Hornsea, South Cliff this morning

A walk on the cliff top in the calmer conditions following a blustery weekend was a real pleasure. The sun was shining early on and brightened up the whole place. It also provided good lighting for viewing the birds. Although nothing spectacular turned up, 4 Redwing flew in off the sea and joined about 10 Reed Buntings and the many Blackbirds in the hedgerows.

The Stock Dove was in its usual place and a Kestrel was on the look out for breakfast. Nowt much on the beach apart from 3 Common Gulls and the usual Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls.

Winter Thrushes

I walked up to Walshaw Dean today looking for winter thrushes hoping that they had arrived this far inland following the mass arrival on the East coast on Monday.

Although the mist was stuck at about 700 ft, visibility was OK horizontally, but I didn't go up any further than the lower reservoir as the mist closed in too much.

Walshaw Dean house
Blackbird - 4
Song Thrush - 2
On the water
Canada Goose - 5 and Mallard - 15 (incl 2 hybrids)
Little Grebe - 1 (first one I've seen up here as the habitat isn't exactly ideal with open water and no vegetation at the water edge)

Red Grouse - 2 calling

Walshaw Plantation
Coal Tit - 4
Treecreeper - 1

Blake Dean
Grey Heron - 1 preening by the stream and doing a good job of trying to tie itself in knots
Fieldfare - c.35 overhead, flying to and fro but not landing or calling. There are plenty of Rowan trees here all of which have berries but obviously the birds weren't hungry. Perhaps the mist had forced them down and they couldn't decide which way to go?! They eventually disappeared downstream in the direction of Hardcastle Crags.

No Redwing although plenty were seen and heard locally this morning.

Oktobermist

Walked over to Withens Clough reservoir this morning. I set off in the all-enveloping mist but the sun broke through as I gained height over the hill.

On the way back 45 Pink-footed geese went over flying West.

Mankinholes just clearing of mist while Todmorden in the valley is still covered

It isn't often Withens Cough is like a mill pond...

The Te Deum stone at Withens Gate

Sparrowhawk

The weather here in West Yorkshire has been appalling recently with torrential rain and strong winds. Here is one of our local Sparrowhawks doing its best to stay upright in the teeth of a gale. It landed on the wall at the back of our house where we haven't seen it before - it usually lands in the tree or swoops through the garden past the bird feeders lookng for prey.