Birds returning

Had a nice surprise on Tuesday with a male Pied Flycatcher singing away at one of my sites and it has a ring on so we will have to see if its one from last year or a new bird, also Common Sand Piper seen today with ring on . So nice to think it has returned from Africa again to breed up here in Calderdale.

Out With Theo on Wednesday at OGP and we had a Good morning with a variety of species,

Wood Pigeon, Song Thrush, Black Caps, Gt Spotted Woodpeckers, Bullfinch, Gt Tits, Blue Tits, Dunnocks, Tree Creeper, Chaffinch and Coal Tit.

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Ducks taking over

Out with Andy today checking more of our boxes. One with Barn Owl Pellets in, so a good sign that they have used it for the first time. 1 Tawny with two chick ringed another box chicks to small at the moment. Another two boxes with Goosander in, one on eight eggs and just as we reach the other the young were hopping out of it, talk about timing. They must be the smartest looking chick there is. Stock Dove ringed in another box and 2 Lots of Jackdaws in some more.

Great Morning.

And i must say well done to Mr Andy Jowett for getting his A permit, much deserved.

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Back from Hols

Back from Holiday , and on with the cause. More Linnets ringed at Ringstone with a retrap from last year also my First Warblers of the year Two Willow Warblers ringed at ringstone, just as i was packing up heard a Sedge Warbler rattling away from behind the cow shed didnt catch it but quite a rarity these days in Calderdale and nice to see.

Two more new Twite individually colour coded at Whiteholme bringing the total up to 71 new birds this spring, and a visit to Deer Hill was none eventful no birds at all.

1 Cracking Male Wheatear ringed at Whiteholme this week and that was it, out with Andy on Sunday checking Barn Owl Boxes so watch this space.

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Blackbird Has a Baby

Seen for the first time, the first of the new arrivals, in the shape of a young Blackbird. It was following it's dad about the garden, learning it's way around and stopping at intervals to receive a tasty snack.Today I observed Mr Blackbird busy collecting morsels of food and flying onto the rear fence then into the Holly bush, obviously feeding the youngster or youngsters who were being kept

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Grey Heron and a Moorhen

It was mid morning yesterday when I heard this tap tap tapping coming from above. I knew it was Mrs Pecker, but I did not realise that she was trying to attract my attention, until that is she went to the top of the stairs and shouted me."Come here quick" she cried.And quick I went, as quick as I can do quick that is. Through the rear bedroom window she pointed out the Grey Heron that was perched

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Bull Finch

Mrs Pecker has spotted a pair of Bull Finches. They appeared in Ron's behind then flew down the gardens to Phil's (4 gardens down) where they fed from one of the bird feeders he has hanging there.I would like to point out that when I said the Bullfinches appeared in Ron's behind, I meant the garden of Ron who lives behind us.We have only seen Bullfinches once before in our garden. That was one

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American Golden Plover

I went to see the AGP on Breydon Water, Great Yarmouth today. The bird was showing really well, on the near grassy sandbank west of the bird hide. At one point it did a full side-on wing stretch and showed off it's grey underwing very well. I've captured it doing another wing-stretch, slightly at an angle, but the grey axillaries can still be seen. The bird's starting its body moult now and a few dark marks can be seen on the belly.

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Last few days

Sunday morning spent with Andy at OGP where 7 new Brambling were ringed with a Reed Bunting few new chaffinches and more Bullfinch. The afternoon spent filling my belly at the farther in laws in Thackley. Where it is rude not to put a net up. Collard Dove , Greenfinch,Robin, and Chaffinch ringed.

Last two days between sites yesterday at Ringstone edge in the morning with 5 more Linnets ringed in with Goldfinch and Greenfinch then on to whiteholme reservoir where 4 more new Twite were colour ringed and one of Nicks Nestlings from last year was controlled.

Today morning spent at Deer Hill with 25 Twite caught 10 new birds. The Dingle bird i controlled last October in Rishworth Quarry was re caught at Deer Hill today.

Then on to Ringstone this aft where the Linnets didn't want to play, as i was about to pack up a bird flew down to feed so i pulled the pins on the woosh net and would you believe it another new TWITE.

Bringing the total for individually ringed birds for this spring to 69.

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Twite numbers going up

Supported by the Kirklees Environment Grant Scheme

At Deer Hill This morning 44 Twite seen . 35 Caught . 10 new birds ringed . A 2004 bird caught with 11 2008 birds and 13 2007 birds.

Then onto Whiteholme reservoir. Where numbers have been a bit quite. 14 New birds ringed today with no retraps.

49 New Twite have been individually colour ringed so far this spring. All part of the monitoring for the RSPB/NE Twite Recovery Project.

2004 Twite light pink over black/ white

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Calderdale gets busy

The start of the week i was out ringing Twite at Rishworth, 3 new birds ringed with 6 retraps from 2007 and 2008. On to Deer Hill where 30 Twite were seen and 5 new birds ringed

Also out checking some of my boxes, a nice female Tawny Owl ringed on Monday.

I went to Jerusalem farm on Tuesday thinking i would boost my March totals. Its amazing that a feeding station can be so quite, but it is spring. 9 birds ringed. Chaffinch,Coal Tits, Blue Tits and Gt Tits.

So i packed up and went to Ringstone edge where i set up my woosh net and caught me some Linnets.

Out with Theo on Wednesday at OGP. 10 new birds ringed with 10 retraps. 2 Gt Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Brambling, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Robins, Dunnocks, Bullfinches and Chaffinches

Went back to Ringstone edge today and have now ringed 15 Linnets , 4 Reed Buntings and 12 Goldfinch here this week.

Other Birds at ringstone today Oystercatchers, Curlew, Snipe, Redshank,Golden Plover, Lapwing, BH Gulls, Meadow Pipits Canada Geese, Skylark. Reports of a large Raptor sat on wall near east Tower.

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