Soil Hill; Isolation week 18

The weather this week was, at times, an absolute joke. Monday and Tuesday were both a write off for the Hill, but helpfully on the latter BS found a nice pair of adult Sanderlings on Fly Flatts so I went up to have a look. Despite the violently windy conditions, and with some excellent directions from Brian, I was able to get some scope views of the birds as they scuttled along the rapidly disappearing shoreline.

So what of the Hill. Despite being birdable on every other day during the week, the often blustery conditions made it a challenge to muster even the usual assortment of species. Add in the fact that its now nearing the end of summer and many species will be undergoing post-breeding moults, it was a fairly quiet affair all round. The farmers continued to cut fields in the area, so gull numbers continued to build up with Common Gull and Black-headed Gull regularly featuring in the recently scalped fields. Woodpigeons also increased rapidly this week, with well in excess of 100 birds in the bottom fields at times. In the bushes the birds were a challenge. The Sedge Warblers were seen on and off during the week, clearly expanding their range across the scrub at the bottom of the north slope, but the lack of access making it a challenge to view. Whitethroat and Reed Bunting are still present in good numbers, with Willow Warblers slowly increasing towards the end of the week. On the 29^th a pair of Crossbill flew East over the Hill calling often but I was not actually able to spot them.

On the Friday the weather changed with a sudden burst of high pressure bringing with it warm and stable conditions. With it came a reasonable fall of Willow Warblers, somewhere between 10 – 15 moving around the sites various bushes. Lots of Whitethroats and Willow Warblers were also present, and a flock of five Cormorants flew south. But the undoubted highlight was a grounded Tree Pipit, which showed very well at times on the ground as well as perched atop some of the trees on the edge of the Summit. This is the first time I have seen this species on the deck here, and I was able to get some very nice photos of it. A flyover Siskin capped off the morning nicely. 

-Tree Pipit

-Cormorant

-Reed Bunting

Species List:

Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, European Greenfinch, Common Chaffinch, Common Linnet, Red Crossbill, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting, Western Roe Deer, European Rabbit,

Fly Flatts: Canada Goose, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Ringed Plover, Sanderling, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Kestrel, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Reed Bunting,

Soil Hill; Isolation week 17

This week was much slower than its predecessor with cloudy and windy weather dominating making it difficult to enjoy large numbers of birds on the hill and instead being restricted to occasional good birds. Having acquired work again, I stayed local and did not venture any further than Soil Hill.

The week started on the 19^th when I had a nice flock of 12 Cormorants fly over the Hill heading north. On the same day there was a peculiar hybrid Greylag x Canada Goose but with white outer primaries, throwing some leucism in the mix. Monday the 20^th was the day of the standout bird of the week when I spotted a Little Egret drifting over Bradshaw. It dropped down briefly on the pond behind Bradshaw Park but then quickly took off again and after drifting around for a few minutes headed south strongly. This small heron is still rare in Calderdale so I was pretty thrilled with that. A single Crossbill flew over on the 21^st, calling loudly as usual and on the same day a very vocal Grasshopper Warbler was singing from the top of the summit.

Aside from that the species setup remained largely the same. A pair of Blackcap was in the North Slope Treeline, as was a pair of Bullfinch. The Sedge Warblers continued to linger but were far more elusive and were seen only infrequently. Good numbers of juvenile Reed Buntings have built up and there were a couple of Wheatears during the week as well. On the 24^th the fields along Taylor Lane were cut and so there were good numbers of gulls and corvids to look at, although nothing particularly different of note. 

-Little Egret

-Canada x Greylag Goose hybrid

-Reed Buntings

Species List:
Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Long-eared Owl, Common Kestrel, Peregrine, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Red Crossbill, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,

Soil Hill; Isolation week 16

A far more productive week for Soil Hill than last week, although without the standout that was the Red-veined Darter. It began with a bang when two Raven flew over the Hill on the 11^th July, and the first returning juvenile Wheatear on the same day. The following day, the 12^th was really the standout day of the week when I got a really good patch tick. It was one I had hoped for at some point during the autumn but certainly not in July, a very juvenile Common Redstart in the copse oppsite the site entrance track. The local Robins gave it a hard time and it was not present when I passed again an hour later. On the same day there was a cracking male Whinchat on the walls at the bottom of the north slope, really the icing on the cake of an excellent morning. On the 16^th a Grey Wagtail flew West over the Hill, my first of the Autumn here, and that evening I had an incredible count of 24 Mistle Thrush all sat together on the wires above Taylor Lane. Finally on the 17^th I had my first yellow juvenile Willow Warbler, really giving the place an autumn passerine feeling. The Grasshopper Warbler has begun singing again and could be heard and occasionally seen at various points throughout the week. A pair of Bullfinch have also apparently set up at the bottom of the North Slope Tree-Line and were showing well at times. Sedge Warblers remain present and Reed Bunting numbers have really built up.

On the 13^th I made a visit to Whiteholme but the shoreline there is now almost none existent and there was nothing of any note. From there I carried on to Ringstone where I picked out the adult Mediterranean Gull that DF had found the previous day. Although it was distant and would go missing for long periods, it was nice to see it among the throngs of Black-headed Gulls. But the real standout of the day was on a visit I made to Fly Flatts. Sadly the site was fogged off on arrival but I had the surprise of my life when a Mole ran across the road in front of me. The first I have ever seen, I was stunned. On the 14^th I visited Ogden for the sake of variety and had a flyover Red Crossbill calling loudly. 

-Northern Raven

-Northern Lapwing

-Northern Wheatear

-Common Redstart

-Whinchat

-Eurasian Bullfinch

-European Mole

-Mediterranean Gull

Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Little Owl, Long-eared Owl, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Common Redstart, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting, Roe Deer, European Rabbit,

Whiteholme Reservoir: Common Swift, Common Sandpiper, Carrion Crow, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Wren, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit,

Ringstone Edge Reservoir: Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Mew Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Carrion Crow, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Pied Wagtail,

Ogden Water LNR: Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, European Green Woodpecker, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blackcap, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Red Crossbill, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, 

Soil Hill; Isolation week 15

Another week passes, and another week with mixed to poor weather. As usual I visited a few sites across Calderdale with a few nice species and a few outstanding highlights.

On the 6^th July my visit to Soil Hill turned up probably the find of the year when I stumbled across a male Red-veined Darter at the bottom of the North Slope. As soon as I saw the insect fly past me alarm bells started ringing, and as it landed, I knew I had an extremely rare insect on my hands, the first for Calderdale. In dull conditions it was extremely docile allowing suitable photo documentation. When I left it was still sat in the vegetation, but AC when looked later it could not be found. A real turn up for the books and the highlight of what has been an exceptional spring.

Also on the 6^th there was some bird action as well when 2 Crossbills flew west across the Hill, as well as two Siskins. On the 7^th there was probably the bird highlight of the week with a cracking Grasshopper Warbler loudly reeling and occasionally showing on the North Slope. Presumably this bird was the individual singing on the 10^th. Otherwise the birdlife on the Hill remained largely consistent, with a few Stonechats and Sand Martins the best of the rest during the week. Bullfinches were also on the around on the 9^th and 10^th of the week. During the week Black-headed Gull numbers increased rapidly, and on the 10^th the first Common Gulls returned over the Hill.

Just a single visit to Whiteholme this week, on the 7^th, due to the recent rainfall having devoured the shoreline that looked so promising for migrant waders. A couple of Wheatear were the best that I could muster here. On the same day I made a quick stop at Ogden to see the juvenile Dipper that has been reported recently. It showed quite nicely in the gloom of the woods, but the supporting cast was fairly limited to common woodland species.

On the 8^th I did a bit of a tour around SE Halifax, starting at Cromwell Bottom for Reed Warbler, where I also had Kingfisher and a nice party of Goosander. There was also my first Common Gull of the Autumn. I followed this up with my first visit to Jay House Lane to see the Tree Sparrows, a few of which were on show, and finally a quick stop in Shibden Park to Calderdale year-tick Coot.

-Red-veined Darter

-Dipper

-Grasshopper Warbler

Species List:

Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Feral Dove, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, European Herring Gull, Little Owl, European Green Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, European Greenfinch, Red Crossbill, Common Linnet, Eurasian Siskin, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting, 

Whiteholme Reservoir: Canada Goose, Common Swift, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Wren, Northern Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit,

Ogden Water LNR: Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blackcap, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Wren, White-throated Dipper, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin,

Cromwell Bottom NR: Mute Swan, Mallard, Common Merganser, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Grey Heron, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Eurasian Blackcap, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Wren, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Eurasian Bullfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting, Western Grey Squirrel, Bank Vole,

Jay House Lane: Common Wood Pigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Owl, Eurasian Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, European Goldfinch,

Shibden Park: Mute Swan, Mallard, Feral Pigeon, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Coot, Black-headed Gull, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blackcap, Eurasian Wren, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Eurasian Bullfinch, Eurasian Siskin,

Soil Hill; Isolation week 14

As July begins the feeling of autumnal bird migration gets stronger and stronger, especially due to the weeks weather which has ranged from drizzle to gales and torrential downpours. At times its been a struggle to motive myself to get out and go birding such has been the unpleasantness of the conditions.

There have been days when the weather has put me off a Soil Hill visit all together, but overall the week has been fairly productive for the Hill. Not least because of a cracking patch tick on the 02^nd July when I finally got a taste of the recent Crossbill action that has been ongoing throughout the country. A noisy flock of roughly 20 individuals flew over Taylor Lane towards Ogden, presumably heading for the sites pine plantations. At the same time there were also two Siskins, heading in the same direction. But the real highlight of the week was on the 01^st July when I finally got to see the Sedge Warbler young, with three fully fledged chicks still being attended to by the adults. It was a very proud moment for me, having been following these birds since the first arrived in early May. These records aside, a fresh clutch of Moorhens is nice and hopefully they will fare better than those that have gone before. A few more Whitethroat fledglings have started to appear and the male Blackcap continues to sing in the North Slope Treeline.

Whiteholme Reservoir has also been a destination of choice this week, fuelled by optimism after a swathe of inland wader records across the north of England. On the 29^th there were four Dunlin present in truly awful conditions, as well as single Ringed Plover and the usual resident wader species. Sadly on subsequent visits only these resident species were present, but on the 01^st July there was a cracking Hobby hunting over the reservoir during an impressive Swift passage. Sadly my camera was fogged from the rain and the bird had moved on before I was able to get it clean. A couple of fresh juvenile wheatears was also nice.

Fly Flatts has also been on the agenda with a couple of short visits during the week. There was also a Hobby here on the 29^th blasting across the road and down the bank towards the reservoir. Windy conditions have made scoping from the road difficult but I still managed to pick out the resident pair of Ringed Plovers which is always nice.

And finally, I also made a stop at Ogden to see what was around. Both Little and Great Crested Grebes were on the reservoir and there were a few Siskins in the woods but overall it was fairly quiet, not helped by the large number of visitors to the site. 

-Dunlin

-Sedge Warbler

-Little Owl

-Red Crossbill

Species List:

Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Western Barn Owl, Little Owl, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Red Crossbill, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting, Western Roe Deer, European Rabbit, Common Shrew,

Whiteholme Reservoir: Canada Goose, Mallard, Feral Pigeon, Common Swift, Northern Lapwing, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Hobby, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Sand Martin, Eurasian Wren, Northern Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting,

Fly Flatts: Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Swift, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Common Ringed Plover, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Hobby, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Common Reed Bunting,

Ogden Water LNR: Canada Goose, Mallard, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Magpie, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Eurasian Blackcap, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin,