Large bird
From Andy M
Friday, 15 April 2011
Did anyone else see the very large, broad winged bird (grey/white + black areas on wings and not a heron!) flying North over Heptonstall/Hardcastle Crags last Saturday about 11:10 am? It was being mobbed by rooks which it dwarfed.
It has been suggested to me that it may have been an Opsrey heading up to Lakes/Scotland - it looked the right sort of shape.
From Greg Hobson
Friday, 15 April 2011
I have seen it, but on an earlier occassion and not for long enough to identify it.
From Tim B
Friday, 15 April 2011
I saw what I thought to be a buzzard in that area on Wednesday evening. I didn't look that closely, just noted that we don't see many buzzards here. Might go and have another look tonight to double check.
From Andy M
Friday, 15 April 2011
I have seen Buzzards around - up towards Widdop - before now. This had the wrong markings/colour even though they can look pale from underneath - I saw the top of this ones wings before it disappeared behind the hill.
From H Gregg
Saturday, 16 April 2011
Heron - often sits on the island next to Innovation watching for fish.
From Andy M
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Definitely not a heron! I see those flying past regularly
From Kate C
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Judging by colour and size I think it very probably was an osprey. As you say they are returning to nest at Bassenthwaite and varous places in Scotland. We were above Bolton Abbey a couple of weeks ago and stopped to chat with some guys with spotter scopes that were watching ospreys above the Wharfe. In fact a quick google brings up an osprey siting at Castle Carr on the 12th April, see calderbirds/blogspot.com.
From Matt B
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Andy
There have been several reliable reports of ospreys heading north through our area this spring (and hopefully many more in Autumn if they have a successful breeding season), so that is certainly a possibility. Unusually, there was also a white stork seen in the Halifax area on the same afternoon that you saw the large bird - is that a possibility?
Also, a general note - can people please be careful about publicising the locations of raptor sightings on the web. We have a very real and genuine problem with persecution in this area. Probably no worse than other areas, but raptors in Calderdale have certainly been targeted - we know this for a fact. I won't get into finger pointing by suggesting who is responsible, but sightings and locations need to be treated sensitively in order to not assist any wrong-doing.
Anyone interested in bird sightings in our area can find up to date information at Calderdale Birds
Matt, Calderdale Bird Conservation Group.