Swalesmoor - Ringby Lane / Top

15:00 - 15:45

A hot slog up to and around Ringby Top was a short affair, with the hot sunshine beating down and very little wind.

The corvid gang were sitting about with their bills open trying to cope with the heat, like me.

I did not expect much, but You never know, I kept telling myself on the way up.

My expectations were accurate with not much happening.

Birds:

3 Linnet.

2 Kestrel.

30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

And a few other sp.

Yesterday's high flying raptor did not garner any interest, so I guess it was a Sparrowhawk.

Bonny Tyler due at 8:00 am tomorrow - to complete the last piece of the kitchen tiling jigsaw - then there will be some cleaning I imagine.

It will be right champion to get back to normal.

Over the garden this aft.

High Flying Raptor

The kitchen makeover is nearing completion, but not much birding today.

A sky watch at lunchtime and late evening was about all I could manage.

A boiler, weather wise today with the highlight a Raptor over the house mega high,

Its probably a Sparrowhawk, but just in case its a Goshawk! I've posted the photos.

84 Gulls over this evening > N with a Kestrel, a calling Mistle Thrush as the evening gloom approached and 2 Blackbirds, one chasing the other, the second bird  seemed to be diving towards the first bird, but I could not turn them into anything else!

Amazingly warm when the 'lights went out' at 9:00 pm ish.

Fly Flats and Leeshaw Reservoirs

Sue fancied a run out in the car today, so after picking up a copy of the

Halifax Birdwatchers' Club 2019 Report from Woodelsford's near Mt Tabor we headed off towards Fly Flats.

The report is full of local bird sighting information with some graphs and some excellent photos.

It must be a labour of love, collating all the data and the printing of it.

Well done to NCD and the others involved.

Birds:

Fly Flats.

I did not bring the scope today, which was a big mistake, (its normally in my car but we are in Sue's car during the kitchen upheaval) with the water very low and the birds a long way from the top road.

Lots of traffic through here as well today!

Loads of Meadow Pipits flying about.

Possibly a Red Grouse calling (or a Pheasant) but I did not eyeball it.

A few Swallow.

Canada Geese and Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

A long, long scan along the field walls failed to find much else.

Leeshaw.

We carried along the road and had a quick look at Leeshaw Reservoir, Oxenhope.

10 Canada Geese, 15 Greylag Geese on the water.

5 Cormorant.

c6 House Martin with a few Swallows.

6 Linnets and a few Meadow Pipits.

Not a lot else.

Can you hear me mother?

Grouse or not?

Local Outing - Rose-Ringed Parakeet?

Not much birding of late, mostly watching the skies from the garden.

Yesterday a Green Woodpecker called from very close by, but I did not eyeball it.

c30 Large Gulls > N in the twilight.

A good few Swallows still feeding near the garden.

Kestrel.

This evening a walk up the local fields brought some interest.

Kestrel, 2 Little Owl.

c20 Canada Geese with 2 'odd ball' Geese that I am unsure of.

I was thinking they were Canada Geese but they appear to have pink legs so I'm undecided.

Possibly Canada x Greylag Hybrid.

My main birding book is somewhere under a dust sheet - bet you haven't heard that excuse before!

A very bright, light green, long bodied and thin bird flew past.

I got a good view of it but I was disappointed to only get a couple of poor photos before I lost it in trees.

I can only think it is a Rose-Ringed Parakeet?

Pied Flycatcher and Recent Outings

Yesterday:

We had a walk around the Crow's Nest Golf Course area.

Not a lot happening 4 Jay was the highlight.

In the evening a report of a possible Med. Gull had me take a walk down by Bradshaw Church, where is was good to bump into DJS on the same hunt.

Some enjoyable chat, a good number of Gulls but no Med Gull.

Today:

Taylor Lane:

A text very early doors (for me anyhow) from DJB of a Pied Flycatcher along Taylor Lane, gave me food for though. Another text later had me walking up there to meet DJB. 

2 Little Owl seen along the way.

We had a long wait before I manged to pick out the bird and I managed photo - a rare bird for me in Calderdale.

Thanks again Daniel.

Ringstone:

We had a drive out to Ringstone this aft. for a longish walk.

The weather having turned quite hot.

We seem to struggle finding the right paths here for a circular walk from the reservoir

Our OS map is somewhere under several dust sheets while the kitchen is being tarted up.

Anyway after the walk I had a look at the reservoir.

Birds:

Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull.

Sparrowhawk, Greylag Goose, 8 Pied Wagtail, Greenfinch.

Meadow Pipit,Heron, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Greb.

Goldfinch and Linnet in good numbers.

From the garden this evening.

6 Mistle Thrush Over.

Kestrel?

Lepton 3rd and Ogden 4th

Lepton 3rd August.

We had to make a visit to Lepton to get Sue's car fitted with a new part. It was covered by warranty which was a good do.

We took the opportunity to have a walk around the fields near the garage.

Some good views of Castle Hill and Emley Mast (if that's a good view?).

Birds:

Last time we were here I heard a Yellowhammer, this time I heard and saw two Yellowhammer distant / flighty but I did managed a few poor photos this time around.

Also seen 50+ House Sparrows in 2 groups.

Linnets also in good numbers.

Swift, Swallow and House Martin also seen.

Ogden this aft:

A walk around Ogden this afternoon found it windy and cool but most of the rain had packed in. 

Fairly busy today with people about and a bit less shoreline.

I had a look at Back Lane before walking around the water and walking home via Syke Lane , Ingham Lane and Bradshaw Park.

Birds:

As I was leaving Back Lane to slant across to the trees around Ogden a M.Green Woodpecker called and left the trees. I did pick it out a bit higher up which was pleasing.

Also here some small birds flitting about, hard to see and photograph were probably Willow Warbler and / or Chiffchaff.

In one photo the dark legs probably favouring Chiffchaff.

The usual Gulls on the water, but not many.

Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Mallards, Cormorant and one Great Crested Grebe was about it.

14 Magpie were in one field on the right of Ogden Lane as I set off walking home.

Nothing of note on the homeward journey.

A Kestrel flew over the house last evening with a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Ogden

I had a look at Ogden,(with very small expectation of seeing DJB's Green Sandpiper, that was seen over Soil Hill this morning!).

No joy with any Sandpipers.

I had a look at the Golf Course Area first where it was quite windy.

A male Stonechat and a couple of  Reed Bunting feeding young was the highlight of a mundane do.

A couple of Sand Martin were zooming over the stream as I passed the golf course practice green.

The circuit of the water was fairly busy with people and the usual Gull Species were present as far as I could tell.

2 Great Crested Grebe were on the water with 3 Cormorant knocking about.

A singing Chiffchaff and what looks like a Juv. Chiffchaff were also heard / seen.

Juv Chiffchaff probably

Best I could do.

It ain't too great- is it?

Pied Wagtail (Juv) possibly

Fly me to the moon.

(Last night.)