Fly Flatts a.m.

                                 Several Commons in with the Herrings

A cracking morning weather wise at Fly Flatts with wall to wall blue sky and sunshine on a light NW>4 though birding was quiet with gulls keeping the show going.
                                                           Around 46 Herrings went through along with 16 Commons all
>NE but several at distance over the moor then crossing the water at the north end to disappear over the Nab.
31 Mallard were on the water along with 2 Canada geese whilst around 30 Golden Plover flew low from the Flat moor towards Nolstar but not to be re located on the way home.
Not much bird wise but a good morning to be out even at 0 degrees.
BS

Evading the storm, Leeshaw Reservoir.

                                    Masses of Starlings

                                           A good passage of Herring gull

                                          Greylags moving about

                                          Plenty Redwings in the fields

           Along with Fieldfare. Redwing left, Fieldfare right

                                           Fieldfare

                                        4 Cormorants on the far shore

                                               1st winter Herring gull

                                    Plenty Meadow Pipits

Seeking some shelter from the strong NW>6 gusting 7  I dropped down to Leeshaw reservoir with a very hectic hours birding and plenty selection although untoward.
                                                         The surrounding fields were full of winter thrushes and Meadow Pipits with masses of very mobile Starlings moving around field to field.
Plenty Greylag geese coming and going but only 1 Canada on the water.
                                                              Herring gulls were the bird of the watch all passing through >W with some stopping briefly on the rough water where around 300 Black Headeds were riding the waves.
Amazing how this splendid winter venue provides such a variety of birds compared to Fly Flatts just 10 minutes away at the other side of the Nab.

1 Canada goose
41 Greylag
4 Cormorant
28 Fieldfare
c 200 Starling
38 Herring.......................>W
2 LBB.............................>W
c 300 Small gulls, blogging
9 Mallard
c30 Meadow Pipits
14 Redwing
BS

Iced off at Fly Flatts, back to Ogden.

                                   2 Herrings being seen off by a LBB

                                                Common gull

  Some Black Headeds have retained their hoods throughout
                                                    the winter

A bright clear morning with the only problem being the strong NW>6, or so I thought until I tried to access Fly Flatts first light. Cold Edge road was dicey but when I got to the wind farm the road was sheet ice and impassable so it was an about turn and drop down to Ogden which luckily was reasonably quiet, public wise for a Sunday.
                                                                A check on the west bank Alders failed to find either Goldfinch, Redpoll or Siskin which had probably stuck to the shelter of the woods so it was just down to a Dipper by the waters edge briefly , the Kingfisher down by the sluice gates and gulls on the water. Around 50 small gulls were present along with 2 Herring gull until a Lesser Black Backed came in and sent them packing.
BS

Shopping versus Birding.

This afternoon was yet another day when shopping out weighed birding by producing more ,or better birds, than the morning and afternoon  birding sessions put together.
                                                       First was a Sainsburys Halifax shopping expedition where the Rowan trees in the car park are now clear of berries with one despondent Blackbird alone in a tree wondering where his winter supply of berries had gone.
As we came out of the store 2 Buzzards were over the car park heading >NW very high and direct.
                                                  On then to Matalan where 2 Brambling were briefly in a tree there in the car park before heading across the road into the grounds of the Parish church. A move on then to B & M with a Pied Wagtail in the car park and several Goldfinch in the trees. This was the worst shop as we came out with rolls of wallpaper and tins of emulsion, looks like someone is going to be busy.
Many years ago my Mother bought some tins of emulsion and one evening my Dad said,  " Do you want me to start on the decorating tonight" ? to which my mother replied
" Well it waint jump out ot tin an put itsen ont wall will it", I,ve never forgot that.
                                                           So, on the drive home 4 Pinkies flew overhead at Crow Point appearing over Ringby Top and heading >W. A good afternoon birding without going birding.
                                                           1430 hrs and conditions at Fly Flatts were as this morning but clear visibility and a strengthened SW>6.
Still pretty quiet but more showing than this morning although the decent move of Pinkies around the area had dried up.

3 Raven
2 Buzzard
8 Red Grouse
1 Cormorant  high and >NW. an unusual sighting for this area.
3 Herring gulls  >W

By 1530 hrs the sky was black as night and the rain came down in stair rods.
BS

                                                               

Fly Flatts a.m.

Terrible conditions at Fly Flatts this morning with a howling  SW>5 and banks of fog moving through. By 0930 hrs heavy drizzle was coming across off the moor.
                                                                  Very little bird wise not surprisingly in the conditions with just 4 Mallard on the water , 3 Kestrels over the west banking as well as 2 Carrion Crow whilst a single Stonechat was at the north end of the boatyard.
                                                                   Annoyingly , on the way home, everywhere else was bright once I got away from that dreaded western ridge.
BS

Mixenden Reservoir

                       1 pr Goldeneye and 1 f Goosander.

                          Always at the opposite side of the water.

1500 hrs with the miserable weather continuing throughout the day Mixenden was slightly better being sheltered from the NW wind but still very dark and drizzly.
                                                            A pair of Goldeneye were still present, this being about the only location for this species this year, whilst the long staying female Goosander was moving around with them but all 3 staying at the far side of the water.
Two Moorhen were moving about under the west bank and 2 Cormorant left the water heading >N.
                                                             A mix of around 60 Commons and Black Headed gulls were on the water whilst 4 Herring gulls dropped in briefly before moving off  >SW.
                                                             Just a word of warning for dog walkers that have free running dogs in the woods at Ogden. Wire snares are being found set up by poachers for Roe Deer and are equally as dangerous to dogs running in the woods. Warden Chris says all the snares found have been up the Ogden Clough area so far and the police and Calderdale Countryside have been informed and have asked to be informed if anyone comes across a snare or sees anyone acting suspicious.
                                                              One of many good reasons why I neither mention or put photos on my blog of  Deer, Foxes, Hares or Badgers which eliminates any chance of giving their locations away.
BS.

Ogden

            Several Goldfinch in the Alders

                Kingfisher way down in the dark sluice gate 

On a real miserable morning with a strong NW>5, heavy drizzle and rain with dark skies and fog on the tops I had a quick check on Ogden to see if anything new had appeared on the water, its well overdue a Goldeneye there this year.
                                                      The water just held the usual small gulls and Mallards but good to see the Kingfisher way down at the bottom of the sluice gate which took some finding.
Around 30 Goldfinch were on the Alders along with at least 2 mobile Siskin but unable to locate the Redpoll although I did,nt go all the way round the water.
Otherwise it was just the usual Robins, Wrens , Tits etc.
BS

Back home to Fly Flatts

                                             Frozen water

                                      About 25% frozen

                                    A few vocal Red Grouse present

                                       Good move of Herring Gulls

                                           Appearing through the mist

Biggest part of the afternoon free today so up for another shot at the frozen Fly Flatts.
The track had partly thawed due the water board vehicle 4x4 tracks and at 3 degrees I knew it would,nt get any worse so a tongue in cheek drive down to the water in the hopes of getting back up again but with a bag of rock salt and a shovel in the car I felt pretty confident. Luckily I did get out no problem at the end of the watch.
The water was 25 % frozen and the cloud base was low with patches of fog moving around but leaving plenty pockets of clear blue sky on a NW>3.
                                                  Quiet along the west bank with just a few Mallard and the usual pair of Teal plus some very vocal Red Grouse .
                                                        Back at the car for 30 minutes sky watching was when the action started with Herring gulls coming out of the mist and over the water heading >NE. A count of 64 before it dried up with several showing signs of argenteus.
                                                          A fast flying Snipe towards the flat moor was a surprise for up there at this time of year, most , if not all having moved away for the winter , and the first I,ve seen since late autumn.
A decent watch and good to get back on site.
BS

Leeshaw Reservoir

                    Plenty over wintering Meadow Pipits

                                          Around 200 small gulls present

                                           Several Fieldfare

                    Distant Little Owl

Tuther side ot  Nab to Leeshaw reservoir on a grey but decent morning on a light NE>3 and keeping below the cloud base that was blanking out Fly Flatts.
                                                                           Always plenty to see here though nothing special showed up, the highlights being Meadow Pipits, Fieldfare and my first Little Owl of the year with only a single sighting last year although its not something I go looking for. Still plenty snow there and icy walking but bird able.

c 200 small gulls
18 Herrings...............>W
32 Meadow Pipit
48 Fieldfare
2 Cormorant
3 Mallard
1m Goosander
4 Canadas
1 Pied Wagtail.
1 Little Owl
BS