Huddsbirder

Some of our Summer Migrants are now arriving back in the country notably at the moment Sand Martin, Little Ringed Plover and Wheatear and it would have been easy for me to head off to Old Moor to bag a couple of these but I decided to stay in the club/patch area to see if I could find one locally, so I headed off to the Royd Moor area to try and find a Wheatear. I soon located a ♀ and ♂ Bullfinch as I headed down towards the reservoir also along the footpath Yellowhammer, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Chaffinch, on the water Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Common Gull and Black Headed Gull. I headed off down to Scout Dyke around the farmland hoping to catch a migrant somewhere but all I saw were Meadeow Pipits, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail ♀♂,  and Linnet. No luck here so I headed back to the car and decided to drive down to Ingbirchworth living in hope, but alas no Wheatear the only birds I saw were Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Rook, Crow and Pheasant, so to try and pull something out of the bag in the form of a year bird at least I went and looked for the Little Owl [113] and sure enough there it was sat on top off the wall, well the day wasn’t lost after all.

Grey Wagtail

Well I think spring has finally arrived the three mile walk to work this week has been more relaxing and pleasant I’m glad the weather of January/February is hopefully out of the way the birds are now proclaiming loudly there new territories. Birds everywhere Blue Tits, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Mistle and Song Thrush proclaiming from a high tree top, Green Woodpecker “yaffling” loudly as I walk passed, Great Tits, Magpies, Coal Tits, Collard Doves in display flights along with Woodpigeons nearby, Dipper ‘bobbing’ away on the stream near a busy road, Grey Wagtail doing a similiar dance as the waters gently flow and glisten in the spring time sunlight, Great Spotted Woodpecker busy defending his terrority, I was however gently reminded that winter is still not letting go 15-off Redwing in the fields now in beautiful colours and stirkingly marked they were there along with a Mistle Thrush busy probing the grass , fueling up for the long flight to there breeding grounds in North and Eastern Europe, then they were off and hopefully winter with them come October they’ll be back gently reminding us that winter is on its way back, but lets gets some summer birding in first short sleeves and suncream bring it on, how long now to the first summer migrant I usually have one in the bag before March is out, so which will be first this year Wheatear, Chiffchaff or Sand Martin place your bets

Redwing

Winscar and Winscar Res were the first port of call nowt much about loads of hungry Mallards and Canada Geese in and amongst 6-off Oystercatcher

Oystercatcher

So with nothing much else to see Langsett was the next port of call home of Crossbill, Siskin and Redpoll

On arrival at Langsett Barns Car Park I was greeted by Robin and Blackbirds I was soon togged up and ready for the off and an adventure in the woods for this kind of place you have to rely on ears and how well you know your bird calls rather than eyes, and a strong neck. I soon picked up Blue, Great and Coal Tits along with Siskin in and amongst the trees and then flight calls of Lesser Redpoll as they passed overhead, nowt much on’t moors thou apart from a hunting Kestrel and a few Red Grouse calling. I was soon back at the car park now after my loop around the Lansett footpaths coming along the road side fields seeing displaying Lapwing and Woodpigeon now already thinking of the breeding season and setting up territories, spring migrants have already made England mainly in our southern counties so won’t be long before we start seeing and hearing them back in the Huddersfield area. As I made the car park Song Thrush jumped on the wall my heart was hoping for that first Wheatear but alas not this week and as I was greeted by a Robin I was seen on my way by a Robin

Robin

Yahoo Friday again play time the forcast was good and there was still some good birds about an early finish at work I was off next stop Pugneys CP. The main reason I was off to Pugneys was for a certain grebe it had been around for a while now visiting other reserves in the area and had now spent the last few days here so I was hoping to see it I hadn’t seen this species of grebe since 2004.

Anyway I was soon walking around the lake with the many joggers, cylists and dog walkers seeing Pied Wagtail, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot and Great Crested Grebe but not the grebe I was looking there was compensation in a  nice male Stonechat which gave spledid views . Onto the reserve part and into the hide more ducks and gulls Goldeneye, Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon, Cormorant but you guessed it not the  grebe I was looking for.

Okay over to Calder Wetlands to see if it had gone over there more Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Goosander ♂♀, Redshank, Sparrowhawk, and about 20 Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, and Red Breasted Merganser no grebe and no Smew either time had run out I had to be else where, I got reports later that night that the grebe had shown up later on the boating lake with the Smew on Millfield Pond, okay so it was a early start to Saturday.

Saturday morning and I was at Pugneys for 6:45am and stood by the main lake the lake was clam and flat unlike yesterday so things should be easier to pick up this morning. I scanned the lake Great Crested Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Crested Grebe ah there you are the grebe I was looking for and very near to my bank of the lake the name Red Necked Grebe, the bird very similiar to Great Crested, in winter plumage, however slightly smaller in neck length with a dark/dusky collar on the foreneck with a yellow base to the lower bill it’s mainly a late summer to winter visitor and never common. I did manage to get some video footage, okay not good I was hoping for better after I had watched it for a while but it was soon scared off by a barking dog running straight for me, i’m sure that sign over there says “keep your dogs under control at all times or on a lead at all times” strange how dog owners go blind when you put a sign in front of them and no it does not compensate for saying sorry when the bird has flown to the other side of the lake, thats it rant over and viweing over I didn’t have time to relocate to the other side I was lucky to get out again early doors here’s to next week 🙂

Well the aforementioned bird did stick till Friday but wasn’t seen in the afternoon by yours truly because it wasnt’ there when I was but reappeared at about 3 o’clock but I had left by 2 o’clock so ya you guessed I was there Saturday morning on Sands Lane, Mirfield at 7 o’clock looking again. At about 8 o’clock it was refound one Ring Billed Gull, a 4* bird for me, last 4* bird was Waxwing back in 1989 (4* being Life, British, Yorkshire and Patch List Bird). I watched for about an hour comparing it along side the Common Gulls in attendance seeing plainly the lighter grey mantle and distintive black ring mark on the bill broader neck when viewed from behind, clear head marking but the paler eye was harder to see. It has been aged as a Third winter bird. I did manage some video but I had forgotten my glasses the rain/snow had started by the time the camera came out View Here.

Later in the day I ended up at Blacktoft Sands for the raptor roost 3pm onwards ice free ponds we saw some wildfowl Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck, Moorhen and Coot. More gulls here has they passed thru Herring, Lesser Black Backed, Common and Black Headed, the raptors Marsh Harrier in good number we had up to eight birds all ‘creamed crowned’ [juv and ♀] one Barn Owl hunting mainly at the back of the reserve near the river and one Merlin ♂

Not only did I miss Saturday’s (20th) Great White Egret, plus the one back in 1989 by 5 minutes, now whilst stuck at work I get news of a Ring Billed Gull, and to make it worse its near home, hope it sticks till Friday dinner can’t believe it a lifer on my own doorstep

With over 500 days (20th September 2008 and Wilsons Phalarope) since the last lifer something had to be done weekends were busy the weather wasn’t settling so I took the day of work and headed to Newholm, Nr Whitby, to look for the Thrush. Arrived at 7:15am and parked up to be met nicely by a hunting Barn Owl in the adjoining field, great start, got set up and off to No5 to look in their back garden, never comfortable with this, anyway had to wait 20mins but in the mean time birds were coming into the feeders Willow Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Blackbird and then the BLACK THROATED THRUSH (Female ♀) . I did manage to get a couple of photos, not good I admit, by the time I had enjoyed the bird it was only offering its back and then went not to be seen again by me in the next 40mins by which time a cat had happily walked in  the garden so it was time for me to be off

Black_Throated_Thrush

I know not much of a photo better ones done by a pro on his blog here, I headed to Scarborough next to see a gull I hadn’t seen for a number of years, actually since 2003, as soon as I drove into the car park there was three Mediterranean Gulls (see below photos) on the grass verge along with Black Headed Gulls

Mediterranean Gull

Mediterranean Gull

A few photos and I was off again this time to Filey and along the Brigg hopefully to find sea duck and waders. The weather had changed a lot from this mornings fog journey into Newholm now I was in sunshine going along the Brigg watching Turnstone, Redshank, Bar Tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Purple Sandpiper and Knot. Whilst on the Brigg flying past were Fulmars, Gannets, and Guillemots on the sea Common Scoter, Long Tailed Duck, Eider, Shag, Cormorants and Red Throated Divers.

Click to see Day List

This weeks outing was to be around the Horbury Wyke area, after parking in the Industrial  area car park and togging up I set off and ended up turning the wrong way, but the birds were good, Great Tit. Long Tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Bullfinch ♀, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Blackbird, I carried on walking and ended up around the Calder Wetland site but on the opposite side, what I thought was a wrong turning turned out to be a good thing. Birds were enjoyed Buzzard overhead, Red Breated Merganser, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Goldeneye and Great Crested Grebe, so know I knew where it was I made my way back deciding to go the other way now knowing that was the way to Horbury SF I added Goldcrest and Mistle Thrush on my way back.

I was soon at the Sewage Farm and viewing over the filter beds Pied Wagtails were about in good numbers 25+ with 3-off Grey Wagtails and 3-off Meadow Pipits for company, managing to add Little Grebe and Mallard on the river with Greylag Goose (2) on the wyke itself

Not a bad afternoon adding 3 year birds and 2 year birds to the patch list. Saturday 13th added Tree Sparrow to the patch list thanks to walking to Farm Shop. Brit Year List 2010 now (84) and Patch List 2010 now (60)

Another Friday time to look for somemore Finch’s this time in the Club Area “The Patch” and up to High Hoyland nr Bretton for the first look. Geared up I made my way into the fields and it wasn’t long before I had some fly over Linnet, thanks to some calling as they were going over, but they made their way down to the over side of the field and too far to see if anything else was with them. Patience prevailed and it wasn’t long before I was in and amongst the flock birds all around me thanks to the hedge layout , I was soon feasting on Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Chaffinch, Linnet, Brambling c15, I did manage to get sight of one Lesser Redpoll before the whole flock took to flight thanks to the local Sparrowhawk, so change of plan and down to the feeders. Here I saw Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch but not for hoped for Tree Sparrow.

I moved on then to Sands Lane nr Mirfield to find Goosander ♂♀, Mute Swan, Kingfisher, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Mallard and Kestrel.

My birding weekend started on Friday in Holmfirth to add another to my “Patch List” in the form of a Mandarin Duck (147) I found them were they had been last reported but now there were three male birds and not two as reported.

Mandarin Duck ♂

These birds are on the BOURC list has Cat C1E*, which means :-

C > Species that although introduced, now derive from the resulting self-sustaining populations

C1 > Naturalized introduced species – Species that have occured only as a result of introduction

E > Species that have been recorded as introductions, human-assisted transportees or escapees from captivity, and whose breeding populations (if any) are thought not to be self-sustaining. Species in Category E that have bred in the wild in Britian are designated E*. Category E species form no part of the British List (unless already included within Categories A,B or C)

Understand that, it means they are on the British list, along with the Mandarins the usual Mallards. On then to Langsett to try and find some Finch flocks after a couple of hours searching only birds seen were Red Grouse, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest and Coal Tit, no finch.

Saturday saw me taking a trip up to the Longshaw Estate to see the finch flock reported here, whilst travelling to the Estate in one of the surronding fields near by I caught sight of the largest flock of Redwing I have seen this year must have 150+ birds along with a only a couple of Fieldfares. Anyway shortly after arrival at Longshaw I was soon feasting upon birds such as Lesser Redpoll, Common  (Mealy) Redpoll, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, and Siskin. Along with this finches in the surrounding trees Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit and Nuthatch a plenty. I didn’t spend much time here being so high up in the high peak I was getting cold very quick ending up with blue hands and shivering needless to say the heater was on full blast when I got back to the car.

Male ♂ Brambling (Winter)

After thawing out I made my way out of Yorkshire to Clumber Park to try and see another finch the Hawfinch. Certain areas of the park are free but I wanted to be near to the Chapel so I had to pay £5 for the priviledge. Okay I set off at a slow pace seeing plenty of Nuthatch, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Chaffinch, Jackdaws playing around the chapel itself. No luck on the Hawfinch so deepr into the wood along the well made footpaths catching sight of Blackbird, Treecreeper, Greenfinch, Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a pair of Marsh Tit, no Hawfinch. I had a quick look around the lake thought I might as well Mute Swan, Black headed Gulls, Canada Geese, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Moorhens and Coots all the usual stuff, so one last look around the chapel Lesser Spotted Woodpecker new one for the day and another Marsh Tit but no Hawfinch. Talking with other people Hawfinch hadn’t been sighted that day so I didn’t feel to bad

Nuthatch

Day List :-

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Grelag Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Black Headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Rook, Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Red Grouse, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit, Goldcrest, Robin, Blackbire, Redwing, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Mealy Redpoll, Siskin, Brambling,