Highlights July

Sparrowhawk at Castle Carr.

Black Redstart at Cold Edge.

Merlin in Calderdale.

Highlights June

Unfortunatly this Tawny Owl was injured and had to be taken to a vet where it was sadly put down.

Female Hen Harrier northern England, June.

Wood Warbler, now a scarce bird in Calderdale so this one found by DJS was a real treat.

Cold Edge Cat, this bruiser looks like he could go ten rounds with Mike Tyson and win.

Highlights 2010

Young LEO, May.

Adult Long-eared Owl, May.

Iberian Chiffchaff at Potterick Carr, May.

Whinchat at Cold Edge, May.

Goshawk northern England, May.

Fulmar at Whitby May.

30th December

Usual walk produced 46 Pink Feet flying north east, over 50 Fieldfares and a few Redwings also c20 Goldfinch. Lots of gulls at Mount Tabor today probably 500 but no Med.

Highlights part 2

Shortie at Walshaw Dean April.

Mandarin at Kebroyd April.

Smew at Pugneys April.

Great Grey Shrike at Waddington Fell April.

Highlights of 2010 part 1

Ring-billed Gull at Mirfield in February.

27th December

No sign of the Med Gull today but plenty of Commons, also 2 Herring Gulls west over Mount Tabor.

26th December

6 Herring and 1 LBBG flew west at High Road Well Moor this PM, no sign of Med Gull.

25th December

No sign of the Med Gull at Mount Tabor today but c80 Herring Gulls flew west here, also 3 Collared Doves singing between Broadley and Woodlesford, can they sence the days getting longer already ?

Roe Deer

On my way to the shop saw these two Roe Deer at Ovenden Wood Pellon. Put some food down for the gulls but didnt have time to stay today. Dave S was there and had good views of the Med after I left.

23rd December

Good to see Mick and Kath Sharpe at Mount Tabor this PM. When I arrived they had already found the Med Gull sat down in the first field. Usual amount of gulls present also a Pied Wagtail and a Kestrel over Ovenden Wood.

22nd December

c40 Common Gulls today at Mount Tabor and the Med Gull still present, also had a Kestrel over Ovenden Wood.

Gulls Gulls Gulls 21st Dec

The Med Gull showed really well today at Mount Tabor from 2PM. Its giving great views and the chance for getting some good shots is very possible.

2 of 6 Herring Gulls that past over.

Common Gull.

20th December

The Med Gull is back at Mount Tabor today.

A lot more Common Gulls today, also had two large unidentified gulls fly south.

19th December

No sign again of the Med Gull at Mount Tabor so practised taking photos of Common Gulls.

18th December

The light was very good this PM so went up to Mount Tabor to photo the Med Gull but it didnt show, so took some shots of Black-head Gulls instead. Only other birds of note were 7 Redwings south and 2 unidentified large gulls west.

Best ever Christmas present

No birds today, was going through my old LP collection and remembered getting these two classic Purple albums in 1976 off my mum. I remember getting up at 4AM and listening to them both twice. Made in Japan is still one of the best live albums of all time, the guitar solo on Highway Star is awesome (Blackmore at his best).

16th December.

First winter Med Gull still at Mount Tabor, took some more shots and nearly froze my hands off in the process

15th December

The Mount Tabor Med Gull was back today feeding with Common and Black headed Gulls. Its leg seemed a little better but it still struggles to stand.

Not this time guys

Canadian power trio Rush in their hey day. One of my favourite bands are touring Britain again after a 3 and a half year gap. Ive seen them seven times over the years but I wont be going next May because of the astronomicle ticket prices. I think the first time I saw them the cost of a ticket was about £3, Ill have to check that, Ive probably still got the stub. I would love to go, they do a 3 hour set and two of the band members are birdwatchers.

14th December

A Curlew over High Road Well Moor this PM was a bit of a surprise. Bumped into Mike Henshaw again, he had come up from Brighouse to look for the Med Gull, unfortunatly it wasnt here. 6 Herring Gulls flew north and the Carrion Crow that looks like a bonxie was here again.

12th December Herring Gull day

Herring Gull day, a total of 94 flew west in an hour with 5 Great Black backs over Mount Tabor.

The Med Gull still has two legs but one of them appears injured. It still had trouble standing using its wings to balance.

Dont know which is the rarer bird at this site the Med or the Herring. I can not remember ever seeing a Herring Gull on the ground here ?

Lost Leg ?

The Med Gull appears to have lost a leg? it had great difficulty standing, its wings were flailing around as it tried to get its balance. There were fewer gulls about today possibly due to the thaw?