Soil Hill & Whiteholme; Week 24th - 30th May

Soil Hill
Sadly, for the most part, there was little change in the avian composition of Soil Hill during the last week. Towards the weekend the weather finally picked up, and consequently there was an increase in Sand Martins and House Martins blogging around, increase by Soil Hill standards anyway. Fledglings also started to appear, with a speckled juvenile Robin at the bottom of the North Slope Tree Line on the 29th, and a flyover family party of Rook on the same day. If the warm weather holds hopefully it will give birds a chance to recover from a poor start to the breeding season.

Whiteholme Reservoir

The warm and clear conditions seemed to end wader passage for the most part, with very little in the way of new arrivals by the time the weekend came around. There was one notable wader during the week, a smart Sanderling which was present on the morning of the 28th. It was a more grey individual than any of the others that I have seen this spring, and was given a lot of grief by the local Ringed Plovers. The morning of the 29th also had a few nice bits on offer, with 3 Eurasian Teal, 12 Greylag Geese and a drake Mandarin fly-through. A flyover Siskin was also a nice surprise to round off the week.

-Sanderling

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, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,
Whiteholme Reservoir: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mandarin Duck, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Common Pheasant, Red Grouse, Northern Lapwing, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Sanderling, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Short-eared Owl, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting,

Soil Hill & Whiteholme; Week 17th - 23rd May

Soil Hill

Once again Soil Hill was very steady with no significant arrivals during the week. Overall numbers of Whitethroats and Willow Warblers remained fairly consistent, although a sucessful Whitethroat territorie on Taylor Lane from 2020 at last returned, bringing the total number of territories up to at least nine. The Sedge Warbler finally returned on the 17th but was elusive and difficult to get to grips with. Otherwise notable observations were limited. A single Siskin flew north on the 22nd, a pair of Mistle Thrush were present on the 23rd and a pair of Collared Doves flew over the Ned Hill Track on two dates during the week. 

-Sedge Warbler

Whiteholme Reservoir

Passage wader numbers continued to drop and despite ideal conditions there was nothing of real note on any dates, with Dunlin numbers starting at seven on the 18th but dwindling down to just two on the 22nd. Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers remained present, with Oystercatchers also making intermittent appearances. There were a couple of notable sightings during the week. On the 17th there was a pair of Shelduck on the far shore. Although I can't be certain, I think this is a Calderdale tick for me, having failed to connect with any last year. Finally on the 22nd there was something more notable when I picked out a roosting Common Tern early morning. It remained settled for maybe 30 minutes before it was flushed by a Crow and flew strongly SW calling.

-Shelduck

-Common Tern

Species List:
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, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting,
Whiteholme Reservoir: Canada Goose, Common Shelduck, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Wren, Northern Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit,

Swillington Ings twitching Franklin's Gull

Because I was in Brazil last autumn I missed the Franklins Gull when it spent a week in the fields not far from Soil Hill. It then spent just two nights at Anglers CP in November once I was back, before it headed to the continent. As a result I never got the chance to catch up with it.

Until today!

The bird arrived at Swillington Ings two days ago but because of my covid jab I was not in a position to go and see it until today. I arrived early and had to wait a couple of hours before I finally saw it, but once I had connected it showed very nicely and for an extended period, something the Scaling Dam bird in 2018 did not do. It was a fantastic bird and well worth the trip out to see.

The reserve was buzzing as always. The Black-necked Grebes were not super showy today but I still saw a couple of adults with chicks. A cracking male Bearded Tit flew across the path in front of me, while the sky was full of Swifts and House Martins, raising the question; where are these birds in Halifax? 

-Franklin's Gull

Species List:
Swillington Ings: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Common Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Common Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Common Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Franklin's Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Bittern, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Red Kite, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Bearded Reedling, Sedge Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting, European Rabbit, 

Soil Hill & Whiteholme; Week 10th - 16th May

Soil Hill
Soil Hill was fairly quiet and uneventful this week, with very few new migrants arriving and no notable passage species. The resident breeding birds continued strongly, so that there was always plenty of activity even if there was little change in the species composition. Wheatears peaked at 7 on the 11th and that was the migrant highlight of the week, with the only other notables being a female Blackcap on the 11th and a brief Sedge Warbler on the 10th. The Tufted Duck pair remained in residence on and off throughout the week on the NK pond. Passage birds were limited to a scattering of Siskin, a single Lesser Redpoll on the 10th and a Grey Wagtail on the 11th.

Oats Royd
I also made a breif visit to Oats Royd on the 12th to look for a Garden Warbler that had been present for a few days. Once I was in the right location it was easy to hear the bird but more tricky to actually see it. However it showed on occasions, and I was able to get a few pictures as well as listen in detail to its song. This is a Calderdale tick for me, hence the visit. 

-Garden Warbler

Whiteholme Reservoir

Where Soil Hill was quiet, Whiteholme continued to be lively with notable sightings on nearly every visit. The Dunlin and Ringed Plover contingent continued to be in reasonable numbers, although the former dropped off towards the end of the week. The excitment of the week started on the 10th when a Whimbrel arrived late afternoon and promptly fell asleep on the reservoirs center structure. The following day it had moved on, and the shoreline was quiet overall. However a very smart male White Wagtail in the NW corner of the reservoir livened up proceedings, this being the first time I have found a male of this race in Calderdale. Following on the 13th was again lively with a Marsh Harrier U-turning over Blackstone Edge, but frustratingly looking into the early morning sun. The Pink-footed Goose that had been present on Sunday also reappeared, but just flying over on this occasion, calling loudly as it did so. Rounding off the day was a smart pair of teal that were in the ditch along Blackstone Edge. On the 14th there was limited activity until the end of my visit when I flushed a Twite from the footpath adjacent to the car park. It was colour ringed but frustratingly flighty and so I was unable to observe the full combination. The week then rounded off with a Cuckoo along the barbed wire fence in the SW corner of the reservoir, and a flyby Mute Swan on the 16th. Another exceptional week for this site and I can't wait to see what next week brings. 

-Cuckoo

-Marsh Harrier

-White Wagtail

-Whimbrel

Species List:

Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Grey Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Lesser Black-backed Gull, European Herring Gull, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Eurasian Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,

Oats Royd: Common Pheasant, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin,

Whiteholme Reservoir: Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Tufted Duck, Red Grouse, Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Western Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Wren, Northern Wheatear, White Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Linnet, Twite,

Soil Hill & Whiteholme; Week 04th - 09th May

Soil Hill

The birding on Soil Hill has been badly hampered by howling winds and cold temperatures. For a site more suited to passage passerines neither of these is particularly helpful but there were still a few nice bits to be found. First of these was a very very distant Whinchat on the 07th May, which was sadly all too brief. Wheatears featured throughout the week but were often distant on the bottom Cattle Fields. Overhead the migration was limited, with hirundines being limited to 2 Sand Martin on the 06th and a single House Martin on the 09th. A Swift also flew north on the 06th. Small groups of Siskin have been around the hill, with a group of 7 being the largest. Regular migrants have arrived and already established territories with some interesting Whitethroat behaviour observed on two occasions. The male will fly around the female within the bush uttering a bizzare whirring noise, which I have the intention to record once the wind drops. And finally rounding off the week, a drake Tufted Duck on the NK pond, only the second time I have seen this species here. Frustratingly it spent most of its time on the near shore out of sight.

-Whinchat

Whiteholme Reservoir

  On the 8th the weather was truly horrific, with gales and heavy rain and sleet. Since Soil Hill was a write off I decided to head up to Whiteholme to see if any birds were dropping in during the rain. And the endevour was rewarding with a nice total of 29 Dunlin and a single Sanderling. Sadly I could not give it so long due to the fact that I myself could not cope with the conditions and soon had to return home for some comforts. 

  That said, the two hours I had spent in the rain had wet my appetite so the following morning I headed up early doors to see the results of the storm. DF had just beat me there and recorded nearly 40 Dunlin, but when I joined him he informed me he was up to 69. It was indeed a fantastic sight with Dunlin dotted all along the shore line and filling the air with their buzzy calls. In addition there were at least 15 Ringed Plover. After a while DF had to leave and it was not five minutes after he headed down Blackstone Edge that an Arctic Tern appeared over the northern edge of the reservoir. It made slow progress south, allowing for some excellent views of the bird before I lost it. After this I decided to walk the length of the mud, click-counting the Dunlin and I reached an excellent total of 72 individuals. There were also 2 Sanderling here, which I compared with photos of the previous days individual and both appear to be new birds. After another hour of watching I decided to head off, when a Pink-footed Goose dropped in. Initially the bird caused me confusion, due to it being May, but photos confirmed the ID. It sat on the bank for 10 minutes before it too headed off strongly south. In conclusion, it truly has been a memorable weekend. 

-Sanderling

-Dunlin

-Dunlin & Sanderling

-Arctic Tern

-Sanderling

-Dunlin

-Pink-footed Goose

Species List:

Soil Hill: Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting,
Whiteholme Reservoir: Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Red Grouse, Common Swift, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Sanderling, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Arctic Tern, Common Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Wren, Northern Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit,