Soil Hill & Whiteholme; Week 31st May - 06th June

Soil Hill

While the new arrivals were limited to a new male Blackcap on the 1st, it is still enjoyable to bird the hill. The many migrants already established are still in fine voice, and the sites breeding waders are always a delight to see. The fields are now full of buttercups and the various bushes are looking green and fantastic. 

Whiteholme Reservoir

I was only able to enjoy visits at the end of the week due to work, those days were extremely enjoyable. Remarkably, on the 5th, the exact same day as last year, there was a Little Stint present on the mud. This individual was not as approachable as last years bird, but I did not try as I didn't want to flush it in case any other birders arrived during the day. It was still present the next day, but had become much more mobile. This stunning bird is certainly the highlight of the spring, remarkably just the second ever spring record for Calderdale. 

There were a number of other birds during the week, including 2 Grey Herons that flew over on the 4th, as well as two drake Eurasian Teal on the 6th, as well as 2 Twite that flew over Byron Edge on the same day. But besides that, its awesome to listen to the Dunlin singing every time I go up. Early morning before the dog walkers arrive, it really is something special. 

-Little Stint

-Dunlin

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, Common Snipe, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting,
Whiteholme Reservoir: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Common Pheasant, Red Grouse, Feral Pigeon, Common Swift, Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Dunlin, Little Stint, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Short-eared Owl, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Skylark, Eurasian Wren, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Reed Bunting,

Whiteholme Reservoir

Once again I ventured to Whiteholme to have a look at a wader. This time it was a Ruff, but sadly I was unable to find the bird in windy conditions.

However, it was still a very productive trip when I bumped into a fantastic Little Stint on the shoreline with two Dunlin. Although I was extremely careful not to flush it, there was no need as the bird was not shy. At one point I simply waited for it to walk towards me, when it came to within two feet. Absolutely stunning bird, I am informed is the first in Halifax for 22 years and the first ever spring record. Certainly made for a worthwhile trip.

The supporting cast was fairly light, but I did have my first Little Ringed Plover of the year, as well as at least 5 Dunlin and 3 Common Sandpipers. Nice to also meet PS and DF up there.

-Little Stint

-Dunlin

Species List:

Whiteholme Reservoir: Common Swift, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Dunlin, Little Stint, Common Sandpiper, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit,

Spurn Week 6

Monday 18th July

After my first night-shift in over two years I was looking forward to a proper days sleep with no interruptions. Alas that this turned into one of the most hectic mornings imaginable. It started pleasant enough, when on my way back I spotted a lovely juvenile Wheatear behind the tern hut. In the morning light I was able to snap a few nice enough photos of one of my favourite birds.

-Wheatear

I waited for Mick on long bank and headed off home once he had arrived. This is when the real horror of the morning began to set it. On my way back over long bank I flushed a young Reed Bunting out of long bank. The bird could obviously not fly very well, judging by the fact that it crashed into the ponds about 10 meters out. Initially it looked like it would be Ok, as it spluttered its was towards the shore, but it then decided to turn back out into the middle of the ponds. It was at this point I decided to go it after it. I had to remove all the electronics from my pockets first and then waded/swam out to it. Sadly though by the time that I arrived at the bird it was already too late, and nothing more than a sodden corpse. I brought it back to shore and Mick tried to give it mouth to mouth but we were unable to save it. A really sad end to the night shift.

And that should have been that. I was soaking wet, stinking of pond and absolutely knackered. Ready for a shower and bed. I was so close, not more than 100 meters away from the obs when Mick crackeled over the radio that he had a pale legged stint up at the ponds. Now, rather than crawling into the shower and bed I was running for my scope and then back up to the ponds. When I arrived the birders were well into their discussion as to the stints identity. Least seemed to be favourite, but was clear that the light was a real problem and that the legs might not actually be yellow as they seemed. It took time before the bird moved and better views could be had, revealing after all that the bird was just a Little Stint.

-Little Stint

Once I finally made it to bed I struggled to get to sleep given that the day was not already very bright and warm. In the end I dragged myself out of bed around two in the afternoon and once I had woken up I made my way to the ponds for the high tide wader roost. I was rewarded with my first Curlew Sandpiper of the year. It was a stunning summer plumage red brick bird, the only downside was that it was very distant and that was reflected in my poor attempts to phone-scope it.

-Curlew Sandpiper

Sadly though I was still exhausted and once I was satisfied I had gone through all the waders and seen all the unusual species among the Dunlin I headed back to the obs for tea and then off to the night-shift.

Sightings List:

Beacon Ponds: Wheatear, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Dunlin, Knot, Little Tern, Grey Heron, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Pheasant, Common Tern, Curlew Sandpiper, Turnstone, Redshank, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover,

Tuesday 19th July

Today I am leaving Spurn for a few days for my graduation. Sad but true. The morning was thankfully nowhere near as eventful as the previous day but there was not a great deal about, only the usual Dunlin and other waders. A cracking Bar-tailed Godwit behind the hut was about the best of it.

-Bar-tailed Godwit

Sightings List:

Beacon Ponds: Dunlin, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Bar-tailed Godwit, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Reed Bunting,

Sunday 24th July

After a week of Graduation partying, plus not sleeping well in the hot weather had all but broken me sleep wise. As a result I was in no rush to get up on my first morning back at Spurn. I missed a red-necked phalarope on ponds, but that was the only species I missed, so I consider that a blessing in disguise.

I made my way down to seawatching once I got out of bed. There were a few waders, mainly Sanderling but a few other species thrown in too such as Dunlin and Knot. A quick check of Clubleys field produced a Snipe, but no dragonflies. The real highlight of the morning as an Arctic Skua that flew south, my first of the year and long overdue at that. It was a smart dark phase individual that flew fairly close in, affording nice views through the scope.

In the afternoon I went to bed in a desperate attempt to recapture something of a sleeping pattern before I began night shifts again...

Sightings List:

Seawatching: Sanderling, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Scoter, Arctic Skua, Swallow, Swift, Meadow Pipit, Common Snipe, Knot, Redshank, Whimbrel, Sand Martin, Red-breasted Merganser,

Spurn Day 55 - LIFER ALERT

Today started like any other. I managed to leave my bed at half six and wandered up to the Seawatching hut, where I was informed that there was no movement. As a result I decided to head over to Kilnsea wetlands to see the waders’ high tide roost there, since there had been some good stuff on there in recent days.

I arrived to find the place very quiet. However the 3 Little Stint were still there and offering great views near the gate. Again it was surprising to see them next to the Dunlin, they are so small and yet don’t really seem it, it seems more like the Dunlin are bigger. I was able to get some more shots of them too…

-Little Stint

I entered the hide and spent a good couple of hours watching the birds coming in. Overall there were fewer than I expected, but the tide quite a low one today. Redshank were in abundance, with at least 600 birds on there. How I were ever to find the Spotted Redshank that had been there was beyond me.

But somehow I managed it. Having seen one before helped no end, I could clearly make out the longer, drooped bill from among the massed ranks of Redshank. I was buzzing at this find, an indication of just how much I have improved over the last year. Also there was one Curlew Sandpiper, an adult still in something of summer plumage, very similar to the bird that was on beacon ponds. So for the lack of numbers, there was huge variety. None waders included the female Pintail and a Sparrowhawk that flew through.

I would love to say that the day remained on this positive note, but alas it did not. In fact it took a very negative turn half way through the wader roost when I carelessly knocked my bag off the bench, with the camera in it. Usually it would have been fine after this, but alas, that was not the case this time and as a result the camera now refuses to take photos. Fantastic! That is going to be an expensive accident I can already tell, and not just in terms of finance.

There were no further birds along the walk, so the camera was not overly missed. I radioed Paul and spent the afternoon sorting out the tern stuff at Kew. As a result I did not expect to see many birds. However, not long after I arrived the radio went off saying that a Barred Warbler had been found at borough pit. There had already been one at the point which I had not gone for, so this was a bonus. Tim took the van and we raced over to have a look. We found the site easily enough, with Kieron, who had found it.

It had taken to a patch of reed, so Tim suggested we organise a flush. Walking through the reeds we eventually put the bird up, though it landed on the far side to me. Tim beckoned me over to have a look, and pointed out the bird sat on the bottom of the reeds not 2 meters away from me. It was a chunky thing, as I had been told, and had obviously just landed as it was not overly fussed about us being there so close. It remained skulky but on occasions it did come out and give a good view.

Another lifer, my 32^nd this year believe it or not! A nice big Barred Warbler had now been added to my list. Of course it was at this point that the lack of camera really began to hurt, given how close the lifer had been to me and yet I had been unable to get a photo. Obviously a photo is not the be all and end all and I was incredibly grateful for the views I did get, so close, but it somehow left it feeling a little bitter. Fortunately tim tried to get some shots, which he said I could have, so here are those, not mine but of the same bird (And it meant I got to the watch the bird more instead, which is much better!)

-Barred Warbler (Tim Jones)

I returned to Kew and continued clearing up all afternoon. There were at least 30 Migrant Hawkers hunting during the afternoon around Kew. And the boys caught a Blue Tit in their nets. I have heard rumour of ringing Blue Tits, and the rumours proved to be true. The bird was not happy, it squawked and fidgeted and even bit Tim while he tried to remove it. I then got a fascinating explanation as to the age of the bird, this year’s bird, based on its plumage.

As I was leaving I caught another radio message saying there were 2 Sunfish of the warren. I steadily made my way there, not really rushing but I wandered along the coastal way to see if I could pick them up. I bumped into Ian who had been looking for the barred, but it had not been seen since we lost it and it dived back into the reeds.

I made it to the Seawatching hut where there were a couple of young lads that have been around the last couple of days. I asked about the sunfish and they pointed them out. They were hardly spectacular, a couple of fins emerging ever other second then going back down, but I can now add Sunfish to my list. They seemed to be going in circles around each other, but my knowledge of sunfish behaviour is limited, so who even knows what was going on under the water.

So for the terrible misfortune this morning, the day was really as rather good one. It was sad that it was tinged with such bitterness and disappointment. Hopefully I can continue to borrow photos, and that way it will not be overly missed.

Species List:

Kilnsea Wetlands: Little Egret, Little Stint, Dunlin, Pied Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Shelduck, Mallard, Grey Plover, Black-Headed Gull, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon, Pintail, Knot, Oystercatcher, Teal, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Cormorant, Spotted Redshank, Sparrowhawk, Curlew Sandpiper, Common Gull, Mute Swan, Grey Heron,

Mooching About: Willow Warbler, Barred Warbler, Black-Headed Gull, Starling, Yellow Wagtail, Blue Tit, Sunfish, Migrant Hawker,

Spurn Day 50

Day 50. I was hoping for some lovely weather to go with today's landmark but alas it started pretty grim. And that includes the birds too, as morning seawatching was very quiet, hardly anything moving at all. I guess the easterly winds do have some downsides, and quiet seawatching is one of them. Red Throated Diver close in was nice though, you could almost make out the summer plumage!

However, just as we were wrapping up seawatching a couple of day visitors came in and told us about a Little Stint on canal ponds. I headed over while the others continued seawatching, but to tell them if it were the case. Indeed it was the case, as I arrived to find the bird along with a small group of Dunlin and no less than 13 Snipe. It was too distant to really get any great shots, though they are certainly an improvement on whats been before. It was certainly the best view I have ever had of one, and the first time I have ever confidently been able to recognise it. The stripes down the back were very clear, along with the scaling and pale colouring. The size also stood out, seeing it run around with the dunlin and yet being half the size was something new to witness, having previously only ever seen them on their own. I grabbed a few shots, not brilliant but much better than anything I have had in the past.

-Little Stint

The Stint was great to see, the first time I have been properly able to appreciate one. However, as I mentioned, there were a lot of snipe on the scrape. And when Snipe are there, most other birds fall into the back seat, in my eyes anyway. I was treated today to 13 individuals, some of which came incredibly close and I was able to take increase the number of photos in my snipe gallery. Just look at them, they are just so lovely!

-Common Snipe

It was my plan to go and find migrants on Sammies point, as it was an area that needed to be patched. It just so happened that I was almost at the paddocks to see what migrants had dropped in when the unthinkable happened. 

The radio buzzed with news that an Icterine Warbler had been caught at kew and that it would be released in 10 mins. I hate running for birds, but this would have to be done. I ran pretty much the whole way back to find Mick Turton leaning on his car. I asked if the bird had been released (Since I had no idea of time having had to focus on my lack of fitness). He informed me that the bird had been released and had flown over the hedge. I was a broken man! He had a little chuckle to himself, of course the bird had not yet been released, a little birder banter I think...

Paul came round about 5 mins later with the bird to show to a small group. It was an agitated thing, so Paul had to hold its wings down. But I was still able to see the head and tail, getting a few photos to improve on the record shots that I had gained 2 days ago. It was a different bird to that individual, meaning I have now seen 2 Icterine warblers. In the hand you get a different appreciation for birds, and as such I put myself in a better position to identify one next time.

-Icterine Warbler

I returned to sammies after the bird had been released to give the place a thorough checking. I found good numbers of migrants, with Whinchat, Redstart, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher all found in different numbers. There were also a few Mediterranean Gulls flying over, so a good helping of great species.

After the excursions of the morning I could not face much more walking after sammies and so headed back to the warren for so much needed rest. After about an hour recovering from my run I decided to take my washing up to Kew, picking up a few Pied Flycatchers and Whinchats on the way. I bumped into Steve who told me about an adult male pied fly in the roadside bushes, but I could not find it on the first attempt. I had intended to try again, but the radio struck again with news of a Wryneck at sammies (!). I grabbed a lift off a couple of birders and headed straight there, just in time to get one good view of the bird before it dived into a ditch not to be seen again that evening. I still saw the bird and all its features but the view was all too brief.

I got a lift back down to the terns, of which we had a decent night with around 3000 Terns moving south, including 4 Black Terns. But the real highlight, and I mean real highlight was when Mick (who was up the coast) radioed that a Spoonbill was flying down south. We all followed it from a speck until it was almost above us, giving me the best view of the species I have ever had and a chance to properly get a view of the bill, not something I had got at Fairburn.

-Spoonbill

 It was the best view of the species I had ever had ( though that's not saying much) and thoroughly unforgettable, as these recent days all have been.

In the evening I went down with Paul and Tim to see if we could ring some terns, but we failed to catch any and called it quits quite early. We did see plenty of Shooting Stars though, including one absolute monster, the biggest I have ever seen. A great end to the day.

Species List: 

Canal Scrape: Little Stint, Common Snipe, Dunlin, Redshank, Coot, Wheatear, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Willow Warbler

Mooching About: Whinchat, Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Blue Tit, Shelduck, Mediterranean Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Little Egret, Redshank, Grey Plover,

Seawatching: Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Black Tern, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Spoonbill,

Spurn Day 31

The weather picked up for today, though it remained a little windy. It’s also the last time I am on days for another week. The usual crowd of birds was around, nothing much different. The only notable change were that 4 Common Sandpipers were seen around the banks.

In the afternoon there was a little change in the birding complexion. And I mean a real little. I was scanning the shoreline when I noticed a very small and dumpy wader feeding. I was pretty confident I knew what it was, but had to wait until it flew to be sure; I had found myself only my third Little Stint. It was only a pity that I had to wait for it to fly to be sure. I kept hunting for the bird, but to no avail. I kept thinking I had found it, only for it to stand next to a Dunlin and be near enough the same size. So there we have it, one of my best self finds and only my third Little Stint.

-Little Stint

There was also a good number of terns, but the rosette did not turn up until after I left. I also failed to find the curlew sand, though I did spot a few Ruff which is a spurn tick for me, another new addition now the waders are beginning to move.

In the evening I grabbed myself a year-tick. I had passed a decent Seawatching crowd on my way in, so was hopeful of finding something with them. However, as I was cooking dinner the radio went off: a Short-Eared Owl and a Marsh Harrier chasing each other over the triangle. No shoes I dashed up the stairs to numpties to have a look, and got reasonable views of the owl, though not so much of the harrier. That would be my 182^nd species, and the first time I have ever seen all the British owl species in one year.

-Short-Eared Owl

Seawatching was a disaster. Not only did I miss the first rosette tern but then managed to not see one in a flock of Common Tern that went past. Therefore I managed to miss 4 rosette terns today, I’m not even sure how. My med gull record was also broken today, by at least 15 birds, but certainly more. Alas, I had the count for a mere 2 days. But besides that it has been a really good day, with a lovely self-found Little Stint being the highlight.

The Daily Oystercatcher

Nothing notable to report from their front. The chicks looked really big when the Stint was running behind them, but that was to be expected. The birds spent most of the day sleeping or sunbathing, looking very much like chilled oystercatchers!

Species List:

Beacon Ponds: Little Stint, Ruff, Redshank, Herring Gull, Whimbrel, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Turnstone, Sandwich Tern, Dunlin, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Mediterranean Gull, Oystercatcher, Knot, Grey Plover, Little Egret, Mallard, Gannet, Mute Swan, Linnet, Little Tern, Meadow Pipit, Common Gull, Arctic Skua, Black-Headed Gull, Kestrel, Shelduck, Skylark, Cormorant, Yellow Wagtail, Swallow,

Orgreave Lakes twitching Little Stint

 After yesterdays excursions which resulted in me achieving very little revision today was meant to be a productive day, and it was, but for the wrong reasons. Yesterday I had considered missed the G.W Egret and going for a pair of little stints at Orgreave, since it was closer. No matter, I went for the egret and was justly rewarded for my decision.

However, after my first period of revision it came up on birdguides that the stints were there again. I looked at my revision notes, looked at the weather (Appalling) and decided to just go for it. It took long enough to get there, and the weather only continued to get worse. In fact during the walk round I got more wet that I can ever really recall, even my underwear was soaked.

And it looked like it was not going to be my day, with no sign of them with any of the plovers I found, or with the Redshanks, or with the Lapwing. There were simply incredible views of all 3 hirundine species and of swifts, the latter of which were even skimming the surface of the lakes. I was surprised they were out in such force given the weather was so poor, but they gave me something on the walk round.

But round the far side of the lake I spotted 2 small brown waders with a Ringed Plover on the bank. I had a look and they seemed good but they were a way away, so I approached, only to find that they had gone while I was approaching. The mix of emotions I experienced at that moment was incredible. I resigned myself to the fact that it was going to be one of those days.

But fortunately they had not gone far, and around the headland I stumbled across them again and was able to view them and get some reasonable record shots. Having never seen a stint before I was initially dubious of my identification despite the fact that they seemed good, but another birder came soon looking for the gargany (Which I did not see) and he confirmed it for me.

In the weather as such and the fact that I do not have the worlds greatest scope I was unable to really appreciate all the intricate beauty of their plumage, but certain features I could make out, such as the white stripes on the back. Unfortunatly, as they had shown earlier, they were very mobile, and the view of them only lasted around 10 mins before they decided to move off onto the far side of the lake. It was probably a good thing, as it was already 2.00 and I did need to get back to work.

So that is my 11th lifer of the year, and the second of the weekend, what an incredible year its been. I tried to get some record shots but was not overly successful, but follows are my attempts:

-2 Little Stints and Ringed Plover

But like I say, my photos are not great, so here is someone else photo from the day before, of the same bird's, showing in more detail the plumage.

-Little Stint and Ringed Plover (Not my photo)

The rain did stop in the end, while I was at the bus stop, but since I had got my bird it did not really matter. It was well worth it in the end and I am well happy. So the day list, not that I really kept one.

Species List

Orgreave Lakes: Swift, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Black-Headed Gull, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Meadow Pipit, Herring Gull, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Skylark, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swallow, Ringed Plover, Canada Goose, Graylag Goose, Little Stint,