Birds on a wire

Found 30 Waxwings this PM at Broadley Close Pellon. They spent most of the time balancing against the wind on phone wires and occasionally flying down to feed on berries.

29th March

At last caught a few moths at home last night, 8 Common Quakers, 1 Clouded Drab and 1 Mottled Grey (shown above).

A nice surprise

Female Hen Harrier.

Out with SC again this PM. We split up and went different ways, Id only been walking 20 mins when I picked up a Female Hen Harrier (SCORE). It dropped on to the moor and I managed a few distant digi scope shots. At one point it was seen to briefly chase a rabbit! I moved on to another area and picked up a Merlin. The only other raptor today was a Sparrowhawk. 26 LBBGs went west late on.

26th March

Out and about with SC this PM. Pair of Buzzards were constantly spooked by a pair of Peregrines, also 2 Sparrowhawks and 2 Kestrels, heard Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers also Nuthatch.
Moved on to Elland GP, not much here, 3 Cormorants, 2 Goosander, 2 Teal, 1 Nuthatch and 3 Bullfinch were the best we could manage.

25th March

A quick walk over Roils Head brought me 5 Waxwings flying west and 5 Stock Doves at nearby Highroad Well Moor.

24th March Mothing at the Crags

Red Sword Grass.

Yellow Horned.

Hebrew Character.

Engrailed.

Spent the evening at Hardcastle Crags with three other Calderdale Mothers, Andy, Brian and Winston. We caught 141 moths of some 14 species in 2.5 hours, the best of which were 4 Yellow Horned and 1 Red Sword Grass which were new species for me, cheers guys and thanks to Andy for the lift.

24th March

Had another go with the moth trap last night and only caught one Twin Spot Quaker. Todays birds were dissapointing only 2 Kestrels and a flock of c20 Golden Plovers were the best I could manage.

22nd March

Out and about with Dave and Jen this PM. Glorious day but not many birds. The best was a Wheatear that Dave found at Cold Edge Dams and 3 Twite that flew over Fly Flats.

21st March mothing

Got the Moth trap out and had a go in the back garden. Only caught 1 moth, a Satellite.

Dastardly and Muttley

Dastardly the male Peregrine.

Muttley the female.

Internet as been down for a week so heres a quick recap. Mostly spent watching raptors ie Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, Kestrels and Peregrines, also had the odd Raven and a few returning Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. The highlight was on 20th March when I visited Dastardly and Muttley. They gave good views and were even seen mating which I just missed to catch with the camera, drat double drat, curses and some more drats.

14th March

Afternoon out, 1 Buzzard, 4 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks all distant. 1 Grey Wagtail over, lots of Stock Doves, 6 Lapwing, 2 Curlew and 3 Meadow Pipits.

13th March, Rusty and co

Rusty the male Common Buzzard.

Peregrine.

Sparrowhawk.

Spent the afternoon out with SC. Today we visited Rusty and his mate, they performed very well being out all afternoon espesially Rusty who weve named becauce of the colour of his tail. Also had 1 Peregine, 2 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks, one of which had a dangling leg ? 1 distant Raven, 12 Lapwings, a few Curlew, 1 Nuthatch and a few Coal and Long-tailed Tits. I took almost 400 pics today!

12th March

Visited my local Buzzards darky and his mate, they were both out calling and flying up and down the valley, also had 1 Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel thats all.

11th March Moth Night

Had a very enjoyable night down the Crags with 6 other mad March Mothers, I think we caught about 40 moths which was a surprise. Thanks to Nick C for suppling the beer.

21 again

Seeing its my birthday today I treated myself to catching the bus instead of walking to my local watch point. Unfortunatly the weather didnt hold for long. First bird was a Raven which for a second time flew past me calling close by, again my camera was still in its case so by the time I got it set up the bird was dissapearing over the hillside. The local pair of Buzzards were picked up strait away then a wait until 3 Sparrowhawks appeared together with a pair displaying overhead. Other birds included 9 Lapwing and 2 Curlews.

White Stoat and Red Kite

Tornado

You can just make out the back of the ermin stoat to the right of the post, first white stoat Ive ever seen, unfortunatly thats the only shot I managed.

2 minutes after the stoat my third Red Kite for Calderdale diffted over mobbed by a Raven I think.

Female Buzzard.

Male Buzzard nick named Darky.

Male Kestrel looking very long winged.

Afternoon out at my local watch point proved very good. Started with 2 Kestrels, then the Buzzard pair appeared, followed by a Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine. I moved to a different observation spot when something white caught my eye on the hillside, bins up to see my first ever white Stoat, the camera was set wrong so I only got a shot of its back, strangly Id spent the weekend looking for one found by DJS at another site but didnt see it. The Stoat had just dissapeared when a Red Kite drifted over mobbed by what looks like a Raven. The bird was fairly distant but I managed a few record shots. Other birds included 17 Lapwings, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Fieldfares, 25 Stock Doves, 2 Reed Buntings and a few Meadow Pipits. The day was only spoilt by a Tornado and another RAF jet that roared down the valley spooking everthing.

5th and 6th March

Peregrine over the house on 5th March.

5th March, 2 Buzzards, 20 Curlews, 35 Fieldfare were the best on a grey day.

6th March, Started with a Peregrine over my house, then out to a site which brought 1 Buzzard, 1 Spar, 1 Kestrel, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 GSWPecker, 45+ Curlews, 1 Golden Plover, 3 Red Grouse etc.

4th March

Spar with prey

Common Buzzard

Back to local watch point this PM. 2 Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk on a kill, an unfortunate white dove, 2 Ravens, 2 Curlews, heard a Tawny Owl, GSWPecker, Stock Doves etc.

1st March

Male Peregrine buzzing Common Buzzard.

Went to my local watch point and had 2 Buzzards, 2 Peregrines, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, 6 Reed Buntings, 17 Stock Doves, 2 Curlews etc.