Huddsbirder

My annual Christmas holiday outing out with a birding mate took us first to Swillington Ings to find a frozen over lake with only gulls standing on it these were mainly Black Headed Gull, Great Black Backed Gull with a few Herring Gulls thrown in. So the ducks were to be found on the river these included Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, Red Breasted Merganser, Goosander, Teal, Gadwall,Little Grebe, Moorhen, Coot the only raptor seen here was a distant Buzzard. As we made our way out Redwing, Blackbird and Fieldfare were encounted around the car park, a little further on near one of the footpaths Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, and a single Brambling.

On then to Fairburn Ings taking in first Allerton Bywater to see more Gadwall, and to add Shoveler, Kingfisher, Curlew, Blue Tit, Robin, to the day list. One of the main reasons to head to Fairburn was for the Owls that had been seen the previous weeks you’ve quessed it not today anyway we made our way along the river towards the centre and in doing so added a Smew [Redhead] to the day list. At the centre hanging around the feeders Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Tree Sparrow, Bullfinch, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Collard Dove, Water Rail, Moorhen. Then it was a long walk back to the car at Lin Dike car park but it had its rewards with a party of Red Legged Partridge near the road side

Day List :-

Litte Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldedeye, Smew, Red Breasted Merganser, Goosander, Buzzard, Red Legged Partridge, Pheasant, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Curlew, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collard Dove, Kingfisher, Wren, Dunnock Robin, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Redwing, Long Tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting

Once again back at Sands Lane to see two totally frozen up pools so round it was to the weir were I found the birds had gathered , Adult Ring billed Gull is still present along with the usual hosts of Black Headed Gull and Common Gull. Along the river could be found Mute Swan, Gossander male and female, Mallards, Coot, Tufted Duck male and female, Cormorant, Gadwall male and female a patch year tick, Kingfisher which of course didn’t stop has it made its way down river. So my hour was up it was now off to get a different bird yep Turkey

Common Gull

Black Headed Gull

Once again you could find me down at Sands Lane in freezing temperatures this week at minus 5 I only stopped for an hour this week things to do  Christmas etc but I did see once again  the adult Ring Billed Gull along with Common Gull, Black Headed Gulls and Tufted Duck (8), Mallard, Mute Swan, Canada Geese and a nice flock of mixed Thrush Redwing, and Blackbirds

The weekend didn’t go by with out seeing more Waxwings this time about 30 birds at Moldgreen

The week once again was one of the hardest on record with new December lows reaching minus 18 degs but the birds were good especially at work I found a new species in the form of a Male Brambling along with this chappie could be found Black Headed Gulls, Redwings, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robin, Jackdaws, Crows, Siskins, Kestrel and Nuthatch. One of the guys from work kindly brought his photos in to work to show off what he had been getting in his garden at present he’d been getting some good birds but there was one photo I had to pinch and heres the fellow below love this [straight out the camera no editing], great picture thanks JB

Pied Wagtail

Friday the 10th came and saw me once again down at Sands Lane looking for the Ring Billed Gull [Video Link], this bird was seen last winter mainly thru February as a 2nd/3rd winter bird and is now a full Adult and has been giving me a bit of a run around but not today as soon as I arrived I was on to the bird thanks to a local birder I watched it then for the next two hours minus 30 mins as it flew off but did return thankfully to now a couple of more birders who wanted to see it, heres the handsome chappie below

Ring Billed Gull

Other birds in the same area were fly thru Sparrowhawk and Redwings, Mute Swan, Mallard, Common Gulls, Black Headed Gulls and a Lesser Black Backed Gull

Not been out this week due to the white stuff and family but during my Friday morning breakfast, 3rd, whilst I was looking out the back window watching the feeders with the local House Sparrows tucking into there breakfast a Crow flying over caught my eye because it was or seemed to be flying funny when underneath it a bigger bird long wings long tailed made its way across my vision slowly then it dawned on me Red Kite then it made its way off in a North/North easterly direction, I stood there motionless coming to terms with what I had just seen playing it over and over in my head Red Kite in my home village has just flown passed my window I couldn’t believe it , House Tick and Patch Tick brilliant I was was begining to melt the snow with my smile :-).

Saturday,4th, was grandson day 11:30am was pick up time 11:28am we were driving passed the local school when a flock of birds caught my eye the usual dash in and out of the feeding behaviour of  Waxwing. I stopped the car at the waiting point left my wife in care of the car and pick up whilst I made my way back with bins in hand and sure enough my suspicions were correct Waxwing about 12 birds in all high in the trees surronding the local church one did venture down to the berry tree near to me to give me a closer view but not for long it was soon off again and I was off again too the car had found me and with grandson shouting come on granddad I had to leave my find behind me but tomorrow is drop off day so who knows,  this time i will be taking the camera with me. As someone  says on the Huddersfield Birdwatchers site “theres always summat about” keep your eyes open

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.