Birding is really hard work at the moment with even the Halifax grapevine near to drying up. The only birds I,m getting at the moment seem to be on shopping trips. Maybe I should give up birding and take up full time shopping although if I walked into Sainsburys with Big Bertha I,d probably get shot by armed police.
This afternoons shopping trip to Asda, Halifax took us past the traffic lights at the junction of Pellon Lane and Queens Rd where there were at least 4 Waxwings along with Redwings, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and Blackbirds in a very mobile flock working the Rowans between the lights and Rushton Street 50 yds on Queens Road by the grassed area, both of these areas have always been a hot spot for Waxwings in previous winters.
1445 hrs back at Fly Flatts with plenty visibility on a calm S>3, grey dark skies and a temperature of 6 degrees which had cleared most of this mornings ice.
As the norm lately things were very quiet on the bird front with nothing on the water other than 58 Mallard and 4 Teal whilst 2 Raven and 4 Carrion Crow were over the Nab and quarry area. No sign of the Stonechats today which may have gone to lower ground when the freeze was on but I,m sure they,ll be back shortly.
Only 2 Black Headed gulls present today feeding on the west bank and no sign of any big gull movement.
On a brighter note, with the sunset time for this area now at 1546 hrs that,s as low as it goes so after holding steady a couple of days the daylight slowly starts to lengthen with what is classed as the shortest day ( winter solstice) being the 21st although by Friday the daylight has already lengthened by 2 minutes which can make all the difference when I,m trying to photograph a flock of Snow Buntings on the west bank. Don,t laugh, it could happen!!!
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).