Snow today

The snow that has been affecting most of the UK reached us today with about 5" on the ground when we got up. I guess we got away pretty lightly given the volumes of snow that some areas have been getting.
The birds were already on the feeders just before daylight and when I cleared some snow and threw out a few fresh apples, a Mistle Thrush came in to feed.

Also in the garden today were 12 Goldfinch, 9 Chaffinch, 2 Lesser Redpoll, a Dunnock and the GSW, plus 3 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit and 2 Coal Tit. 

More snow is forecast overnight so it sounds like I'll be out with the shovel again tomorrow.

Withens Clough

Walked over to Withens Clough this morning in the sun. It was cold (-2C) but good weather for walking. Lee Dam was almost totally frozen over so no ducks on there.

Stoodley Pike was looking good in the morning sun with a vivid blue sky behind

Got to the Long Stoop and couldn't resist a self potrait

Withens Clough had 3 Goldeneye (1 drake and 2 ducks) on the water but nothing else. It was about 50% frozen over with a thin film of ice.

Woodpecker

Snow on the ground today but not much, just a dusting really. It brought the birds into the garden though with 2 Bullfinches, 2 Lesser Redpolls and a Great Spotted Woodpecker heading the list.

Our second appearance on Mastermind went out on BBC last night, not as contestants though! We were in the audience when the show was recorded and 3 rounds were done at the same time so there is still another appearance to come. Wonder if we'll get appearance money from The Beeb?

Norfolk

Had a few days in north Norfolk with Robert, a good friend of mine. The weather was kind - cold but no rain, with plenty of sunshine.

We stopped off at Frampton Marshes on the way down and spent a great afternoon in the sun. We didn't see anything particularly special but the reserve is very well laid out and it was very pleasant to walk round it. A few Little Egrets and a probable Merlin were the highlights. Several Tree Sparrows were on the feeders by the visitor centre:

Tuesday we walked around the NWT reserve at Cley and were told that 2 Shore Larks were on the East Bank somewhere. After an hours search we eventually spotted them high on the bank giving good views - our first Shore Larks so well worth the time:

There were more Little Egrets at Cley too:

A wander to Wells Wood in the afternoon gave up Goldcrest, GSW and a Muntjac deer:

The following day dawned clear and bright and the Brent Geese were leaving for their feeding grounds. The sky was just full of geese.

Titchwell RSPB reserve next and the highlights were a Black Headed Gull that came really close...

Black Tailed Godwit feeding in a shallow pool...

plus great views of Redshanks...

A trip to Burnham Overy and Grey Plover was next on the agenda -

The following day was Holme-Next-The-Sea and a flock of about 40 Snow Buntings on the beach -

A most enjoyable few days and 64 different species - not bad for us in November. We found most people to be friendly and pleasant, apart from one ignorant sod of a birder who refused to reply after I asked him if he had a bird that we had been watching through our bins in his scope. He probably did as he'd set up just as I asked him, but by the time I got my scope on the bird it had just flown. People eh?!? Could have been a LEO but couldn't confirm id.

Rochdale Canal

A pair of Goosanders were on the Rochdale Canal by Shaw Bridge.

A Dipper, Moorhen and 2 Grey Wagtails were on the River Calder at Eastwood.

A few Norfolk pics to follow.

I'm Back

After a few days down in Norfolk I'm back home now. I'll post updates from Norfolk over the next few days.

Meanwhile back at the ranch we had a busy garden this morning with a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush and 2 Bullfinches all visiting the apple tree within 5 minutes of each other. Here are the Bullfinches (taken through the window so not very clear).

The Bullfinches and woodpecker flew onto the feeders to get some sunflower hearts before being scared off by the blasted feral pigeons that live around here. The Fieldfare went down onto the grass to peck at the apples for a short while.

Over at Lee Dam there were 14 Goosander (5 males and 9 females); 5 Teal (3 males and 2 females), a Moorhen and a Jay.

Garden feeders this morning

The Redpolls have returned at last. The last sighting of a Redpoll in the garden was on 11 September and 2 months later they have returned.

 I don't know where they go to for a couple of months but the same thing happened last year and the year before. Maybe the birds that were here through summer to breed have migrated and have been replaced by incoming migrants from Scandinavia/Europe.

The Great Spotted Woodpecker turned up again today, it landed on the peanuts at first then moved onto the sunflower seeds:

The Goldfinch flock that visits each day was up to 23 birds today, and as they can't all fit onto the feeders there is a commotion as they contest the available perches.
Just 2 Greenfinches and 3 Chaffinches today, together with a Coal Tit, 3 Blue Tits and 2 Great Tits.

The River Calder is still swollen and I saw 3 Grey Herons this afternoon as I walked down the Rochdale Canal alongside the river. No Dippers though.

Early morning walk and Lee Dam

Went for a walk early this morning down the Calderdale Way past Hunter Hill to Mixenden res. Lots of BHGulls and Common Gulls but no sign if the Little Gull that was here yesterday. The sun made a nice sight over Emley Moor though

There were 26 Goosander on Lee Dam this afternoon, with a Little Grebe. a Moorhen and 5 Mallards also on the dam.

Ringstone Edge res

A bright sunny day but the temperature was down a bit due to the Northerly wind. Loads of BHGull and a few Common Gull on the res as I walked up, but a female Kestrel caught my eye:

 Other birds -
c.350 BH Gull
c. 50 Common Gull
200+ Lapwing
c.30 Golden Plover
2 Tufted Duck

Busy Pike and Lee Dam

It was very busy at Stoodley Pike this afternoon with para-gliders out as well as a race going on:

At one point I was confused as a bird with different coloured wings and a large wingspan appeared....

Earlier in the day I walked over to Lee Dam and saw 2 Goldcrest, the bird with the smallest wingspan, tagging along with about 8 Long tailed Tits:

It was pity that the leaf got in the way otherwise the last pic could have been really good. Never mind, it still gives me something to aim for - to get a really good shot of a Goldcrest.

At about 9 this morning a large skein of Pink Footed Geese flew over the house heading East. By the time I'd got the bins and started counting they had flown on and I couldn't get a decent view, but there was easily over 100.

Withens Clough and Stoodley Pike

A walk over to Withens Clough this morning was uneventful with 37 Canada Geese on the res but nothing else showing at all. The footpath along the dam wall is closed, as is the path down to Cragg Vale so I walked up to the Pike instead. After all the recent rain, it was very wet underfoot on all the paths as this pic of the path to The Pike shows:

It is the hill itself that is called Stoodley Pike rather than the monument, but most people call the monument Stoodley Pike or just "The Pike" and so the hill and the monument have become synonymous.

Down the Pennine Way conditions were just as wet and when I got to the stream that runs down Stoodley Clough there was so much water coming down it was covering the stepping stones.

I managed to get over with dry feet though (thanks to the new boots!).

Rochdale

I went for a walk with John this morning starting at Queens Park in Rochdale along the River Roch and through the surrounding woodland in very warm, unseasonable weather. Although the walk was enjoyable with very good company, there were surprisingly few birds around, and only 7 Jays, a BHGull, 2 Mute Swans and a pair of Bullfinch showed themselves throughout a 2 hour walk. Spookily quiet.

Lumbutts

Got out before the rain started, but there wasn't much to see, apart from 3 Mistle Thrush on holly bushes (and grave stones) in Lumbutts Church yard.

At Lee Dam there was nothing on the water, not even the Moorhen. About 20 Long Tailed Tits were in the trees and I saw another 6 or so down Lumbutts Clough. A Peregrine drifted overhead and apart from the usual Mallards and Canada Geese on the canal - that was it.

High Street and Harter Fell

Walked up High Street and Harter Fell from Mardale in The Lake District on Sunday with 8 friends from my previous place of employment.

The day started off really well with good weather for walking, but when we got to High Street summit the clouds rolled in and the rain started. It was never torrential but it was enough to soak us through. Never mind, it was a brilliant walk and it was good to meet up with old friends and catch up on news.