Several birds have avoided me in 2015 around my area which I usually find through casual observations without going searching for certain species.
Waders have been the worst this year with high reservoir levels in the spring and no autumn birds dropping in despite excellent shoreline conditions at most waters.
A few Warblers missing as expected with me not being a woodland birder though most are usually turned up walking around the fringes of the plantation at Ogden. Another year with no Twite despite frantic feeding at Leeshaw, Fly Flatts and Soil Hill although out of my area Twite are still being reported so I,ve not given up hope for 2016 and will continue with the Nyger seed .
A disappointment with no Yellow Legged Herring gull which is unusual and not a Tern of any description despite a lot of effort put into gull movement.
Two of the common most birds not connected with are Kingfisher which was a breeder at Ogden for several years but no longer found there. Just the one sighting this year by DJS with a single bird down in the overflow but despite regular checks by me and others it never returned there.
The other commoner being Treecreeper which, after a years wanderings around Ogden, not a single bird sighted despite JL producing several photos on his blog of this species.
This could be down to the fact that I tend to watch the water and sky more than the trees although they are usually very vocal giving themselves away.
The following list is the commoner birds which I should have had during 2015 but missed out on :-
Red Kite
Osprey
Hobby
Harriers
Shoveler
YL Herring Gull
Common and Arctic Tern
Kingfisher
Waxwing
Grasshopper Warbler
Treecreeper
Brambling
Twite
Redpoll
Crossbill
All waders except, Snipe, Curlew, Whimbrel, Dunlin,Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper
Golden Plover, Lapwing, Redshank.
And thats without going into the unexpected or rarer species.
Oh well, soon be starting again for 2016.
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).