Garden Birds

         Haven't been out this weekend with the weather been so bad,
         was gonna go to the Towton Battlefield Society memorial day
         but would've got wet through so bottled it.
         So thought I'd put a few pics of my garden birds on here.

Hirst Wood Walk

                   Met my old mate Chris T. today & had a nice stroll
                   around Hirst & Nab wood and a river walk, lots of birds
                   to be seen and heard but not easy to get pics of any.

                   5 Goldcrest
                   6 Nuthatch
                   1 Kingfisher
                   8 Wrens & 8 Meadow Pipits
                   6 Jay
                   Greylag & Canada Geese
                   6 Pied Wagtail
                   3 Grey Wagtail
                   1 Sparrowhawk
                   1 Oystercatcher
                   2 Treecreepers
                    Chiff Chaffs & Woodpeckers heard but not seen,
                    lots of Blackbirds & Tit family, Gulls & Corvids.

Whooper of a Day

           Nice wake up call this morning by 100's of Whooper Swans
           went outdoors with camera and another two flyovers by
           60+ of them honking away, it was great sight though.

           Went up to Soil Hill but very quiet apart from Pipits & Skylarks,
           2 Grouse and 1 large Raptor but only caught sight of it as it dived
           down the hillside, then went up to Fly Flatts but wished I'd have
           gone to Mixenden Res on the way as there were hundreds of
           Whoopers on the water, as soon as I got to Fly Flatts there was a
           Buzzard soaring and hovering and then a fight near the water
           between Greylags & Canada's the Greylags came off the best,
           I then went for a stroll on the moors up there and seen 6 Curlew,
           2 Wheatear and more Meadow Pipits and a Kestrel.

           Garden-:
                        10 Goldfinch
                         8 Chaffinch
                         4 Greenfinch
                         2 Dunnock
                         2 Collared Dove
                         2 Blackbird
                         1 Blue Tit
                         1 Wood Pigeon

Tour of my Area's

                Started at CBNR today and seen a Dipper in the first
                5 minutes which was a good start, was quiet at the feeding
                area until I put some food down & then it was a like being
                at a Boxing Day sale, loads of Bullfinch and the Tit family,
                3 Jays paid a visit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Moorhen
                were on the river & 2 Grey Wagtails, a few Chiff Chaffs down
                Tag Cut end of Cromwell Bottom, lots of Canada Geese and a
                flyover by 3 Heron, lots of Chaffinch and Robins and Blackbirds
                about & Reed Buntings and a Nuthatch at the Car Park.
               
                Went up to Soil Hill and just a few Skylarks & Meadow Pipits
                and 1 Kestrel but no sign of Snow Bunting and then up to
                Swalesmoor and it was just the same as Soil Hill but lots of
                Bullfinch, Chaffinch and Goldfinch at the bottom of Ringby
                Lane.
   

               
     

Cloudy Soil Hill & Fly Flatts

                  Went up to Soil Hill late morning to try and
                  see the Snow Bunting again but no sign of it,
                  but other birds were there 20+ Meadow Pipits,
                  Skylarks, 2 Curlew, 6 Lapwing, 1 Pheasant,
                  1 Fieldfare and 1 what looked like a Golden Plover
                  flypast.
                  Left there to go to Ogden Water but changed my mind
                  at last minute and went up to the road at Fly Flatts where
                  it was Cold and windy, 2 Golden Plover flyovers,
                  4 Curlew, 20+ Canada Geese, 3 Mallard, 1 Red Grouse
                  and a flock of what looked like Redwing over a field
                  opposite the Travellers Rest Inn not certain because i
                  was driving at the time.
                  In the garden I had 10 Goldfinch, 4 Greenfinch, 4 Chaffinch,
                  2 Collared Dove, 2 Blue Tits, 2 Dunnock, 2 Blackbird and
                  best bit of the day was a Short-Eared Owl in the back field
                  looking at me but flew off towards Shibden before I could
                 get my camera.
 

         

Swalesmoor after Work

                    Had a walk up Swalesmoor after work but not much to see,
                    a few Greenfinch & Chaffinch at bottom of Ringby Lane,
                    12 Linnet flying about and 4 Meadow Pipit's on highest
                    field, 1 Kestrel hovering nr the ski slope.
                               Garden had 10 Goldfinch on feeders arguing a lot,
                    4 Greenfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Dunnock and 1 Blue Tit and
                    a low flyover by 3 Whooper Swans going towards Northowram
                    or Oakenshaw where they've been seen congregating in Caldene
                    fields. Oh and two what looked like grouse flying off from
                    Ringby quarry.
 

Harriers ?

                    Not much to see today even the garden was quiet at TeaTime,
                    4 Greenfinch and 6 Goldfinch and the Collared Doves didn't
                    even turn up, but I did spot some Harriers but the running kind,
                    Had to take the kids down to Halifax Harriers running club, oh
                    and a Tawny Owl hooting every night and a fox screaming for
                    a mate.
               

Sunny CBNR and Low Bentley

               Went down to CBNR today for an hour after work
               on a nice sunny day and there were plenty of birdlife
               down there lots of the usual Bullfinch & Tit family,
               2 Goldcrest which was a nice find and a Jay came
               out to play and a low flyover by 4 Lapwing and what
               looked like a siskin at far end of viewing area,
                                                       Garden had the Goldfinch,
               Chaffinch, Greenfinch, and the regular stuff, 1 Kestrel
               in back field and a Raven flying overhead.
                                      Went to Calderdale Wildlife meeting
              tonight where Tim Melling of the RSPB was giving
              a talk and a slideshow with some great pics.
     
       

                                       





               

Wild & Wet Soil Hill

                Soil Hill late morning, no sign of the Snow Bunting or
                anything else for that matter, the wind was wild and
                it was pouring down so don't blame em for a no-show,
                seen a nice Stonechat on the way back down to the road.

                Garden-:
                             6 Goldfinch
                             2 Greenfinch
                             2 Chaffinch
                             1 Dunnock
                             2 Blackbird
                             2 Collared Dove
                             2 Blue Tits checking the nest boxes.
       

         

Soil Hill Delight

                  Had a walk up to Soil Hill this morning, hoping to
                  see a Snow Bunting that was reported up there and
                  to my joy i found it, was well chuffed as I've not seen
                  one before so it was a BIG 1st for me, also seen a
                  Kestrel, 2 Pheasants, Meadow Pipits & Skylarks.
                                                    Lots of other visitors up there
                  hoping to see the Bunting as well, Bruce,Dave L,
                  John and others.
           

               

Garden

                            Not been out last couple of days but the gardens
                            been busy once i've got home from work.
                                                              Lots of Goldfinch & Greenfinch
                           which I'm chuffed about and the two Mistle Thrush keep
                           Popping in but the Blackbirds aren't very happy about it.