31st August

Went my usual walk in reverse today. Lots of birds about at Tower Hill 100s Swallows, Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Goldfinches and even a Song Thrush and Robin. 15 Willow Warblers and 5 or 6 Goldcrests in the tit flock at Roils Head + 3 Bullfinch and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Cold Edge Cuckoo 29th August

Found Daves juv Cuckoo at Cold Edge Road this PM, conditions for digi scoping were poor, these are the best shots I could manage. After tea a brief walk over Roils Head produced a superbly bright Tree Pipit, flew into cover before I could get a shot off.

27th August

At last a couple of migrants at Roils Head this PM in the form of 2 Redstarts. Very elusive this is the best photo I could get.

25th August

Couple of hours at watch point today, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 or 6 Kestrels, 1 Swift, 1 Grey Heron, House Martins and Swallows.

22nd August evening

 Whinchat at 91x digital zoom record shot.

1 of 5 Wheatears.
Had a walk over Roils Head and High Road Well Moor after tea. At last some migrants, 5 Wheatears and a distant Whinchat (first one of the autumn) had to set the cameras digital zoom to 91x to get a record shot.

22nd August Red Letter Day

 Digi Scopped Red Kite.

 Digi Scoped Greenshank.

Back at Fly Flats this PM with Dave. Yesterdays Greenshank still present, managed some record shots. The main event however was a superb Red Kite (my fourth for Calderdale) which we watched for 10 minutes as its slowly soared around until dissapearing over the wind farm. Also recorded 4 Peregrines, 3 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, 4 Red Grouse, 1 Curlew, 4 Wheatears, BHGs, 1 LBBG and a Little Owl at Slade.

21st August

Afternoon out with DJS at his watch point at Hunter Hill. 1 Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawks, 4+Kestrels, 6 Wheatears, LBBGs, Common Gulls, BHGs a few mippits Evening at Fly Flats with MB and son. 1 Greenshank had a near miss when the juv male Peregrine had a go, it seemed to illude capture by diving into the water before flying off calling. Also 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 Curlews which did good impresions of Whimbrel. 1 distant Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, 6 Red Grouse, 2 LBBGs and a Little Owl at Cold Edge Road.

19th August

Had an hour and an half at my local watch point this PM, 3 Ravens together, 5 Kestrels together, 2 Swifts, lots of Swallows and House Martins and a few Common and Lesser BBs were all I could muster.

17th August evening

 Sparrowhawk.

Evening out with SC at EGP. Not much about, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kingfisher were the best we could manage.

17th August

Afternoon stroll over Roils Head, not much there. Lots of Swallows and House Martins at Tower Hill, managed to pick out 1 Sand Martin amongst them. 1 LBBG in with the Black heads and Common Gulls at High Road Well Moor.

14th August

 Juv Peregrine.

 Juv Lesser black backed Gull ???????

Out at a local spot with DJS this PM. 25 Wheatears, 1 Raven, 2 Buzzards, 1 juv Peregrine, 2 Kestrels, 1 Red Grouse and the above Gull. Since buying the Helm Gulls id book off DJP I am now more confused than ever regarding juvenile - first winter Lesser's and Herring Gulls. This bird through the scope looked to show Herring Gull features but when it took to flight it appeared to have dark wings and showed no trace of a pale window on the inner primaries, suggesting Lesser Black back. I am begining to think that they can only be reliably separated in flight. (comments still not working)

5th August Teesside

A visit to Teesside with Roy in search of the Semi Palmated Sandpipier or should I say Semi Palmated Dot. Took about 3 hours to locate but I eventually found it on the causeway from the main road at Saltholme Pools, a lifer for Roy and only the second one for me in this country. Other birds of note included adult Little Gull, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Pintail, 5 Common Scoters, 3 Greenshank, Ruff, Sandwich Terns, Yellow Wagtails.

2nd August

Brief visit to Fly Flats this PM. 4 Kestrels, 1 Peregrine and 8 Lesser Black backs one of which looked a bit odd.

More Moths

 Dagger species top, Gothic below.

Moth trap running again last night, not as good as previous night only catching 14 species.

Last nights moths.

 Light Emerald.

 Scalloped Oak.

 True Lovers Knot.

 Broom Moth.

 Scarce Silver Lines.

 Mottled Beauty and Willow Beauty.

Rosy Minor.

Put the moth trap on last night and caught about 30 species the best being my third Scarce Silver Lines.