Huddsbirder

Well week 8 at the work patch was rather quiet with the only bird of note being a Goldcrest along with the usual Blue, Great, and Long Tailed Tits and the odd Treecreeper thrown in.

The end of the week Saturday the 26th saw us at Clumber Park [S80 3AZ] we hit it just right arriving at 10:45am before the build up of people. We decided on going around by the lake first seeing Tufted Duck, Mallard, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Black Headed Gulls, Moorhen, Coot and a pair of Goosander. The woodland walk had us seeing plenty of Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits with the odd Marsh Tit thrown in, we also had the sound/call of a Great Spotted Woodpecker. We saw plenty of Chaffinch and Greenfinch along with Robins, Blackbirds and a bird we overdosed on was Nuthatch they were everywhere we went. A Buzzard took us by surprise has it called overhead and glided on by, then we foundthe gold a pair of Hawfinch these were seen not by the chapel area but down by the gate towards the other woodland area were we also saw a Jay.

The week started well with a Dipper on the brook at my work patch I haven’t seen one of these here for over six years now and since I scared it up no photos were taken, thats number two of the five seen but no Photo/Video to go along with any yet. Tuesday was good with a Tawny Owl heard calling first and then a flight shot as it flew overhead.

Early start Friday around my local village to catch Common and Black Headed Gulls on the playing fields I was hoping for that out of place Med Gull here as I have done for a few years now I’ll keep looking on then to Horbury Wyke for a couple of hours it turned out that there wasn’t much here today either but I did catch up with Goldcrest at close quarters I did manage a picture but you don’t need to see it, honest. Anyway the walk continued seeing Cormorant, Black Headed Gull, Canada Goose, Pied Wagtails numerous feeding on the filter pans, Moorhen, Mallards, Starling, Redwing, Chaffinch, and the only year bird of the day 27 Lapwings over. I then had a job to do which turned out worthwhile with 50+ Waxwings in the car park, a great ending to a dull day weather wise and bird wise

The excitment this week was a sighting of a Common Buzzard over my place of work  [see Patch Highlghts 2011 Link ] being plagued by a Crow has it flew thru. The end  of the week saw me at Sands Lane [Location]  looking down my scope once again at the adult Ring Billed Gull [Video Link], just to get familiar, the real reason however for a Sands Lane visit was to try and find a Mediterranean Gull but once again it wasn’t my day just as back home earlier the  other  gulls present were Black Headed and Common, with a single Lesser Black Backed. Whilst visiting I decided on a good wander round picking up other species has I went wildfowl were in good numbers especially Goosander [Video Link] with a double figure count, a pair of  Pochard, three pair of  Tufted Duck, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Cormorant [Video Link]  and Dunnock [Video Link] no surprises for me today but a bit of  Digi/Videoscoping was welcome even if it was in terrible light.

Dunnock

Cormorant

Siskin

Friday unfortunately was work day this week but news of Waxwing locally had me up early Saturday to find 7 birds still in Sainsbury’s car park at Brighouse, as what seems to be the norm for me this winter with Waxwing I had ony a couple of minutes to enjoy these birds before they were off  probably to another supermarket car park somewhere. The afternoon saw me enjoying a walk down Lin Dike taking in the wildfowl and Geese Teal [Video Link], Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Shelduck, Canada Geese and the geese we had come to see the 8-off Greenland White Fronted Geese. We had a surprise find with a Little Egret along with Mute Swan, Lapwing, Black Headed Gulls, Coot, Moorhen,Gadwall, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Mallard and Cormorant, made out to a useful hour the rain held off which was good but the wind hadn’t hence the lack of small birds we didn’t see

A morning out at Old Moor once again in freezing temps [roll on summer] we only hit the feeders due to the temps, the hide were colder than being in the open air, anyway the birds were good near the centre feeders we saw Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Bullfinch, Dunnock, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Blackbird and Brambling only a brief shot but see it we did nice male so plenty to keep us interested and get cold in. So off we moved to the Tree Sparrow farm to feast our eyes on Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Blackbirds and a Male and Female Brambling [Video Link] better views this time so we were able to compare sexes. We then moved off it was too cold to stand still we to the Family hide were it was even colder in the hide then outside but the birds we plenty Wigeons, Tufted Duck, Teal, Goosander, Black Headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Mute Swan, Shoveler, the cold was getting to us time to find some Gannets at the cafe for a warm up. Enjoy some pics of the Bramblings

Male Brambling

Male Bramblng

Female Brambling

Out to Horbury and once again I was out in freezing temperatures  arriving at about 8:30am I was  soon togged up and  making my way along the footpath slowly towards the filter beds. Birds were soon evident mainly on the river Mallards, Moorhen, Coots a few Goldeneye [Video Link] heading down river both males and females, Great Crested Grebes were about with male and females  Goosanders in and amongst. Soon at the filter beds were the smaller stuff was hanging about Pied Wagtails were numerous a single Grey Wagtail [first of the 5 to see] two Lesser Redpolls and a single Meadow Pipit were a nice surprise to find, and with  Goldcrest, Bullfinch,Treecreeper, Blackbirds, Redwings, Song Thrush there was plenty to see. Canada Geese were on the Wyke itself with Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from a nearby tree it was know slowly warming up temperature wise and there was still plenty to feast upon Tufted Duck and Little Grebes [Video Link] were new today Grey Heron, Cormorants and Black Headed gulls overhead Long Tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Magpie, Chaffinch were all seen as I made my way back to the car and another ending to a mornings birding and I even managed a bit of Digi/Videoscoping 🙂

Song Thrush

It was only an hour around the visitor centre after a shopping trip to Junction 32 but it was out and about birding and there were birds abound around the feeders Tree Sparrows, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit picking out the seeds from the ladened tubes mopping up the crumbs under the feeders Robins, Dunnocks, Collard Doves, Moorhen, Pheasants  and a Water Rail. We decided on a walk around the broadwalk and in doing so saw Chaffinch, Treecreeper, big flocks of Goldfinch and Lesser Redpolls and a single Redwing

Treecreeper

Looking at the weather forecast for this Friday I was thinking an early start was in order  to try and get an hours birding out of the day before the Snow started and since Sands Lane was on the doorstep and that I hadn’t caught sight of the American bird this year I think Sands Lane was going to be the place to start.

Arrived at the Lane at about 8:30am to find the assembled wildfowl round at the weir the usual Mallards, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Coots and Moorhens, the Tufted Ducks  were still present but in more numbers (4 male and 9 Female), Pochard (4 Male and 4 Female), Goosander (4 Male and 1 Female), a surprise find was 2 Little Grebes feeding along the far river bank I probably wouldn’t have found them if it hadn’t been for the female Goosander  scaring them out of the undergrowth. Along the towpath a Male Pied Wagtail with a Male Blackbird for company feeding on the grain handouts, these birds must be finding it hard at present with things having been frozen for so long. Some gulls had now arrived but mainly Black Headed and Common Gulls so at 9am I decided on going round to the pools to find the yank.

The pools were still frozen over from banking to banking Black Headed and Common Gulls present with a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from the nearby tree, a fly over Cormorant, then the Ring Billed Gull finally flew in at about 9:15am the snow started at 9:30am great timing all round the planned visit to Horbury Wyke was off that would have to wait for anothr day it was home and coffee

It didn’t take much effort to drag me out on new years day with the invitation of a days birding and a breakfast at Potteric Carr one of my favourite Yorkshire birding venues. We arrived at 10am and were soon adding the species to the new year list Bullfinch was first with Reed Bunting second we didn’t add anything else till we hit the Willow Pool hide near the cafe site and this is were the boys wth the toys where long lenses and fancy cameras so there was much room for our little group in fact a couple stayed outside I managed a seat and was able to see Willow Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Moorhen, Water Rail,  I got called out of the hide to see a nice flock of Siskin ( a Potteric first for me)  It was then time for the famous Potteric Carr New Years Day Breakfast, good call, finished off with Christmas Cake. After this splendid breakfast we had this we made our way back to the car slowly adding very little else to the seen list except Coal Tit.

The way home had us calling in to Sands Lane to try and locate the Ring Billed Gull not finding this I found Pochard [Video Link] , Tufted Duck, Goosander [Video Link], Common Gulls, Black Headed Gulls, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Mallard, Pied Wagtail, Mistle Thrush and Linnet. The 2011 year was off to a start

Day List :-

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Popchard, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Pheasant, Cormorant, Water Rail, Coot, Moorhen, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Siskin, Linnet, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting

A few Photos from the day to finish off :-

Willow Tit and Robin

Water Rail

Blue Tit

Robin

As the year started so it ended with heavy snow and record tempertures as low as minus 18 in Yorkshire the worst Jan/Feb/Nov and Dec I can remember.  The summer made up for it with a great year for insects and I found myself indulging in a new passion of  Butterflies and Dragonflies as well as the birds and can’t wait for the 2011 season to start.

I had a great year bird wise with 5 lifers in total Pied Billed Grebe, Pygmy Cormorant [Italy], Ring Billed Gull, Black Throated Thrush, Italian Sparrow [Italy].

In addtiion 2 British firsts Alpine Swift and Iberian Chiffchaff

Along with these 9 patch firsts Ring Billed Gull, Mandarin Duck, Red Kite, Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Redshank, Black Redstart, Sedge Warbler, White Wagtail

So the year ended with a total of 190 species with a British Total of 183 [same as last year] and a patch total of 117 [better than last year by 5]

So what will 2011 bring as I  previously said 2010 brought a new passion of Butterflies and Dragonflies and I am looking forward to my first full season in this area, but,  ya a big but, santa brought me a new gadget this year a Bat Detector  so I will be venturing on a new wildlife trial BATS……….no Huddsbirder will not becoming Batman, Batbirder or owt like that.

2011 is also a celebration year for me a big birthday one with a zero on the end but also 25 years of Birdwatching so has a bit of fun I have set myself a few easy goals with maybe a couple of harder ones stuff  to keep my vision for the year ahead see the 2011 tab