Out and about Monday 6 December

Good to get out in the crisp,cold weather, even though these are tough times for wildlife.
So, to Cromwell Bottom en route to a gig in Hull.
The snow lay all around,deep, and crisp,and uneven.

Nothing too exciting on the species seen but not too
bad....:-

scaup 1 as reported on the estimable Calderdale blog,
pochard x3
tufted duck c28
gc grebe 1
L grebe 1
goldeneye 2
heron 4
cormorant 5
goosander 5, 3f, 2m on river
5 teal on river
1 nuthactch
1 gs woodpecker
1 green woodpecker
2 redwing
5 mistlethrush
large ltt flocks

plus usual dunnocks, battling wrens, coot, moorhen,mallard, titmice, finches, corvids and gulls.

Pied-billed grebe

Borrowed photograph.

Out birding again after a break. A cold day, with many showers and some short spells of sunshine.


I made a quick trip to Hollingworth Lake this afternoon to have a gander
at the pied-billed grebe. Despite the fading light, I got some good views.
It kept pretty much on the move and it was feeding pretty voraciously. Let's hope the numerous dog walkers and hounds don't disturb it too much.

Jolly good.

Blackwood Common

A couple of hours up at Blackwood Common this evening. Nothing especially exciting but it was good to get out again after a longish break.

Species seen:-
Linnet c20
Meadow pipit c40
Skylark 1
House martin
Swallow
Little owl
Pheasant
Carrion crow
Jackdaw
Magpie
Rook
Stock dove 2
Wood pigeon

Rabbits

Thrilling what!
Beats watching television.

Withens Clough Stretch

Withens Clough 3.45-5.00pm. Cold, with a light breeze, some cloud and some sun.
Species seen
6 linnets
2 willow warblers seen. Others heard.
2 wheatears
3 curlew
2 common sandpiper
4 reed buntings
c10 swallows
c25 mipits
2 pheasant
Plus titmice, gold and chaffinch, jackdaws, carrion crows, blackbirds, canadas with goslings.

Biting Political Satire

Tory admen. Aaaaarrgghhhhhh!

X Marks The Spot

Evening stroll- Elmet

A walk before dusk.
2 roe deer
1 greater spotted woodpecker
1 peregrine
1 raven
jackdaws going to roost
2 tawny owls calling
plus the usual bird species.
And so to the snug.