25th June

 Leo

 Hobby

After a truely dreadful month in more ways than one, I finaly got out last night with SC. First stop the Luddenden Valley to look for Redstarts with no luck, did however have a Cuckoo and a Buzzard. Then moved on to a LEO sight where two birds showed well, also 2 Shorties and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. Best however was a Hobby which flew over the valley which I just managed to get on camera before it sped off over the moors.

Special thanks go to birders Roy and Gordon for attending my dads funeral last friday, thanks guys it meant a lot to me.

6th June

A brief visit to Elland GP with SC produced the usual species + 2 Reed Warblers singing, 1 Kingfisher heard, Whitethroat carrying food but not much else.

4th June

Pair of Redstarts observed at a local site this PM, then on to the Crags in the hope of Wood Warbler and Pied Fly but nothing, couldnt even find a Spotted Fly, did have a brief view of a LEO at a regular spot in the evening.

31st May

Mad dash over to Fairburn Ings this evening with Roy to see a Black-winged Stilt that had turned up. Found it feedinf at some distance and managed a few digi scope record shots. A lifer for Roy and only my second for Yorkshire (had one at Filey Dams many moons ago) still a nice bird to see. Not much doing at Swillington Ings later on.