Monday, August 02, 2010

Sunday PM

Walk over to Gorple and back, unfortunately no sign of the Redstart or any spotted fly in the same area this year. Did have a nice female Sparrowhawk fly through though, on way to res from Colden a single Little Owl. Lower Gorple very disappointing with only a single common sand, 3 oystercatcher and a LBB Gull (though 3 more flew in as a walked away) highlight on the res being the sight of a female tufted with 3 newly hatched young and further up a probably 2nd female with approx 5/6 young. Brightening up my otherwise slightly unproductive walk were a family of Stonechats at least 4 though possibly 5 and with no sign of a male, great to see; my first in Calderdale this year! A couple I bumped into reported 5 kestrels up Walshaw hunting close together so another promising sighting of a bird we believe is struggling, I saw only a single bird down by the river which is where the Stonechat's were along with a grey wag.
Further back along the road 2 juv Wheatears mean't I was more than happy by the time I got home.

3 comments:

Jeff Cox said...

Steve D and myself saw a couple of Stonechats this afternoon up by Walshaw Dean catching flies around the top of a telegraph pole. Also saw the yellowest Grey Wag we've ever seen up there.

Steve Blacksmith said...

The tufted duck breeding records are significant. Two broods in one place! Anybody check if they bred at Ogden this year? They never used to be noticed breeding in calderdale, and were considered to be merely winter visitors, so status changing in the same way as goosander.

David Sutcliffe said...

Just a single sighting of Tufted at Ogden this summer Sreve so no breeding attempt as far as I am aware. A pair there yesterday but must be getting a bit late now!