With an attempt to get Twite back on the local bird species list I have now started spreading Nyger seed at Leeshaw Reservoir, Fly Flatts and Soil Hill each time I visit any of those sites.
Last year failed to get any reports from the above sites whereas going back before that Twite could always be seen .
Flocks of 20 - 30 birds were regular at Fly Flatts with twos and threes on Soil Hill and around 20 at Leeshaw. Oxenhope reservoir once produced a flock of 76 Twite on the reservoir wall during visible migration.
We know Twite are still in the vicinity with good counts at the other side of Halifax, Derby Delph etc so surely we should be able to pull some back in this summer.
With limited birding time I can only get around these sites occasionally so a bit of help is needed.
It would be appreciated if any birders visiting these sites, or a moorland site of their own, could take just a cupful of Nyger and throw it down to keep the interest flowing.
The seed needs to be on a gravel area for the birds digestion.
Shaun Radcliffe ( B.O.G.) has kindly appealed to the Bradford lads whilst Dave Sutcliffe tops up at Fly Flatts. Bradshaw John puts seed at Soil Hill and Leeshaw so a few more hands and we,re on our way.
Apart from Twite the seed can also invite other species for us to see.
Seed at Leeshaw is placed up the track towards the farm on the left in the gravel area where the farm machinery is.
Seed at Fly Flatts is placed on the gravel track just above the circular tower.
Seed at Soil Hill is placed up the main track just over the cattle grid by the large boulder
These are the 3 places I use for Twite but you may have your own patch of moorland , why not give it a try.
BS