Fieldfare

The Fieldfare was back in the garden this morning, fighting off the Blackbirds to get to the apples. It got its cumuppance later though as a squad of Starlings flew in and saw it off.

A great day on the West coast

Went over to the West coast this morning for a day's birding in Lancashire. Andy picked me up at about 06:15 and we got over to Lytham at about 07:45 just as the light was getting good enough to see by. It was freezing with a biting wind the whole day, but it stayed dry.  The target bird was Red Necked Grebe as one had been seen at Fairhaven Lake.

As soon as we got there Andy looked over the lake and said "there it is". I thought he was joking, but NO, there it was. The first photos taken were useless as it was too dark so we walked around the lake hoping the bird would still be there and luckily it was.

Where's its red neck? Well, it's winter init. In summer the bird has a red neck. Trust me.
Also on the lake were Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen and Coot.

Where next? It's only 09:15 and we've got the target bird already. Andy said he'd seen Ring Necked Parakeets at Lytham Crematorium. Where, I asked? The crematorium he said. OK.  So off we went. So, guess what.....there they were, 6 of them.

Not much else about (I would say it was a bit dead, but that would be in poor taste) apart from a Jay so, where next? Andy said an Iceland Gull had been seen at Preston Docks. We drive off to Preston Docks.

On the way we checked out a site down on the Ribble estuary at Warton. 2 Peregrine, about 20 Mute Swan, 8 Whooper Swan, lots of Shelduck and Widgeon.

We arrive at Preston Docks and park up. Get out of the car, walk up the car park and there just about 25 yards away is..... the Iceland Gull. I didn't believe it, and I don't think Andy did either. Easy this birding lark. However, it only stayed for about 10 seconds after we'd spotted it then it flew off. We waited for a while but it didn't return. We therefore chased off trying to find it. Looked on the river estuary but no luck, even though we threw in a few handsful of bread to coax any loitering gulls down. So we went back to the docks to see if it had returned. More bread later there it was!

We'd decided to give Marshside RSPB over at Southport a try so that was the next port of call. Not much about I'm afraid apart from a Merlin which Andy spotted from a good distance away. We went out towards the marsh to get a better view but it flew off of course.

Also there were Barwits, Cormorants, 1000's of Pink-footed geese, Greylag geese, Widgeon, Lapwing etc..

We set off home just as the sun was setting. A grand day out.

Home and Lee Dam

A female Reed Bunting in the garden today is the first of the year to visit.

Also:
4 Lesser Redpoll
Great Spotted Woodpecker
12 Goldfinch
9 Chaffinch
3 Greenfinch

Lee Dam was quiet today

with only 5 Goosander present

Elland Gravel Pits

Had a tour around the Halifax birding sites yesterday with Andy. We ended the day down at Elland Gravel Pits which is usually a hot spot for birds, although there weren't many about yesterday. We left just as the sun was setting.

A walk into Todmorden

I walked into Todmorden via Longfield the other day and passed the Unitarian Church. It really is a stunning building, packed with interesting features. I'll have to go back and take a proper look when I have a few hours rather than a few minutes.

6 Reservoirs

Had a walk around 6 of our reservoirs yesterday. Started at Lower Gorple, then Upper Gorpley, over to Widdop then to Lower, Middle and Upper Walshaw Dean.

The weather was fine with just a quick shower to cool me off and stop me thinking that Spring is not far away!

Upper Gorple res held no birds. Only the noise of the ubiquitous Red Grouse broke the silence on the moors as I made my way over to Widdop.

As I went down to the crossroads (cue song...) the sun came out, but the wind didn't cease. Off down the Pennine Bridleway to Widdop res.

Although I knew that Yorkshire Water had been working at Widdop res all last year and that the footpath over the dam wall had been closed, the sidn I saw stated that the car park was closed but didn't mention the footpath so I thought it was open. It wasn't! As I didn't fancy walking all the way back I made a detour round the wall, along the ridge then down and over the stream then up to the road to Gorple.

I had a picnic lunch of the sandwiches that Lin had made for me then set off to Walshaw Dean. There were 25 Mallards on the Lower res but nothing else apart from a Kestrel. Heading off past the Middle res the weather stayed fine.

As I got towards the end of Walshaw Dean Upper res this wall looked to be on its last legs but at least it was still standing. On reaching the farthest point away from the car, the rain came down. Sod's law, but it didn't last and as I approached the Upper res dam wall the sun broke though again.

An uneventful walk down along the Middle and Lower reservoirs gave me a chance to play with the camera and take shots of water running down the overflows:

I ended the walk by going down into Crimsworth Dean and at last a few birds were about. 6 Fieldfare and a Mistle Thrush singing, but it stopped and flew off making its rattle alarm call as I walked under the wire it had been sitting on.

A walk in the warmth

I took advantage of the relative warmth today and walked past Lee Dam, up to Longfield Dam and up to Gaddings Dam - and a damn fine walk it was too.

12 Goosanders (5 male and 7 female) were on Lee Dam along with 6 Mallards, but no sign of the Moorhen yet this year. I hope the bad weather hasn't claimed another victim. The ice is almost all gone now and I hope it stays away for a long time.

Up at Longfield there was no ice at all and 59 Canada Geese, 11 Mallards, 26 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Lapwings were on and around the water.

Up to Gaddings next and the temperature was a little cooler up there and there was still a covering of ice over most of the waters surface. Mist was rolling over the water, and Tod beach looked less than inviting with broken ice on top of the ice sheet where people had either broken it for their dogs - or for themselves - to go for a swim!

And finally, a view over towards Stoodley Pike and down to Lee Dam, taken on my way back home:

Brambling and Redpolls

Had the first Brambling of the new year in the apple tree this morning - a female.

Also there were 6 Lesser Redpolls around the feeders:

Withens Clough

Cold and icy this morning as I walked over to Withens Clough reservoir via Mankinholes and Lumbutts. Although there were a couple of Goldcrests at Lee Dam there was nothing else stirring, and the same was true over at Withens Clough too. The reservoir is still covered in ice:

Down into Cragg Vale there were a few small flocks of Long Tailed Tits but little else to see.

Mytholmroyd and the River Calder and a Dipper! Something to see at last! Onwards towards Hebden Bridge.

Blimey, what a quiet day. Very few birds around. Got past the Stubbing Wharf along the Rochdale Canal towpath and sat down to rest a while and along came a pair of Mallards. They displayed for a minute or so, heads bobbing and circling each other, then mated - we may have a very early clutch of ducklings here soon.

On to Eastwood Water Treatment Works and 5 Pied Wagtails were on the settling beds along with 2 Meadow Pipits, over 25 Black-headed Gulls and over 20 Jackdaws. Checked the Pied Wags out to ensure there weren't any White Wags in there and sure enough - there weren't.

Just short of a 12 mile walk and not very much to show for it, other than a good feeling of being out in the open air for over 4 hours.

Tuesday 4 Jan 2011

Snow on the ground again this morning as we awoke. The base of the monument on Stoodley Pike was shrouded in mist as I walked past.

A couple of Jays and 3 Goosanders were at Lee Dam, while back home we had 2 Goldcrests in the fir trees, one of which had a peck at the fat balls in the feeder. Lee Dam was still mostly frozen but there were two ice-free areas where the water runs into the dam.

Good start to the New Year

A good start to the new birding year with A Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush in the garden early on.

23 Goldfinches, 13 Chaffinches, 4 Greenfinches and 3 Lesser Redpolls were on and around the feeders, and a grey squirrel appeared and ran off with a piece of apple.

Went for a good walk to Stoodley Pike, over to Warland reservoir, across to Gaddings Dam and down to Lee Dam with not a single bird of note all the way round, until Lee Dam where a Goldcrest was flitting about. Nothing on the water today and ice is still covering most of the surface.

Back home a couple of Ravens flew over the house, then 74 Redwings and 3 Fieldfares landed in the fields behind the house.