Some pics I took of the 1000's of Pink Footed Geese
that flew over Calderdale the other day, a fantastic
sight even the neighbours were impressed, also lots
of Redwing & Fieldfare were flying over, garden had
50+ Goldfinch and 2 Wren and the regular visitors,
2 Jay have started to be seen regularly in the back field,
and a Raptor what looked like a Harrier being harassed by
a Raven high up above Claremount, it was late so all I got
was silhouettes but the Raven could be heard Kronking.
Took a trip to Oxenhope watchpoint on Monday morning
to see the migration flocks after an invite by HC and I really
enjoyed it DB was also up there with his vast amount of
knowledge, 2 Raven, 600+ Redwing with a few Fieldfare
mixed in with them, 20+ Meadow Pipits, 16 Goldfinch, a
Juvenile Peregrine Falcon chasing Jackdaws and pigeons,
it was bitter cold but thanks for the invite and company HC.
The afternoon produced 3 Stonechat on Hag Lane and the
garden had LTT's , 20+ Goldfinch, 2 Bullfinch, 4 Chaffinch,
Wren, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Starlings, Blue, Great and Coal
Tits, 4 Greenfinch, Sparrowhawk in the evening, and a couple
of Blackbird.
This morning was a bonanza of the same birds in the garden,
a Jay flypast 3 times and 200+ Redwing flew over the back
field also known as Pepper Hill flying East towards Shibden
Park. also 2 Collared Doves and a Wren and Dunnock.
Took a trip to Collingham nr Wetherby on Wednesday
to look for a reported Hoopoe a bird that Ive never seen,
after tooing and froing whether to go or not I thought I'd
better have a go as I might never get to see one again, so
I set off hopeful and how glad was I that I made the effort
the bird showed as soon as I got out of the car, what a beauty
and such a compromising bird, had a half hour watching it,
until the throngs of birders and snappers turned up even blocking
the road so I thought its time for me to disappear, but what a
delightful bird and well worth the effort.
Had a report last week of a Black Redstart up at Soil Hill
so had to go have a look for myself, 3 birders were
already up there DjS, AT, GR was nice to see them,
bird showed at a distance the first 5 minutes up there,
but then had to wait an hour for it to return, was only
a young one but still nice to see even at distance.
