Halifax birding; Week 3

With November drawing to a close there were only a few highlights on Soil Hill this week. There continued to be reasonable numbers of Common Snipe around, as well as the occasional Jack Snipe thrown in for good measure. On the 27^th 71 Pink-footed Geese flew south distantly in awful conditions, and on the 28^th 53 flew north. Also on the 27^th a female Goosander flew over the Hill, allowing me grab a photo of this species for the eBird illustrated checklist. Passerine wise the week was fairly uneventful, with a single Lesser Redpoll flying over on the 25^th and a couple of Ravens blogging on the 27^th and 29^th.
On the 26^th I had an afternoon birding around Walshaw Dean and Lower Gorple. Walshaw Dean was quiet except for a flock of 38 Pink-footed Geese that flew Northwest up the valley. Lower Gorple was nice, with 10 teal roosting on the back of the reservoir, which was a Halifax yeartick for me. 

-Grey Wagtail

-Northern Raven

-Goosander

-Pink-footed Geese

Species List:
Soil Hill: Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Goosander, Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Moorhen, Northern Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Grey Heron, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Common Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Common Reed Bunting
Walshaw Dean: Pink-footed Goose, Mallard, Common Pheasant, Red Grouse, Common Wood Pigeon, Northern Lapwing, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Northern Raven, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, Common Chaffinch, Common Reed Bunting,
Lower Gorple: Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Common Pheasant, Red Grouse, Northern Lapwing, Common Buzzard, Western Barn Owl, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, European Robin, European Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch,

Spurn

I finally spent some time at Spurn this year with a two weeks stint beginning at the end of September and into early October. The first week was prolonged south-westerlies and whilst this meant a reasonable passage of Meadow Pipits it also meant that ringing and birding was quite restricted. Still, there were a few rarer species around, including a late Red-rumped Swallow and a couple of Great White Egrets. I spent most of my spare time trying to catch Wheatears with trip traps and spring traps, of which I had some results.

-Turnstone

-Sparrowhawk

-Barnacle Goose

Into my second week and things began to pick up a little. More easterly in the wind and birds started to arrive. First of all was a Spurn, British and World tick for me in the form of a Booted Warbler which was ringed on its second day, but lingered for a good few days afterwards. A Rustic Bunting was equally nice arrival although it was very tricky to connect with and I did not see it until its third day in the area. There were also a few commoner migrants that arrived. I was ringing at the warren for most of this period and caught a number of nice birds. Yellow-browed Warbler was always a treat, whilst Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtail and Yellowhammer were only the second time I have ringed them. In a single morning I caught seven Yellowhammers. In addition I also caught 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Stonechat and a Siberian Lesser Whitethroat

-Booted Warbler

-Yellow-browed Warbler

-Grey Wagtail

-Great Spotted Woodpecker

-Stonechat

-Brambling

-Great White Egret

-Rock Pipit

-Knot

-Yellowhammer

-Whimbrel

It all kicked off again on my last day when the wind returned to the east and brought in fresh thrush arrivals. With it came a fantastic Siberian Stonechat that was trapped and ringed in the afternoon. A Jack Snipe on Canal Scrape also showed fantastically well, rounding off an amazing couple of weeks.

-Siberian Stonechat

-Jack Snipe

 

Species List:

Spurn Bird Observatory: Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Brent Goose, Barnacle Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Common Shelduck, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Pintail. Eurasian Teal, Greater Scaup, Eider, Common Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Common Swift, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Pied Avocet, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, European Golden Plover, Northern Lapwing, Common Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Dunlin, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Great Skua, Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Black-legged Kittiwake, Black-headed Gull, Little Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Red-throated Diver, Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Tawny Owl, Short-eared Owl, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Bearded Tit, Booted Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, House Martin, Yellow-browed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Treecreeper, Wren, Common Starling, Song Thrush, Redwing, Blackbird, Ring Ouzel, European Robin, Red-breasted Flycatcher, European Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Black Redstart, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Siberian Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Rock Pipit, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Goldfinch, Siskin, Lapland Bunting, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Rustic Bunting, Roe Deer, Brown Hare, Rabbit, Common Darter, Migrant Hawker, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Wall Brown, Small White, Red Admiral, Painted Lady,

NGB Spurn Weekend Day 3

The first day with any NGBs actually on site. Of course I headed up to numpties first. The sea was like a millpond, incredibly flat. the only time that changed was when a Porpoise breached the surface, which they frequently did. The total count at the evening log was of 12 individuals roaming around offshore. For birds moving on the sea, not so many. Auks were moving in a few good numbers, including my first Puffins of the year, MY 200th SPECIES OF 2016 (!!!), and a Red-breasted Merganser going North. So there was some variety, just not very many species. Bizarrely for May there had been 700 Brent Geese still on the Humber as of Friday, but there was something of a clear-out this morning, as at least 200 birds headed off out to sea.

-Porpoise

-Brent Geese

Perhaps one of the highlights of the weekend was the stunning male Grey Wagtail that was caught whilst we were up at Numpties. In the hand you really got a different perspective on this really beautiful species, for example I never noticed the white markings around the face. What a beautiful bird.

-Grey Wagtail

Yesterdays Red-backed Shrike continued to perform along the canal, but the rarest new birds were a pair of Turtle Dove that Steve found behind the Crown. I jumped in Tims car and we raced up but we had only just left the Warren when news changed that they were now heading south. We swiftly pulled up in time for the doves to fly straight over out heads. We thought that was that but they then circled round and landed on the wires above the Warren before continuing south towards Lincolnshire.

-Turtle Dove

Considering how badly I wanted this species at the start of the year, to have seen four individuals at different points has really been something. These were probably the best view I have had so far, such lovely birds.

Without a radio it was less tempting to go out hunting for birds on the off chance something rare turned up and I ended up missing it. As a result I stayed around the Warren for most of the morning, and this reaped rewards when a dark headed Yellow Wagtail went overhead. I can't claim to know much about Yellow Wagtail subspecies, but this was clearly something. Tim managed to get a good shot of it in flight, but thats when the real problems started. It obviously lacks a Supercillum, seemingly ruling out flava. However, the sub-moustachial stripe seems to rule out thunbergi, and then there is the issue of its apparent chest band. The popular school of thought seems to be a flava x thunbergi hybrid type, but in reality we will never really know the birds ancestors. Also at the Warren was a very smart micro moth chilling on my scope. If anyone has any suggestions to its identification that would be appreciated.

-Probable flava x thunbergi

-Micro-moth sp. 

The winds had looked good, but the bushes were very quiet. The only birds in any real numbers were Spotted Flycatchers, with 18 seen over the day. My wanderings around the canal were fruitless, and with nothing seeming to happen I went for a nap. Not long after I had re-awoken I received a text about 2 Crossbill heading north, so rushed outside on the off chance that they might go over the obs. I yelled to Sims, who was also in the Obs, that they were coming and we waited outside. As soon as we were outside Ollie started about how there was zero chance we were going to see them, and that they could be anywhere. I told him in no uncertain terms, to hush up so I could hear, and that he clearly did not know Spurn well enough. I wish I could have appreciated the dead silence when one Crossbill came over the Obs not 60 seconds later, calling frantically. It then looped and landed in the tree at the back of the Obs, for a short time before it flew off North again. More interestingly was that this was a different bird to the two that had been reported. Still, another yeartick for me. What a result that was. 

Sightings List:

Spurn: Canal and Warren: Swallow, House Sparrow, Great Tit, Carrion Crow, Spotted Flycatcher, Greylag Goose, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Bar-tailed Godwit, Gannet, Gadwall, Mallard, Mute Swan, Meadow Pipit, Collard Dove, Magpie, Cormorant, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Kittiwake, Starling, Fulmar, Brent Goose, Common Scoter, Little Egret, Red-breasted Merganser, Goldfinch, Feral Pigeon, Tufted Duck, Sanderling, Skylark, Yellow Wagtail, Swift, Linnet, Red-throated Diver, House Martin, Razorbill, Black-headed Gull, Common Teal, Chaffinch, Puffin, Black Tern, Common Tern, Turtle Dove, Barn Owl, Crossbill

Orgreave Lakes - Avenged

Today is the last day of what has been an extraordinary Easter. Since its a Sunday my options as to where I can go, so I decided to go to my local path Orgreave, just to see what was about. The weather improved through the morning, until it was sunny and warm. That made it a rather pleasant walk. Sadly I slept through my alarm so when I arrived there were a too few many dog walkers around. However, there were also a few birders around, so I got to ask them what was around. 

The answer was not a lot, but I set up on main lake to watch. The highlights were a Wigeon that flew in, quite late in the year, and a pair of Little Ringed Plover right in front of me, so I was able to get some decent record shots.

-Little Ringed Plover

After a while I decided to carry on round, on the way flushing a Wheatear and watching Great Crested Grebes on the lake. However, near the outlet pipe I stumbled across a really stunning bird, one that I only saw for the first time this year yesterday. Indeed, it was a Yellow Wagtail, and far more sedentary than yesterdays birds, allowing me to grab a few photos. However, while I was watching it, it was joined by another Yellow Wagtail, the first time I have ever seen more than together.

-Yellow Wagtail

I also found a Pied Wagtail on the banks. I considered the possibility of getting a photo with all 3 British wagtail species in it, but I considered the prospect of finding a grey wagtail on this site was very unlikely...

A few meters up though I saw a wagtail with a grey back land on the bank. I considered it so unlikely that I would find a grey wagtail that I considered blue headed or channel before it, but indeed it was a Grey Wagtail. I was shocked, and impressed, the first time I have ever seen all 3 British wagtail species in one day. A first time for everything.

-Grey Wagtail

I continued round, though there were many dogs around which I thought would end all hopes of finding something. It did not however, as I stumbled across a rather bold male Wheatear near the path, bobbing around and hunting in the grass. Once more, when you see these birds it is difficult to believe just how stunning they are. 

-Wheatear

I set up on the far side of where I had been. From my vantage point I could see 4 Little Ringed Plovers in front of me, and a few more Redshank. The Wigeon flew back in, though I did not see it leave. After some time my mind wandered off for a few mins...

I came back to find 2 terns on the lake in front of me. I panicked. I immediately went for the camera to grab some photos so I could identify them when I got back. I then tried to find them with the scope but I could not really get a decent view. From my position I would have said the streamers were too short, but I am not familiar with arctic terns so I could not say so. However, I then checked the photos while the terns were hunting up the far end.

From the photos; Shortish bill, no obvious black at the end, short neck and, most importantly black fringes on the underside of the wing. So then, I have, finally, on the last day of the holiday, finally found my Arctic Terns. The birds (there were 2) stayed on the lake for about 20 mins while they moved up and down the main lake, before heading off northwards. 

Having been over all week looking for these birds it was such a relief to find them, and on my own patch. And that I found them, so overall I probably would not have had it any other way. The only downside was that the birds did not land on the lake, which was disappointing, but I still managed a few decent record shots...

Que record shots:

-Arctic Terns

After they left I decided to head off to finish off my essay. However, I left having had a stunning day, finally finding some Arctic Terns and finding lovely Yellow Wagtails, a great day with great species found.

Species List:

Orgreave Lakes: Skylark, Reed Bunting, Starling, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Lapwing, Canada Goose, Graylag Goose, Sand Martin, Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Little Ringed Plover, Mute Swan, Great-Crested Grebe, Black-Headed Gull, Meadow Pipit, Wigeon, Wheatear, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Swallow, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Yellow Wagtail, Redshank, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Kestrel, Linnet, Arctic Tern, Chaffinch,