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; Isolation week 6

A mixed week with variable weather and mixed birding results. My work finally arrived on Monday so will finally be able to commence home office. That said, a Soil Hill visit every morning is still very much on the agenda.

02 May

Visit from 07.15. Total 42 species observed

Cold but clear and sunny with a nice selection of species but nothing outstanding. Highlights from the morning included three flyover Cormorants and a Greylag Goose. A Sand Martin also flew across the summit. 

03 May

Visit from 07.30. Total 42 species observed 

Overall sunny and pleasant morning but with scattered cloud cover. Generally similar makeup, regular assortment of species all on site. Three Wheatears were the highlight with another particularly showy male at the bottom of the north slope, as well as two females. A new Whitethroat territory at the top of the north slope treeline was also welcome, with the male singing from nice exposed perches. Two Sand Martins blogging was the best otherwise. Also first Swift of the year over Bradshaw.

-Reed Bunting

-Northern Wheatear

-Common Whitethroat

04 May

Visit from 07.00. Total 39 species observed.

Cold and overcast morning with low fog for the first hour. After being so close last week, it was nice to clinch a YELLOW WAGTAIL today, when one flew westward across the bottom of the hill. As before I heard the bird calling first and looked up to see it directly level with me at a reasonably low altitude. Despite the dull conditions the bird was glowing yellow, beyond doubt a male. Sadly it did not stop in the Lapwing field as I hoped, but carried on towards Ogden, calling all the way. I did not have my camera at the ready and since it was already level with me when I picked it up, there was no chance for photos.

Despite this excellent hill record, other birds were thin on the ground. A Jay flew over heading southwards and that was the only other notable from the day, although the male Stonechat and at least one Wheatear were still in place.

-Eurasian Jay

05 May

Visit from 06.45. Total 43 species observed. 

Another cold and generally overcast morning with a chilly east wind. Had a very pleasant morning with a stunning female Whinchat gracing the heather on the summit. Sadly it was extremely mobile, and no sooner did I pick it up than it flew to the North Slope top fenceline. Here I managed to grab some record shots before it flew down the slope with purpose. Despite thoroughly searching the slope I was unable to find it and can only assume that it moved on.

A pair of Grey Partridge on the north slope were only my second since my regular lockdown visits began. One Wheatear remained on the bottom fields but was distant and difficult to spot. Two House Martins that flew through were my first of the year as well, bringing my Soil Hill lockdown list up to a very respectable 83.

-Whinchat

06 May

Visit from 07.00. Total 42 species observed.

A bright and sunny morning with very little wind. Very pleasant birding with a few nice bits. First was a singing Chiffchaff in the copse opposite the site entrance track, it eventually moved closer and started to show but was flighty and passing cars frequently caused it to dive back into cover.

At the bottom of the hill there was two Wheatears and two Sand Martins, but the standout bird was a female White Wagtail. Helpfully it was with a male Pied Wagtail. Frustratingly I did not get a view of the rump, but in the field the bird overall was strikingly pale and after discussion with TDJ, KBL, JHF and SH from Spurn any doubts were safely removed. It flew off shortly after I found it, but I was unable to relocate it anywhere. 

'2nd calendar year Motacilla alba alba. The grey shading up the nape should rule out M.a. yarelli. The streaking effect seen on a couple of the photos is caused by the angle of the feathers, so you can almost see under them causing shadowing from this angle, otherwise you'd see the streaks come up towards the nape'

-Chiffchaff

-White Wagtail

Visit from 18.45. Total 38 species observed.

In the evening I decided to go back up to Soil Hill after reading that NK had a Sedge Warbler during his morning visit. It was a very pleasant evening and since the quarry workers had departed I was also able to have a look at the Stonechats, with both birds showing well. The Sedge Warbler was very elusive, but it showed well on brief occasions.

-European Stonechat

-Sedge Warbler

07 May

Visit from 07.00. Total 46 species observed.

It got warm quickly today, and by the time I left the Hill at 09.30 it was already hot and slowing down. Before that I managed a very nice haul of species with a few highlights. The Sedge Warbler was still present and far more vocal than it had been the previous evening. My first Soil Hill Swift also drifted over, bringing my Soil Hill year list up to 85. A Cuckoo was singing distantly towards Ogden, but there was never any chance I would be able to see it. There was still a single Wheatear, Stonechat and Sand Martin.

08 May

Visit from 07.00. Total 45 species observed.

It was a more overcast morning than the previous day, but had warmed up by the time I left. Another day with lots of species but little standout. The Sedge Warbler was still present and showing well. There was a lot of Sand Martin activity too, which will certainly be something to keep an eye on during the spring. Two Wheatears, four Swifts and a Goldcrest were the best of the rest.

Species List:

Soil Hill: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Grey Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Cuckoo, Common Swift, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Little Owl, European Green Woodpecker, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Sedge Warbler, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Western Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting, Weasle, Roe Deer, Orange Tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, 

Norfolk Day 1

So my parents decided to go to Norfolk for a week and I of course was not going to decline tagging along. Having travelled down overnight I set off for the first day by heading to the usual Cley Marshes followed by Blakeney for the long staying Lapland Buntings. 

First port of call were the hides at Cley where I picked up some wader species for my yearlist, namely Avocet, Ruff and Green Sandpiper. I also had nice views of Marsh Harrier which was also a yeartick. Species all familiar to the site but ones which I had not seen overwinter, so was pleased to see again.

-Avocet

-Ruff

-Marsh Harrier

The reason I did not start my day at Blakeney was simply because of the weather being awful, but as it began to clear late morning I decided to just take the hit and go. After all, the birds had reduced from around 8 being present a week ago to only 2 the last I heard. Along the walk through Cley-next-the-sea and Blakeney Freshmarsh I picked up my first Swallow of the year. They were quite abundant already this far south but none had really appeared up north so this was quite exciting.

-Swallow

Blakeney freshmarsh was a fairly standard affair, fields with pools, but I did pick up my first Brent Geese of the year, which initially only looked to be a few individuals until something spooked them, or the tide moved them and the sky was suddenly full of Brent Geese. Quite a site really, a really smart bird to look at.

The highlight of the walk along the marshes though has to be the really nice White Wagtail that was knocking about. A real stunner, and although they turned out to be fairly abundant during the day, there is something special about this European visitors.

-Brent Geese

-White Wagtail

And so I arrived at the location where the Lapland Buntings were meant to be. I picked one up, a female, distantly almost immediately but it soon vanished into the undergrowth and I could not find it again for around half an hour. 

I made a move past the gate where most people have been watching them from, and began to walk down the track to relocate it. I was able to, but it now seemed that only this female remained. I tried to get some photos but the bird was quite skittish. After a while I returned to my scope and tripod set up at the gate and scoped out the marsh whilst decided when to give the bunting another try. But I need not have worried, for whilst I was scoping the bird flew onto the fence next to me, before coming down and feeding around my feet. I only wish the light had been a bit better because the view I got was otherwise unparalleled. It was really something. It was so close I could have reached out and touched it. What a real treat. 

-Lapland Bunting

After that I was obviously buzzing. The bird flew off into the marsh and I decided to take my leave. I headed back to Cley and walked along the beach side where I was treated to nice views of a few smashing Wheatear. Willow Warbler was another spring migrant of which was my first of the year. I also yearticked Sandwich Tern flying up the coast, something of an expected yeartick but still a much welcome one. A really nice bird to see. I also year-ticked Sand Martin and a few other waders; Grey Plover and Knot.

-Sandwich Tern

So an excellent start to the week, with a host of yearticks and other awesome species, and of course the Lapland Bunting being the real highlight, even if there was only the one bird left.

Species List:

Cley Marshes NWT: Avocet, Wren, Pied Wagtail, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Egyptian Goose, Greylag Goose, Meadow Pipit, Marsh Harrier, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Mute Swan, Shoveler, Dunlin, Ruff, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Shelduck, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, Lapwing, Woodpigeon, Herring Gull, Ringed Plover, Pochard, Carrion Crow, Rook, Starling, Collard Dove, Pheasant, Jackdaw, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Greenfinch, Sandwich Tern, Brent Goose, Sand Martin, Wheatear, Kestrel, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot,

Blakeney Freshmarsh: Wheatear, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Skylark, Jackdaw, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Linnet, Redshank, Canada Goose, Avocet, Gadwall, Teal, Cormorant, Curlew, Shelduck, Shoveler, Moorhen, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Swallow, White Wagtail, Brent Goose, Marsh Harrier, Lapland Bunting, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Red Kite, Rook, Pheasant,

Orgreave Lakes

Another free afternoon and another trip to Orgreave Lakes in all its glory. In fairness I should have gone in the morning before my solitary lecture but when the alarm went off at 6.00 I just could not face it and missed a whinchat for my lie in.

But never mind, hindsight is a wonderful thing! I arrived on site to a sunnier afternoon than yesterday but it was a very similar cast of birds on show. The Maned Duck was still present and still sleeping as seems to be its favourite pastime. Also on show were the waders from yesterday, featuring Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Dunlin but the Common Sandpipers remained frustratingly distant. 2 of the original 4 Egyptian Geese were still present almost a week after they first dropped in, but they remained on the island so I could only digiscope them.

-Egyptian Geese

There were no hirundines in the sky, until I reached the main lake when the all seemed to descend at once out of nowhere. There were all 3 species though, in flocks which seemed much bigger than yesterday.

There was also a bumper landing of Wheatears, with at least 7 birds there today, including 2 females, which were my first of the year. Sadly they were all spread out so it was difficult to accurately judge just how many there were. Either way, the more the merrier so far as I am concerned as British birds just simply do not get any better.

Having said that, the highlight of today's trip was a superb White Wagtail along the northern edge of the main lake. I had checked for them all along the walk but had only got 2 Pied Wagtails (which are deffo the smarter of the subspecies!). But then I spotted this one feeding along the water edge. The contrast from the hood to the pale back clearly show this is a spring male White Wag, and is my first one of the year. What a super bird, and I set myself up so I got a couple of decent record shots through the scope to go with it!

-White Wagtail

That remained it for the lakes. Along the river there were multiple more male Blackcaps singing, as well as a few Willow Warblers. I managed to get eyes on both species but Willow Warbler was only fleeting as I tried to set myself up for a digiscoped shot. There were a few Chiffchaffs in the scrub as I come in as well, so we had a nice bunch of summer warblers.

Species List:

Orgreave Lakes: Mute Swan, Graylag Goose, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Common Redshank, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, White Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldfinch, Kestrel, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Wheatear, Sand Martin, Swallow, Great Crested Grebe, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Linnet, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, 

a week ago last sunday-a newcastle long weekend, and it rained

Having visited some of my parents Friends before hand and then pulling over at a house from some Friends from church, we had spent Saturday evening moving, and settling in near Newcastle. Morning dawned and thus we spent a rewarding Sunday in a small terraced house mentally preparing ourselves for a long journey home. The night before we had decided that, provided the weather was decent we would go to the beach. Sadly the beach was not decent and as a result we found ourselves with no possibilities for the day. Lindisfarne was cut off until 11.00 and we needed to be going by then so that was a none starter, but we decided that we would travel down the coast until we found somewhere to stay. We came to Bambrough and decided to pull over for a stroll around the town.

The rain continued to pour. My mum made me don my coat to keep dry. I really dislike wearing my coat, although practical, it is difficult to wear, stiff and full of fossils with a smelly pot with a dead rabbits skull in the bottom pocket. Never-the-less I wore it any way and braved to weather for a walk around the town. The castle that overlooks the town is an impressive feature in the local landscape but all was not in vain, I got a First!. yep, we were just rounding a corner and, whoosh up the road came a swallow, closely followed by more. I believe that it is something of significance to see a swallow in October, just like a September swift, and so I was overjoyed To actually have something out of the dismal walk, and whats more is that I have never seen an October swallow before. They were sadly moving too fast for the camera but I got a record shot, to be expanded on next time I see one.

The walk there ended ungracefully withy the rain continueing to pour relentlessly and generally everyone becomeing more miserable. The next stop was seahouses, which is my top spot for eiders, which sit in harbour right in front of you, however I have only ever been here in spring so october may have limited options for birdlife. We pulled over at our usual carpark and my family went shopping (ugh) and I went to the docks. There were no eiders in their usual spot. however a nice rock pipit came and landed quite near me, which is also my october first, and allowed me to get some decent shots!

I went for a look over the sea wall to do a spot of sea watching, especially for Sabine's gull ,little shearwaters and ivory gull but allas none could be found. I did however spot a dark bird, duck, on the water which was diving. I have never seen an eider dive before and I guess that was what set me off thinking scoter. I was getting all excited as it did many things That I had never seen an eider do but sadly photo evidence denied me my scoter tick and the bird proved an eider. That did however prove that there were eiders in the area, and my hopes for finding a photographable one increased!

However on the sea wall I spotted a wagtail singing. Its song was very beautiful and I came for a closer look. Inspection revealed quite a pretty bird which was actually (I think) and Alba wagtail, and this is by far the best view I have ever had of one of these.

After watching the wagtail, I decided to move from the main pier to the second pier, which juts out into the harbour bay, and it was on hear that I found my eiders. There was a group of about 5 females with one fabulous male. A couple of birds, including the male, broke away from the pack and began to swim towards me.

This was just what I wanted for the photos and Began to snap away. The female drifted away but the male came and swam right past me, it really was a spectacular bird, I have not seen a full male bird for about 5 years, only females and eclipse males.

I returned to the female group to get a photo of one of them. At once they came towards me, hoping for a piece of bread (I told you that this was one of the best places to see eiders, they are just like mallards at Ogden water). They kept coming closer all the time, but then when I produced the camera (form within my jacket, protected from the rain) they beat a hasty retreat and the only photos I could muster were of the birds behinds!

The wagtail continued to sing from the sea wall and continued to allow me to take photos, which is always nice of such a pretty bird!

In returned to my position overlooking the sea wall. A stretch of beach had accumulated and with it had come some autumn waders. Primary of these was a stunning turnstone that landed on a rock right in front of me. I have never really got any decent turnstone pictures but this certainly fits the bill.

Sadly it didn't stick around and it quickly left, leaving me only with the photos above and this one below, off its departure.

The local gull mob offered lots of entertainment as they trotted up hopefully towards me only to realise that tourists don't eat fish and chips in the pouring rain. Even so, encounters like this really let you appreciate the size of the greater black-backed gulls, huge!

And then a real surprise, a swallow whizzed past my line of sight and landed on some sheltered power lines between two buildings. If there was ever a better opportunity of photograph swallows then it was this, and October swallows two, in appropriate weather! I crept up cautiously but they didn't care at all and I was able to walk right under them without them batting an eyelid. I say them because there were three roosting on the wires and I could get really close.

The bottom photo strikes me as being a juvenile because of the faint gape. This therefore suggests that these birds may be this years young and that they are staying a while to fatted up. It is a humbling thought, that in less than 1 hour from this encounter they could be flying all the way to Africa.

I returned to my vidual at the sea wall and at once I spotted the turnstone again, and this time he had another three for company. They were quite happy rummaging through the seaweed but sadly they did not come as close as before and so the photos were difficult.

My parents came to join me having finished their shopping and as I turned around I spotted five swallows sat on the wire. They really have a humbling story and to see them like this is just phenomenal.

The wagtail remained on the sea wall and I could take some even closer photos adding to my ever growing collection of this particular bird.

A last trip down the pier found a cormorant washing in the harbour but it began drifting away from me and so none of the photos came out well

A last look over the sea wall before we left gave me a another stunning eider in a more natural environment, resting from the torrents against the beach. A great reminder of why this place is so special.

And so we left the eider central of Britain, having seen a fair haul of the black and white, and brown, birds to put on my year list. A daunting journey was lying ahead and, as a result, we headed off home. All this has surly made up for the rotten weather that we have had. I may comment that it still didn't stop, I shall explain the irony of it stopping in the second half of this remarkable rainy day...

-To be continued-

...we decided that we would have to stop somewhere to have lunch but nowhere convenient turned up. eventually we had to pull off the main road and search for somewhere. The rain continued to pour relentlessly. Eventually we found a brewers fair restaurant and decided to stop. Even as we pulled into the car park I knew that our day was not over yet. The restaurant was right next to a great lake at the local country park. There was a dock, almost directly opposite the restaurant and sat on it were giant cormorants. My parents would let me go and get them until I had decided what to have, so I had to wait a while to see if they would stick around

Luckily they did and I was able to get some reasonable shots, only the catch was that the inside of the camera had condensed up. What could I do, all my hopes for the cormorants were surely dashed. I decided to remove the lens and check how back it was and luckily the cold air rushed into the camera and quickly cleared it up-crisis over!

I tried to sneak up to the cormorants but they were rather flighty and did not need a second invitation to go into the water.

I did manage to get my best ever cormorant shots which was bonus and I continued taking photos until I lost them, as they drifted away.

There were also plenty of swans and black headed gulls around, perhaps because they have learnt that people leave food here. amongst the normal pond birds I also managed to spot a widgeon but this was even more flighty than the cormorants and I got nowhere near.

I decided to go for a little stroll around the woods surrounding the lake and I managed to find a flock of long-tailed tits which came quite close but only breifly and so I failed to get any shots as they dashed between trees.

I was just returning to the restaurant becuase my brother had told me that food was ready when I encountered an old black and white fiend strolling pompously on the grass. Yes, you may have guessed that a magpie had been waiting there just for the right moment to mock me. I took a distance shot but, as so often happens, the bird flew off before I was within 5 meters.

after lunch we were just setting off home when blue sky appeared over the trees. the irony was sickening and from that point we continued our journey home under a cloudless blue sky and 20 degree heat. What were the odds???