Ringstone Edge twitching Great Northern Diver

  On the night of the 17^th at around 16:30, the news came through from PD and LD that there was a Great Northern Diver on Ringstone. A brilliant find, and an excellent bonus bird for my yearlist that I had not taken into consideration. The problem? The light was already fading fast and I would have to navigate Halifax at the end of the afternoon to make it. Best decided to leave it until the morning, it was a Diver after all so not likely to be going anywhere.

  But the morning came and no news came with it. After an hour of daylight I decided I had waited long enough. The weather was too poor to work Soil Hill, so I may as well head up and check for myself. Once I reached Ringstone the strong breeze made checking difficult, but after around 10 minutes I managed to pick up the diver at the far end of the reservoir! Result.

  Sadly it spent the best part of the next few hours not cooperating. It would disappear for long periods, at one point convincing me that it had in fact gone. But then on other occasions it would show very close to the wall, offering great photo opportunities, and at one point even gave an extended flyby. It stayed the rest of the day, but had moved on by the following morning.

  It was nice to bump into PD, AT and DF all up twitching the bird, a brilliant bird for Halifax, my fourth in the Calderdale recording area. 

-Great Northern Diver

Species List:
Ringstone Edge: Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Northern Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Northern Diver, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Redwing, Fieldfare, European Robin, European Goldfinch,

Scarborough Weekend

During February, with fewer people going to Spurn for the autumn, there is an annual Spurn night out in Scarborough for people to see friends that they might not have seen for some time. Besides the drinking there were some good birds to be seen over the weekend too. 

On the Saturday afternoon when I arrived I headed off to the harbor to look at the wintering Great Northern Diver and Black Necked Grebes. They were both showing extremely well, giving crippling views to be honest. Guillemot and Rock Pipit also made a nice collection in what was a very busy harbor setting. 

The morning after we headed up on to the tops to feed Mediterranean Gulls and scan over the bay. Whilst scanning we were directed to a couple of Long-tailed Ducks in with a flock of Common Scoter. The Mediterranean Gulls showed extremely well, readily coming down to the bread we were throwing for them. In the end we probably had around 10 birds of all different ages.

In the afternoon we headed off to Wykeham to see if I could life-tick goshawk. I narrowly missed one, but we did get crippling views of Crossbill ripping apart pine cones right in front of us. A cracking end to the weekend. 

-Great Northern Diver

-Black-necked Grebe

-Long-tailed Duck with Common Scoter

-Mediterranean Gull

-Crossbill

Species List:

Scarborough: Shag, Common Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Black-necked Grebe, Cormorant, Fulmar, Great-northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Guillemot, Rock Pipit, Turnstone, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Bullfinch, Robin, Wren, Dunnock,

Wykeham Forest: Siskin, Crossbill, Chaffinch, Pheasant, Bullfinch, Woodpigeon, Golden Plover, 

Hartlepool and Saltholme RSPB

Finally I had a full day of freedom post exams and having weighed up my options during my revision breaks over the past month I knew where I really wanted to go. That was Hartlepool to see the goodies that were up round that way.

Upon arriving in Hartlepool I first made my way round to Jackson's Landing marina to see if the glaucous gull was there, but it was not. I did get a nice year-tick in the form of Red-breasted Mergansers which were feeding the harbor.

I then made my way round to the headland where I went looking for the Shore Larks. It was quite breezy so I first walked the sheltered area of the rough ground they had been favoring, but with no luck. It was at this point that I decided coming was a mistake and that it was going to be one of those days where nothing goes your way...

How wrong I was...

I decided to walk the rough ground systematically and on the far bank, most exposed, I flushed the three Shore Larks. I saw where they went down but they still took some work to locate. I managed to get a few birders onto them in the hour or more that I was watching them. I grabbed some digiscoped shots before trying my luck with my new camera. I'll let the photos do the talking, but I was buzzing.

-Shore Larks

I was intitially going to walk the headland looking for waders heading towards the fish quay for the Slavonian Grebe. I started by seawatching off where the larks were. There were a couple of other birders too but they had spread out looking for Snow Buntings. Whilst seawatching I had yearticks of Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Shag and Red-throated Diver. I was having a field day.

I heard a twittering near me and looked up from my scope to see a Snow Bunting fly past me and land with the Larks that were still feeding behind me. I could see the other birders so whistled them over.

-Snow Bunting

Whilst we were watching the bunting the news broke of a penduline tit at Saltholme. I told the other birds who offered me a lift there. I had turned down a couple of lifts earlier in the day but this news did mean that there was something else to consider for the day so I took them up on their offer.

First call was the fish quay where there were plenty of birds as well as a seal. The Slavonian Grebe took some finding but I eventually picked it up distantly fishing among the boats. There was also the earlier reported Great-northern Diver, another Red-throated Diver, a few Guillemots and Eiders. There were also a few Turnstone along the quay. It was quite a spot for an urban fish quay. 

-Slavonian Grebe

-Great-northern Diver

-Guillemot

-Turnstone

Having gained the full house at the Quay we headed down towards Saltholme. On the way we called of at a local spot for Mediterranean Gull, which duly obliged, chilling on the beach barely two meters away. We also called off at Seaton Snook Road to see if there were any shorties hunting the fields but there was not. However, there was a very obliging Stonechat.

-Mediterranean Gull

-Stonechat

At Saltholme we headed straight to the hide where the tits were meant to be, but it over an hour there I had no joy of a penduline tit nature. However, I had a great substitute when a Water Rail swam across the channel that was being watched. Its one of the best views I have ever had of this species, but it happened so quickly I got no photos. A Peregrine flew over too, and I got a yeartick of Stock Dove.

I got a tip off about the Long-eared Owl in Haverton Scrub so I headed that way and was kindly shown it by some local birders. It was quite the bird to see, sitting almost out in the open with its ears erect. What a view, the best I have ever had of this species, and that is saying something. What a beaut. I was able to grab plenty of photos.

-Long-eared Owl

After the owl I headed to Paddys Pond for the female Smew which has been at the reserve for a long time now. It showed only briefly, spending most of its time behind the island, but its still the first time I have ever seen a redhead Smew and another cracking species to add to my growing day list.

In addition to the Smew there was also a nice female Pintail and a few Barnacle Geese mingling with the canadas.

-Smew

I finished off at the main hide where I added Shoveler, Shelduck and Curlew to the yearlist. Sadly there was no sign of the green-winged teal that sometimes shows there but I was not particularly bothered given how awesome the day was.

So despite a slow start today turned into one of the best days birding I have ever had, ever, thats how good it was. What a day.

Species List:

Hartlepool: Shag, Shore Lark, Cormorant, Red-breasted Merganser, Long-tailed Tit, Oystercatcher, Red-throated Diver, Herring Gull, Snow Bunting, Sanderling, Great-northern Diver, Guillemot, Eider, Slavonian Grebe, Mediterranean Gull, Turnstone, Curlew, Pink-footed Goose, Wigeon, Stonechat, Skylark, Starling, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, 

Saltholme RSPB: Little Egret, Stock Dove, Greenfinch, Common Teal, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Mallard, Peregrine, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Moorhen, Water Rail, Tufted Duck, Herring Gull, Reed Bunting, Blue Tit, Little Grebe, Gadwall, Sparrowhawk, Lapwing, Common Snipe, Blackbird, Graylag Goose, Pochard, Pintail, Smew, Curlew, Shelduck, Shoveler, Fieldfare, Bullfinch, Barnacle Goose, Jackdaw, 

Mixenden Reservoir - year ticking Great Northern Diver

The dawn of the new year means that my yearlist has now been reduced to zero one again. I decided to get 2015 rolling with a morning visit to Mixenden to have a look at the Great Northern Diver again, the same species involved in my first 'twitch' of 2014 too. The bird showed very well and look very nice in the morning light. I was able to get some more record shots of it as it came quite close to the bank at points.

-Great Northern Diver

A smashing bird to get the ball rolling. In addition there were a good number of common woodland species out and about, including Goldcrest, Treecreeper. Nuthatch and Greater-Spotted Woodpecker, as well as Redwings in the fields nearby. Overall I clocked a good few species to set me on my way.

Sadly though when I got home I saw that the little bustard I had hoped to twitch the next day and done a runner, leaving me feeling a little bitter sweet, but I'm sure there will be another at some point...

Species List:
Mixenden Reservoir: Starling, Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Great Northern Diver, Treecreeper, Feral Pigeon, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Chaffinch. Goldfinch, Great-Crested Grebe, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Long-Tailed Tit, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Nuthatch, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Little Grebe, Redwing, Mistle Thrush,

Mixenden Reservoir - Twitching Great Northern Diver

Finally got round to going to see the Great Northern Diver on Mixenden today, it probably having been there a week now. It was not a pleasant day, the rain not pretty and the wind pretty gusty. My knowledge of this reser is pretty limited so finding a decent viewing spot took some time but once I had I was unable to locate the bird.

I began to walk round and began to conclude that it had gone. However, I found the bird in the far top corner quite close to the shore with a Canada Goose, where I was able to get an excellent view and some reasonable photos.

The bird began to move out into the reser where I lost it. This happened multiple times with the finding and loosing of the bird, which is bizarre considering the size of the bird and the small shape of the reser. Either way, it was an exceptional view of a very smart bird, one of the best views I have ever had.

-Great Northern Diver

The bird was difficult to track due to its bizarre nature of being able to hide in plain sight. Its a nice bird to see in the Calderdale, and not a bad end to the year before the revision begins.

Also around was a Little Grebe along the edge of the reser, as well as flocks of Long-Tailed Tits and Goldcrests in the woods at the back. It was also great to see Dave on site, its been too long.

Species List:

Mixenden Reservoir: Black-Headed Gull, Grey Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Greater Black-Backed Gull, Great Northern Diver, Canada Goose, Long-Tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Starling, Little Grebe, 

Fly Flatts

Since we were already most of the way there, having gone for a goodbye meal at the Crossroads at Wainstalls, I requested that we make a short trip to Fly Flatts to have a look for the Great Northern Diver that had been reported that afternoon. I had no kit with me, but I figured it would be worth the look for a few mins. The first species I saw as we pulled up was a Graylag Goose, but the second bird I checked out was indeed the Great Northern Diver. All I could make out was the shape of the silhouette at a distance but there was no doubt as to the bird. We did not stay long and I only watched the bird for a minuet, since I needed to get back to pack, but for a short trip it was worth it.

Species List:
Fly Flatts: Meadow Pipit, Graylag Goose, Canada Goose, Great Northern Diver,

A Continuation

So after I had finished dipping on the scaup I moved into phase 2 of my day, that of the Great Northern Diver at Sandy Lane GP in Mirfield. This involved more trekking than my mornings birding but fortunately it was worth it.
  I arrived at the site, looked over the wall and thought to myself 'where could it be in these lakes'. The answer was right in front of me, it was sat in the middle of the lake, looking completely uncaring. I spent a good hour watching it before the weather really turned. I was able to get some incredible views of it through the scope, and often there was not need for the scope you could see it so clearly. It was well worth the extortionate bus fares for sure.

  There were other birds at the site:
-1 Grey Wagtail
-1 GC Grebe
-2 Mute Swans
-Coots
-Mallards
-Tufted Ducks
-Canada Geese
-Black Headed Gulls
-1 Grey Heron

The GND was more than ample compensation for dipping on the scaup. It looked stunning in its adult plumage and it was great to be able to watch it hunting in the lake. I was worried it would not be there, since I had failed to check for updates the day before, but I had no need to, which is just as well, all things considered...

Great Northern Diver at Ringstone

Birding doesn't get much better than this. Sunday afternoon, Dave and I went up to Ringstone reservoir to see possibly the best record in Calderdale of the year. Normally a Great northern diver is rare, but that would be a winter plumage bird, but this was a summer plumage! So not only is it a special record, its also a stunning bird. Sadly due to computer issues I only have one photo that has been cropped-But I assure you that more are on their way...

When we arrived at first it took us a few minuets to actually find the bird, but luckily it was found, on the far side of the reservoir. Thanks to dave again for letting me use his scope to get great views despite the distance.
We decided to go round to the hide as the bird seemed to be heading over that way, But when we got to the hide we found it along the shore half way between the hide and the road. It continued moving about, diving and fishing, and began to move closer, until it was really close, near to the wall, near the hide. Then it got really exciting, as the bird began calling. Its earie call echoed across the reservoir, a wonderful noise to hear, and the icing on the cake.
The bird then began to move across the reservoir towards the far side, there were a couple of birders over there. the diver was right in front of one, with his giant camera, and he diddnt even notice.
Because the bird was so far away, we began to look around and spotted a flock of lapwing and golden plover in an adjacent feild. I counted about 10 golden plover, but it was easier to count them when they were spooked a few minuets later.

When we left we pulled up at the side of the reservoir near the road to get one last view of the stunning bird. It was well worth it, as we got more stunning views in the evening light. Thanks to dave again for taking me.