very much like our resident Little Grebe [Dabchick] in apperance but the bill is a bit bulkier with a hint of the dark bill band, due to it being in Winter plumage, with the throat colour being different also a slightly bigger bird more Slavonian size to me than Little Grebe.

I started the day at 9am at my local village cricket field looking thru the gulls present hoping to find the one elusive one but not today only Black Headed Gulls (37) and Common Gulls (24) and a single Pied Wagtail over with a Sparrowhawk going thru and then it was on again to Sands Lane. The weather had improved over the last hour and it was now sunshine and very little wind.

 First glance over the pools I could see the usual geese were about these being Canada and Greylags (2). Mallards still numerous with the lone female Tufted Duck still present., the family party of Mute Swans this week were back on the small pool.

Numerous Gulls still present but I could see a single Cormorant (Video Link) amongst them holding out its wings in the drying off position and then having a good preen, Gulls present this week were Common and numerous Black Headed Gulls with them this week were a few Lapwings. More Cormorants later on in the day with four birds flying over and a male and female Goosander (Video Link) taking up residence whilst I was there.

I had a quick look by the weir but only added Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher to the day list.

Back to Sands Lane for another look at the Gulls, plenty of  Black Headed Gulls about 1st Winter and Adult birds mainly only one other gull species present along with the Black Headeds these were Common Gulls, numbers just crepping into the double figures. I gave these a good looking over and one or two did give me that Ring Billed feeling but not today. Other birds present Canada Goose, Greylag Goose (2), Grey Heron (1), Mallard, Tufted Duck (1♀), Mute Swan (3 juvs), plenty of Woodpigeon flying thru, Long Tailed Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Wren and that was about it for today.

Back to Sands Lane this Friday arriving at 10am in overcast windy conditions and leaving at 1pm in brighter but still windy conditions, birds inbetween were Greylag Goose (1), Pink Footed Goose (1), Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck (1♀), Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull (1), Common Gull (8), Goldfinch (6 over), Wren, Robin, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Mute Swan, Kingfisher.

At work this week Long Tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest (1), and my first Redwing of the winter 8 birds over

Wednesday 13th managed a few hours off work before hospital appointment so that ment a couple of hours birding Ingbirchworth first which held Canada Geese (150+), Greylag Goose (1), Great Crested grebe (1), Wigeon (5), Mallard, Common Gull Gull (3) Lesser Black Backed Gull (20+), and numerous Black Headed Gulls, Moorhen. Amongst the banking trees there could be found Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Robin, Chaffinch, Wren. Along the South West footpath a lone Speckled Wood was enjoying the Autumn warmth.

Broadstones Res which much the same with about 50 Black headed Gulls, Lesser Black Baked Gull (1), Common Gull (3), Kestrel (1), Bullfinch (2), Mallard, Wigeon (7) and 1 Little Grebe

Week 40 was a quiet week, at work butterfly species seen were Speckled Wood plenty on these still on the wing with a couple of Commas. Bird wise a couple of Jays making there presence known with the loud squawking as they went around the small wooded area. Friday the 8th saw me at Sands Lane Gravel Pits for a couple of hours mainly digiscoping the Black Headed Gulls present along with Mute Swan, Canda Geese, Greylag Geese [3], Pochard [1♀], Mallard, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail [3 over]. Lapwing [c70], Lesser Black Backed Gull [2], Common Gull [1].

Saturday the 9th a couple of uneventful hours at Old Moor we never did find the Garganey or Little Stint but Dunlin, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Lapwing, Golden Plover and Snipe were all seen.

Digiscoped images below of Mute Swan and Black Headed Gulls from Sands Lane using Nikon P5100, in very poor light conditions

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The decision was made an early start and off to the coast to do a bit of sea watching, arriving at Flamborough Head in gale force NNW winds I settled in by the lighthouse wall, out of the wind, with a small group of watchers. After yesterdays movement of Shearwaters and Skuas I was hoping for some more good numbers, good numbers of Gannets going north and south but I struggled seeing Shearwaters but Manx and Sooty were seen although in very low numbers and no Skuas at all, other highlights were a adult Peregrine excellent views as it battled it s way north at eye level, Red Throated and Great Northern Divers, Common Scoters, Shag and Cormorant, Eider, Lesser Black Backed and Great Black Backed Gulls.

After 3 hours sitting in the wind it was time to leave but not before seeing Linnet in the car park scrub. Inland I headed to Tophill Low NR for a couple of hours catching up on a few duck species Mallard, Gadwall, Teal and Shoveler other birds added to the day list Moorhen, Coot, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose and Kestrel. There were also a few Dragonflies hanging about and thats what I had mainly come for Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker and a few Common Darters of course the Hawkers never settled for photos but the Darters did heres another Common Darter photo.

Common Darter

Week 37 things are getting quieter at work mainly because I can’t get to the pond because of the Cows being were they shouldn’t be and not in the field were they should be, broken fences and the farmer not caring where they go. Anyway butterflies about still Speckled Wood and a very nice Comma [no photo camera not at work

Friday was more of a reccy day out at Stocksmoor Common looking for the Dragon Pond there, I did manage to locate it but once again its in a field where cows roam, there were not here today however so I did manage to get to the pond seeing a few Common Darters some in tandem. After Stocksmoor I moved on next door  to Bullcliff Top Wood to try and find some more dragons but nowt today, the birds moving thru were Buzzard (4), Swallows, Jay and a Kestrel hunting the local field, Butterflies around here included more Speckled Wood, Common Blue and Peacock. Then of course I had to run down to Pugneys to keep the black theme going to find the reported Black Terns along with a couple of Common Terns.

Saturday the 18th we ended up at Old Moor once again with a few friends to hopefully find a few waders going thru. Wath Ings hide held Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper (3), Black Tailed Godwit (1), Green Sandpiper, Snipe, Ruff (1), Ringed Plover (1), loads of Lapwing.Other birds around the reserve Kestrel, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Black Headed Gull, Goldfinch, Linnet, Grey Heron, Crow, Jackdaw and I’ve probably missed a couple. Common Darter, Migrant Hawker (Male) and Common Blue Damselfly (Male) also seen