A good start off to Jan 1st with the long staying Gt Northern Diver still present on Mixenden and the bonus of a single Snow Bunting at Fly Flatts in thick fog.
January also provided a Redshank at Fly Flatts, Siskins at Ogden and Tree Sparrows at Northowram.
Feb was a quieter month but some good skeins of Pink Footed geese over plus the Barnacle goose at Ogden.
March was a belter with 3 Goldeneye on Mixenden along with 244 Whooper swans and another 42 on Fly Flatts. Mixenden also produced a Gadwall whilst 2 Dippers and a Raven were found at Leeshaw.
April provided Ogden with a pair of Teal and a Common Scoter whilst nearby 3 Shelduck were at Fly Flatts. Upper Marsh, Oxenhope held 233 Golden Plover and the first Swallow appeared on the 8th.
The highlight of the month was 6 Ring Ouzels on Soil Hill.
May was another cracking month with Short Eared Owls at Fly Flatts along with a Whimbrel, Peregrine and Dunlin whilst a Sedge Warbler was at Soil Hill and Ogden provided a Cuckoo and Whinchat.
June brought several Long Eared Owl sightings and Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers were at Leeshaw.
July brought a second Whimbrel over Fly Flatts whilst a Pochard was on Ogden.
August was when the rot started to set in making it a real poor autumn throughout although it had its moments with a Little Egret at EGP whilst Taylor Lane, Bradshaw provided 2 Spotted Flycatchers and 3 Cuckoos.
Septembers highlight was a Redstart below Roper Lane and a Greenland Wheatear at Fly Flatts
October was saved with 2 Long Eared Owls on Soil Hill taking us into
November which surprised me with 4 Shelduck flying over the garage at Queensbury whilst a single male Snow Bunting was briefly on Soil Hill.
December ended the year on a low, although there are 2 working days left yet , the pick of the bunch being 2 Kingfishers at Ogden, 2 Buzzards at Fly Flatts along with a Short Eared Owl also at Fly Flatts.
So a good first 7 month then a downhill run to see the year out although if you get out there and stick at it you,ll always find a memory or two to take home with you.
BS
WEST YORKSHIRE BIRDING. BRIAN SUMNER. I am based at Queensbury and bird a patch within a 10 mile range of home incorporating 16 stretches of water, several plantations, a belt of woodland, stretches of river and canal and good areas of moorland. I specialize in upland birds, reservoir and sky watching. My local patch is Fly Flatts reservoir. Any reports can be sent by text or call to 07771 705024 or see profile for e mail address. All images on this blog are copyright.(2024).