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...

Elland GP

-Bullfinch Males

So, I headed down to Elland GP this morning with the intention of finally getting a scaup. Did it turn out that way? Ahaha, No! Once more I was eluded by this mysterious duck! Fortunately I was not alone in my dipping, which is comforting, as usually someone else will see it, or it will reappear once I left.
  However, dwelling on the unseen is a waste of time, so lets dwell on the seen. It was a lovely, but blustery day. First I went to the feeding station to see what was about:
-At least 7 bullfinches, but probably more. Stunning birds, great to see them so close
-1 GS Woodpecker, my first of the year
-3 LT Tits, also my first of the year
-Robins
-Blue tits
-Great tits
-Coal tits
-Blackbirds
-Chaffinch
I then spent about an hour running around the ski lake trying to find a scaup but to no avail. Sadly I failed to find it. However, there were plenty of other birds on this wander:
-6 Tufted Duck
-5 Cormorants
-3 Goosander
-1 Little Grebe
-Black Headed and Common Gulls
-Coots and a moorhen
So that ended my little scaup quest, failed, but plenty of other nice things seen!

Soil Hill - Again

-'Blackcap'

This is my first trip up to the hill since I got back. Oh how I have not missed it. Surprise, surprise today's trip produced a grand total of no birds, at all. On the way up though I had a bit more success, including a large flock of fieldfares, my first of the year, and a male blackcap which I am thinking is probably the same one that we have had in the garden. It was with a mixed flock, consisting of wrens, blackbirds, dunnocks, blue tits, great tits and robins

Bolton Abbey

-Goldcrest

-Nuthatch

-Goldfinch

Nice weather for a change meant that today we were going to Bolton Abbey for a walk. It was a lovely day too as it turned out with some great birds seen to get this years list off and rolling.
Initially we started slowly but by the end of the first section of the walk I had managed:
Blue Tit
Coal Tit
Great Tit
Robin
Blackbird
Woodpigeon
Feral Pigeon
Grey Heron
Mallard
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Rook
Magpie
Goosander
Goldfinch
Goldcrest
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
And the 2 finest specimens: Bullfinch and Mistle thrush
On the way back there was much less birdlife than on the way there, but still some great stuff to be had. Adding to the above list I managed
Common Buzzard
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Kestrel
So overall a very good and productive day.

Wycolle-New Years Day

Its been a while since I last left the house due to the atrocities of the weather. However, today we went as a family to Wycolle for a walk. The weather was truly horrendous. Horizontal rain did not make for ideal conditions, and as such the wildlife total was small. Birds included Wren, Pheasant, Mallard, Blackbird and blue tit, and a rabbit for the mammals. I think enough has been said here...

Return of the garden blackcap

So I was just loitering in the living room prior to us leaving for our new years walk at Wycolle when I spotted on the bus right outside the window the lovely male blackcap. But this time I had the camera. His stay was again short but I did manage to get some record shots to add to the gardens bird portfolio. Its very exciting having such an unusual bird in the garden. Photos to follow

Garden tick

So, the weather over the Christmas period has greatly reduced the amount and variety of bird species that have been around, and my chances of seeing them. However, this morning I was casually sitting in my living room when I spotted a male blackcap on the bush next to our birdtable. This is the first time I can recall having one in the garden so it was very exciting. Sadly its visit was only brief and the view I got was not great. After I had got the camera the bird was gone, so sadly no photos of this... historic record!

Fieldfares

So Tuesday morning and i'm just about getting back to normal life. This morning I spotted a large, maybe around 100 fieldfares in the field behind the house. Its probably the largest gathering of these birds the field has seen, though there seem to be larger gatherings every winter. There were some smashing views of them as the foraged around the short stubby turf.

Halifax

So I have only been back 2 days and already there seems to be plenty of wildlife around, not least hundreds of thrushes that have been around my brothers church in Pellon. Whilst waiting for him to come out of church I was able to watch fieldfares and redwings flying between trees and identify them too, even though they were flying. Its nice to be home...

Uni Week 13

So the last week before Christmas. Its weird to think I have only known these people for 13 weeks and yet here we are struggling to leave each other for Christmas. Somehow, my lectures managed to continue right until Friday, while many other people just finished their lectures on Tuesday, Wednesday and then went home. This left the accommodation in a state of serene quiet state, as well as the main campus. Somehow, everyone else quiet week turned into a pretty hectic week for me, with 4 assignments as well as continuing lectures leaving me with a constant stream of work that kept me busy.

Friday
Going home day. Prior to my leaving I happened to look out of my window and spotted a jay flying into the tree's on the other side of the road.
  The train journey meant guaranteed fun, and so it proved as there was a signal failure at Sheffield station which meant a chronic backlog of delays. Once it got going though I was able to enjoy watching numerous winter thrushes from the train window, and when we passed a fishing lake I was able to spot some tufted ducks on the lake