Chateau Greifenstein

   After my return to the UK I flew back to France, but this time Lauras parents place in Alsace, on the German/France border. It makes an excellent change to urban Paris, with the stunning woodlands of the Vosges mountains less than an hours drive away, and the general area covered by small patches of woodland and open fields.

   We spent the afternoon walking near the Chateau Greifenstein near the town of Saverne. It being a Sunday afternoon I was expecting it to be busy with not much bird activity, but I was pleasantly wrong. There were not too many people around and birding was quite good. Granted it was mostly commoner species for the region, but that still involves Firecrest and Crested Tit, two species I do not see at home.

  But the highlight of the walk was an unexpected bonus bird for my France list; a superb Black Stork that flew over. This is a rare species in France, with only a small breeding population and while I knew there were a few in the Vosges I did not expect this encounter. It circled once over us before heading off north. Hopefully it has luck breeding wherever it sets up shop! 

-Black Stork

-Common Firecrest

Soil Hill

   The very handsome male Ring Ouzel that has been at the bottom of the North Slope continued into its third day today, although the second bird from yesterday seems to have moved on. It is not an especially cooperative bird, always mobile and far more often heard than seen early in the morning. 

  Other goodies in recent days have been more limited. A scattering of Wheatear have been around, although there were none that I could find this morning. Willow Warblers are now up to five individuals and the first Whitethroat was seen by JJL yesterday morning, but I have not yet laid eyes or ears upon it. 

  In addition to the Ouzel, it was nice to have a flock of four Crossbills fly north this morning. It seems to have been a lively April for finches, with Siskin and Redpoll recorded on most days on Soil Hill. A Golden Plover also flew over this morning, and the resident Grey Partridge have put in a couple of appearances in recent days. Two male Stonechats have taken up territories at the bottom of the North Slope. This species does not usually breed on Soil Hill, my last recorded attempt was back in 2020, so watching these birds with interest. I have not been looking for Jack Snipe every day, but on my last check two days ago there was still at least one individual present. 

-Ring Ouzel

-Jack Snipe

-Stock Dove

Soil Hill

   After only arriving at Leeds/Bradford Airport late last night, it was a bit of a struggle to motivate myself to get up early and out to Soil Hill this morning, but it was well worth the effort. It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning in superb birding conditions. The only unpside of landing late into the evening was that as I was leaving the airport, I was able to heat two flocks of Common Scoter flying over calling.

  The highlight of the morning was a distant Osprey that flew north at 07:55 up the Ogden valley, before continuing over Thornton Moor Reservoir. This is my 7th Osprey on Soil Hill, and my 5th in the Spring. It has been an excellent spring for the species in Calderdale, with another two birds also reported later in the day. Given there had been five during the previous week, I was optimistic I might bump into one whilst I was home, but to get it on the first morning was really something! 

  There was not a huge number of migrants around, with the last few Fieldfares still lingering in the fields on Taylor Lane representing the winter species still hanging on. Another winter species still present is Jack Snipe, with two individuals seen today. This included a rather conspicuous individual that I was able to spot before it got away, without using the thermal! Common Snipes were also present, with a scan from the bottom of the North Slope revealing at least four displaying birds. A Jay on Taylor Lane is always a good species to record for Soil Hill.

-Osprey

-Jack Snipe

-Oystercatcher