Vis Mig rained off

Very quiet today with the low cloud and heavy rain from midday followed by early evening fog.
BH gulls were moving over >NW early morning but in small numbers whilst a flock of 16 LBB gulls flew over the house at lunchtime all heading >E. Linnets and Goldfinches were feeding on thistle tops behind the Pineberry Inn at midday which coincides with DCBs mention of an influx into the area.
A report today from Ringby Top of increasing numbers of flocking Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and Skylarks.
Hope this rain does,nt start to fill up the reservoirs.
BS.

Gulls on the move

Gulls still filtering through

Old Bradford City Transport bus taken from Soil Hill yesterday.

No that old, I used these AEC back entrances for work in the mid 60s.

Gulls continued to flow through again today but in smaller numbers. The majority of movement was >NE though some were heading >S .BH gulls outnumbered LBBs today with several hanging about around foxhill park for a while. Swifts were still heading >S with 50 + over lunch time.

BS

Vis Mig Kicks In

Ingleborough from Soil Hill, above silly, not below.

Soil Hill Volcano, see guides Nigel or Brian for tickets.

Soil Hill this evening had a real taste of moving birds after a day of  heavy gull movement with a few Terns and waders thrown in. See DCBs vis mig blog tomorrow as he,s still at his watchpoint until 2230hrs.

LBB gulls were passing Soil Hill tonight in good numbers  mostly in from the SE low through the valley although some birds were coming into the Oxenhope reservoir from the N.

The BH Gull breeding sites have now broken up with several birds heading for the fields to feed and reservoirs to roost, ( 1500 ) at DCBs watchpoint this morning.

All the gulls were going through >NW with some going down at the reservoir and others continuing through.

LBB Gull................ 235   >NW

BH Gull..................51     >NW

Swift......................23     >SW

Several Linnets and Swallows,  bloggers

BS

Gulls Galore

Gulls back at Ogden

Plenty shoreline

Fly Flatts    0730-0830 hrs   Near gale force WSW>6 gusting 7. Heavy horizontal drizzle.

A quick once round the water was enough this morning in the atrocious conditions and keeping birds down in the shelter. The only early movers were Swifts all heading into the wind. Curlews were noticable by their absence whilst a few Golden Plovers still had well grown young following them around.

38 Swift  >WSW

5 Golden Plover

+ usual sp.

Ogden   0845-1000hrs  More sheltered with sunshine until dark clouds moved over.

A bit more pleasant in the shelter of the hill and nice to see the gulls returning to the now extensive shoreline.

 I thought as the title says that Id gulls galore until a phone call from DCB reporting an arrival of over 1000 gulls at his Oxenhope watchpoint. Passerines were very quiet.

151 BH Gull

4 Common Gull inc 2 juvs

19 LBB Gull

1 Willow Warbler

Few Robins, Wrens and Dunnocks.

68 Mallard + 5 very young chicks.

BS

Harp Lane to Dailie Fields

Black clouds over Pateley Bridge,far horizon, from Harp Lane

Black clouds appearing over Shipley Glen.

Black Hill above the old railway building chimney.

A single Little Owl was in fields below Harp Lane along with several Chaffinch in the hedges.

A few Linnet called as they flew over and a Gt Spotted Woodpecker was high in the tree canopy.

Gt Spotted Woodpecker has recently started visiting next doors peanut feeder which is a first for this area and a bird I have never had in the garden in 25 years of feeding here, Ive yet to catch it on camera.

Up to 14 Linnet were down the Dailie Fields showing a good breeding season in their usual spot of the bright yellow gorse bushes. A Green Woodpecker gave off its haunting laughter whilst a pair of Bullfinch were above the NW tunnel entrance. A Snipe was flushes down by the beck and several Swift and Swallows were  soaring overhead.

Black Headed gulls were filtering through with just a couple of LBBs.

A few Swallows were resting on the wires by Bridle Style farm which was once a favourite spot for Yellowhammers but those days are long gone.

It is noticable now that Swift movement on an evening has reversed and is mainly >S meaning the first of the Swifts are starting to move.

BS

Foxhill Today

Opportunist Crows, always a meal on dustbin day.

Crows this morning raking food out of a part opened bin before the dustbin wagon came round.

Several feeding Swifts around and a few Swallows nearly chopping you off by the knees when walking in the park. Good numbers of Black Headed gulls moving through >N now overtaking LBB numbers. Not long now before the autumn / winter resident Common gulls move back into the park area.

Managed a few Curlew calls going over >W the last couple of nights after last light, possible heading for DCBs roost.

When I mentioned perfect watching conditions the other night from home with dark sky to the east and sun setting to the west, 45 minutes of sky watching produced :-

14 BH Gull  >NW

17 LBB gull >NW

2 Common Gull >NW

3 Heron  >E

19 Swift  >NE

11 Swallow > all directions

6 Small wader sp E, poss Dunlin or Goldie but very high and distant.

Have a good birdie weekend.

BS

Wilsden Tonight

Wilsden this evening seemed a world away from Queensbury with the aerial activity taking place.
Swallows and Swifts were everywhere busy feeding over the fields, some skimming the ground whilst others were very high in the sky
Several BH gulls were moving in a NW direction along with LBB gulls.
A single Cormorant headed >E and a Heron headed low in the direction of Goit Stock.
This gull movement in numbers much higher that Queensbury records must be down to the fact that it is over moorland and within sight of reservoirs ?
BS

Queensbury Today

Not much excitement up here today with most of the day being taken over by heavy horizontal drizzle.
A few Swifts were around but the large influx of Swallows from yesterday had moved on leaving one or two feeders over the park. At midday 2 Song Thrush went over >NE which was a bit of an unusual sighting and this evening a Sparrowhawk cruised steadily over heavily mobbed by Swallows.
Starlings were out in force today filliing the rooftops in the village,this looks like flocking ready for dispersal.
Some good dark clouds to the east this evening and sun to the west creating perfect watching conditions so will have a dabble at a bit of skywatching from home to see if owt interesting comes past, will keep you informed.
BS

This and That

Blackberry Bushes in flower, a favourite fruit for birds

Still a few Curlews on the ground

Something to look forward to. Pink Footed Geese over Queensbury last autumn.

A few Swifts about today but resident birds feeding amongst a large number of Swallows over Foxhill at lunch time.
LBB gulls about most of the day in no special direction and 2 juv Common gulls flew NW at midday.
A Robin has returned to the garden feeders and 2 Dunnocks, all of which have been missing since the spring.
BS

Foxhill Today

Heavy move of Swifts at midday, again all >W but none showing by early evening.
LBB gulls are a common sight overhead now and are seen moving in various directions and settling in the fields to feed.
Post breeding Pied Wagtails are building in numbers around the area, some still with young in tow, up to 8 on the football pitches now.
Just got an uncomfired report from a reliable source of a Greenshank flushed from Ogden this morning which flew off towards the Oxenhope watchpoint where a sighting had been made over the weekend.
BS

Gales on Soil Hill

Only Woodpigs for company

Shelter from the sou'westerly

                                                   The watchpoint looking NE.

Soil Hill pm visit  1700-1800hrs  SW>6-7 near gale force, bright and sunny.
A pleasant hours watch up on the hill as long as you kept below the wall, whatever they do to the hill they can never spoil this amazing vantage point with a full 360 degrees now from the summit.The SE corner where the feeding station used to be is now some 12ft higher making distant viewing excellent.
LBBs continued to move through with a steady trickle of Swifts all being buffeted about in the strong wind.

Moving Birds :-

27 LBB gull  >N
14 Swift      >W
1 BH gull  >N
1 Heron   >E
2 Curlew  >W
BS

Breezy Fly Flatts

Curlews on the move

Common Sands can,t read.

Armada of Canadas

Fly Flatts  0715-1000hrs.  Strong SW>6 gusting 7. slight showers then sunshine.

A good morning early on before it quietening by 0930hrs.

Curlews were moving through with still one or two on the moor,whilst Meadow Pipits were starting to show signs of flocking ready for the big move. Swifts blazed through early doors which was probably a feeding party skirting the approaching weather front and the highlight of the watch was 2 Common Terns heading >NW which nearly got past me before I realized they were not BH gulls .

244 Canadas

2 Common Sandpipers

2 juv Grey Wagtails

3 Curlew on moor

8 Curlew >W

173 Swift >SW

2 Common Tern >NW

43 Meadow Pipits

8 LBB gull >N

BS

Leeshaw Reservoir

Plenty young Meadow Pipits

Leeshaw Reservoir evening visit.

Much quieter than the last visit with a lot of the summer residents moved on.  Meadow Pipits have bred well with several full grown juvs about. Movement was active with Curlews moving  west and a steady flow of LBB gulls heading north, several dropping off in the water to drink before moving on again, Herring, Black Headed and Common were also present on the shoreline.

12 Greylag

8 Canadas

1 Common Sandpiper

35 Lapwing

18 Meadow Pipits, mostly young

2 BH gull

4 Common gull

2 Herring gull

15 LBB gull     >N

5 Curlew       >W

Several Swallow and House Martin but no Swift.

BS

Out and About

Last suns rays over Wilsden

01/07/10  evening
Keelham
4 Mallard   >E

Well Heads
4 Grey Partridge
Sev Lapwings
1 Singing Skylkark

Mutton Lane, Wilsden
1 good House Sparrow breeding colony opp. Duke of York
2 Curlew poss with young
sev Swift, Swallow, House Martin
5 LBB gull   >NW

Flower Hill, Heaton
1f Blackbird with white primaries
6 Canada Geese  >E

02/07/10
Shelf Moor
2 Little Owl in and out of dry stone wall
3 Canadas
200+ Starling in field
12 Woodpigeon
3 Stock Dove
Plenty Swallow
3 LBB gull >W
BS

More House Sparrow news

Yet more nest building

The nest area

Just when I thought I was getting near to trimming the ivy at the back of the house before it blanks out the bathroom window the House Sparrows are refurbishing the nest  for a late third brood. Another pair in the same spot have already reared 3 broods as well as 4 pairs nearby under the eaves. About 40 young have fledged between our house and the neighbours on either side. Not bad for a bird in decline, although Queensbury has never been short of this species. Looks like the ivy is going to have to wait a while yet.

BS