For all the photographers out there the RSPB are having a calendar competition.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/competitions/calendar.aspx
Friday, 27 February 2015
Quiet Today
Was very quiet today down at CBNR i think there was
more people than birds, a fair few photographers and visitors
but the wildlife was playing shy.
2 Jay
2 Robin
4 Dunnock
3 LTT
4 Blackbird
regular tit family but not as many as usual
but the Bullfinch were there in good numbers,
1 Heron preparing nest
1 Kestrel
And Allan the future chairman
4 Mallard on the weir
Nothing on the river
1 Juv Mute Swan, 4 Canada Geese on canal,
2 Nuthatch's by pond and Fox up by weir
spotted by other people.
Bullfinch
Jay
Kestrel
Allan looking serious
more people than birds, a fair few photographers and visitors
but the wildlife was playing shy.
2 Jay
2 Robin
4 Dunnock
3 LTT
4 Blackbird
regular tit family but not as many as usual
but the Bullfinch were there in good numbers,
1 Heron preparing nest
1 Kestrel
And Allan the future chairman
4 Mallard on the weir
Nothing on the river
1 Juv Mute Swan, 4 Canada Geese on canal,
2 Nuthatch's by pond and Fox up by weir
spotted by other people.
Thursday, 26 February 2015
Interesting info.
Just goes to show really - If we leave our natural Predators alone, i.e. not persecuting them for our own reasons (not getting into that argument) nature will sort out the invasive species by itself.
http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2015/02/26/goshawk-predation-on-grey-squirrel-as-high-a-95-recorded/
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/30/how-to-eradicate-grey-squirrels-without-firing-a-shot-pine-martens
It's becoming apparent that as an invasive species the Grey Squirrel is not equipped to dodge some of our "natural" Predator mealtimes! Where as the Red has evolved alongside these & is probably why it's so much smaller, quicker & lighter - In order to avoid "dinnertime".
Just thought most of us would find this interesting reading.
http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2015/02/26/goshawk-predation-on-grey-squirrel-as-high-a-95-recorded/
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/30/how-to-eradicate-grey-squirrels-without-firing-a-shot-pine-martens
It's becoming apparent that as an invasive species the Grey Squirrel is not equipped to dodge some of our "natural" Predator mealtimes! Where as the Red has evolved alongside these & is probably why it's so much smaller, quicker & lighter - In order to avoid "dinnertime".
Just thought most of us would find this interesting reading.
Tuesday, 24 February 2015
CBNR getting Popular
Had a walk around CB today and there was plenty of birds
and plenty of people visiting the site, bird viewing area got really busy
after dinner with lots of new faces and children interested in the birdlife
which was good to see.
Birds seen 23rd Feb 2015-:
4 Dunnock
2 Jays
5 Goosanders on river 3male 2female
2 Little Grebe by bottom bridge
4 Teal up by the weir
2 Chaffinch
3 Robins
8 Bullfinch
3 LTT and Great,Blue & Coal tits in abundance
1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
2 Coot on the lagoon
10 Cormorant on skiing lake
30 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans and Mallards on canal.
2 Goldeneye on river and kestrel flying through viewing area
were mentioned as being seen.
flyover by Heron and unknown geese
Nuthatch also said to have been seen at
Car Park feeders
and plenty of people visiting the site, bird viewing area got really busy
after dinner with lots of new faces and children interested in the birdlife
which was good to see.
Birds seen 23rd Feb 2015-:
4 Dunnock
2 Jays
5 Goosanders on river 3male 2female
2 Little Grebe by bottom bridge
4 Teal up by the weir
2 Chaffinch
3 Robins
8 Bullfinch
3 LTT and Great,Blue & Coal tits in abundance
1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
2 Coot on the lagoon
10 Cormorant on skiing lake
30 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans and Mallards on canal.
2 Goldeneye on river and kestrel flying through viewing area
were mentioned as being seen.
flyover by Heron and unknown geese
Nuthatch also said to have been seen at
Car Park feeders
From the Undergrowth
 |
| Dunnock |
 |
| Dunnock |
 | ||
| Tin Bath steam excursion hauled by 2 Black 5's at Cromwell Bottom Sun 15th Feb | in awful light at 4-15pm |
 |
| ditto |
 |
| Coal Tit |
 |
| Great tit |
 |
| Tuffty Jay with 15 peanuts in his beak |
Monday, 23 February 2015
This Months Echo Piece
From The Undergrowth
On the January 24th 12 young lady's plus helpers from the 4th Rastrick brownies
Brighouse, came along to the reserve for the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch . At 9:30 it was pouring down, but as the girls
arrived at 10:00 am their smiling faces drove away the clouds and the day became
bright and sunny. The girls were ably led by Gail their Brown Owl. Lots of birds came
down to the feeders that the Brownies had made and hung up around the feeding area.
As we left for a walk around the reserve a Yellow Brain fungus was found on the
nearby fence, as we walked members of the group answered questions and told of the
history of the area including Tag Cut the canal that was built around 1776 making it one of the earliest
canals built
On the reserve the sustained cold weather is bringing in more birds to the feeding
station as the natural food supply diminishes. Larger numbers of Bullfinch, Blue Tit and
Great Tit are visiting the feeders along with Dunnock, Chaffinch and a few Redpoll plus
Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and up towards Southowram Common Buzzard circle, also the
ever present Robins running under foot as you sit and watch but we have no Siskins this
year although there are a few around they are not coming to the feeders .
A member of our group was sat having his afternoon coffee when there was a loud bang
on the window, when he looked outside laid on the floor was a female Sparrowhawk.
This was an opportunity for Bruce to try out his First Aid skills newly acquired on a
group course in December, after a few minutes of care the bird revived and looked none
the worse for her accident and a few moments later she flew away unscathed leaving
Bruce with a few marks on his hand from her sharp talons as he let the bird go from the
wrong hand, the one without the glove. ( silly man )
A lady reported what she thought was a young swan in distress ,further investigation
found the swan was alright and it had a ring on it's leg from this number it was found
that this is a young swan which flew into Horton Country Park about 12/11/14 where
it was ringed by Dan Sidley. Later it was with 690,691 and 887 at Harold park. Those
three are part of this years Park Dam brood. Two of them are back there now.
this shows that small pieces of information can be invaluable
Robin and Hugh from Calderdale Countryside Services have submitted a three year
plan for North Loop the twenty acre restoration site adjoining the reserve, if the plan is
adopted, trees shrubs and wild flower seed will be needed, plus a lot of hard work but
hopefully it will be another Calderdale success.
seen close up are quite stunning, as well as Goldeneye another good looking Bird . GWH, DL
On the January 24th 12 young lady's plus helpers from the 4th Rastrick brownies
Brighouse, came along to the reserve for the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch . At 9:30 it was pouring down, but as the girls
arrived at 10:00 am their smiling faces drove away the clouds and the day became
bright and sunny. The girls were ably led by Gail their Brown Owl. Lots of birds came
down to the feeders that the Brownies had made and hung up around the feeding area.
As we left for a walk around the reserve a Yellow Brain fungus was found on the
nearby fence, as we walked members of the group answered questions and told of the
history of the area including Tag Cut the canal that was built around 1776 making it one of the earliest
canals built
On the reserve the sustained cold weather is bringing in more birds to the feeding
station as the natural food supply diminishes. Larger numbers of Bullfinch, Blue Tit and
Great Tit are visiting the feeders along with Dunnock, Chaffinch and a few Redpoll plus
Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and up towards Southowram Common Buzzard circle, also the
ever present Robins running under foot as you sit and watch but we have no Siskins this
year although there are a few around they are not coming to the feeders .
A member of our group was sat having his afternoon coffee when there was a loud bang
on the window, when he looked outside laid on the floor was a female Sparrowhawk.
This was an opportunity for Bruce to try out his First Aid skills newly acquired on a
group course in December, after a few minutes of care the bird revived and looked none
the worse for her accident and a few moments later she flew away unscathed leaving
Bruce with a few marks on his hand from her sharp talons as he let the bird go from the
wrong hand, the one without the glove. ( silly man )
A lady reported what she thought was a young swan in distress ,further investigation
found the swan was alright and it had a ring on it's leg from this number it was found
that this is a young swan which flew into Horton Country Park about 12/11/14 where
it was ringed by Dan Sidley. Later it was with 690,691 and 887 at Harold park. Those
three are part of this years Park Dam brood. Two of them are back there now.
this shows that small pieces of information can be invaluable
Robin and Hugh from Calderdale Countryside Services have submitted a three year
plan for North Loop the twenty acre restoration site adjoining the reserve, if the plan is
adopted, trees shrubs and wild flower seed will be needed, plus a lot of hard work but
hopefully it will be another Calderdale success.
Out and about there have been sightings of Brambling at krumlin and Manor Heath,
Great Northern Diver at Mixenden Reservoir , Curlew ,Golden Plover, Lapwings , Feidfare, Redwing,and Buzzard
Great Northern Diver at Mixenden Reservoir , Curlew ,Golden Plover, Lapwings , Feidfare, Redwing,and Buzzard
up at Jay House Lane .
Keep your eyes to the sky's as there are large numbers of Pink foot geese on the move.
A visit to Mere Sands and Martin Mere gave us some great views of Little Egret as well as Pintail Duck when Keep your eyes to the sky's as there are large numbers of Pink foot geese on the move.
seen close up are quite stunning, as well as Goldeneye another good looking Bird . GWH, DL
Sunday, 22 February 2015
Bullfinch Heaven!
This month the feeder area has got really busy, as natural food gets really low, some days Blue Tits are in crazy numbers & other days it's Great Tits. The Bullfinches are building up nicely, & deciding which one point the camera at is getting tricky.
A few snaps of birds frequenting the feeder area:
A few snaps of birds frequenting the feeder area:
Reed Buntings come in from time to time - especially if it's a frosty start!
Jay's can be pretty active - Here's Mr Tufty, the bravest of our Peanut pinchers!
Sometimes up to Half a Dozen Coal Tit's are zipping around, getting enough time to compose a good picture, can be quite challenging.
Now for the little Dumplings!
Everybody seems to enjoy seeing these!
As long as you don't move too quickly - the Bullfinches will sit there for ages munching on seed, & you can collect up to 12 right in front of you on the logs & crossbeam.
..................................................................
Just for the record:
I photographed a birdie a couple of winters back that was generally decided to be a Mealy Redpoll, here's a snap of it for your own reference.
I am keeping my personal opinion to myself regarding any recent Redpoll visitors, of which I have noticed 3 different individuals.
Tricky species sometimes especially with light Lesser's & dark Commons, pictures of their back markings & rump colouration can be really useful for ID purposes.
If your lucky you may catch a Redpoll on the Niger feeder & can make your own mind up, but you will have to pop down to site to do so, & you can have a walk round after, Dippers & Kingfishers are getting active on the river now.
Went down to the viewing area today and it was a busy morning
with the regular bird visitors, Mike Henshaw & Steve were also down
there with their camera's.
8 Bullfinch
2 Jays
5 Robins one eating bread off of my hand
2 Chaffinch
4 Blackbird
6 Dunnock
1 male Reed Bunting
flyover by 1 Heron 2 Cormorant and 6 Canada Geese
and crows and gulls.
and a warbler ? singing by the car park
with the regular bird visitors, Mike Henshaw & Steve were also down
there with their camera's.
8 Bullfinch
2 Jays
5 Robins one eating bread off of my hand
2 Chaffinch
4 Blackbird
6 Dunnock
1 male Reed Bunting
flyover by 1 Heron 2 Cormorant and 6 Canada Geese
and crows and gulls.
Saturday, 21 February 2015
Friday, 20 February 2015
Shades of Grey
Like them or not, it's hard to deny grey squirrels have a certain photogenic quality :)
Images taken over the past few months.
Ric Jackson
Thursday, 19 February 2015
Quiet Today
Quiet today down at Cromwell Bottom
Weather didn't help.
Regular finches and tits
3 Teal up by the weir
3 Heron
2 Cormorant & Flock of Canada Geese flyover.
Weather didn't help.
3 Teal up by the weir
3 Heron
2 Cormorant & Flock of Canada Geese flyover.
Monday, 16 February 2015
.JPG)
.JPG)
Monday, 9 February 2015
Today the 9th February
Bird feeding area was very busy today with the regular birds
and the sparrowhawk must be hungry as twice he dived in while i was there.
8 Bullfinch
4 LTT
Lots of the other tits
3 Robin
4 Blackbird
1 Chaffinch
1 Jay
1 or 2 Sparrowhawk
1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
4 Squirrel all at the bird viewing area
5 Goosander
1 Kingfisher on the river
1 Young swan on the canal
1 Heron flying over
15 pink footed geese in field by ski lake
5 Tufted duck on fishing lake.
and the sparrowhawk must be hungry as twice he dived in while i was there.
8 Bullfinch
4 LTT
Lots of the other tits
3 Robin
4 Blackbird
1 Chaffinch
1 Jay
1 or 2 Sparrowhawk
1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
4 Squirrel all at the bird viewing area
5 Goosander
1 Kingfisher on the river
1 Young swan on the canal
1 Heron flying over
15 pink footed geese in field by ski lake
5 Tufted duck on fishing lake.
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