Yellow-browed blues

Dont believe it, talk about lightning striking twice, spent the afternoon in awful conditions looking for the Yellow Browed Warbler at Ogden. After a complete soaking SC said thats it its not going to show now lets go. Half an hour after leaving BS finds the bird in the bushes I had just been looking in. Did have 1 Chiffchaff in with the tit flock and 2 Cormorants, White Crow nearby again.

29th Sept GUTTED

News broke mid day of a Yellow-browed Warbler at Ogden so after numerous frantic calls I managed to get in touch with AZ. Ive seen loads of YBWs on the coast over the years but the chance to get one locally was too good to miss, unfortunatly thats just what happened!! A group of 6 of us serched for 3 hours with no luck so me and AZ left at 5.10PM. Had only been back home for 20 minutes when news came through the grape vine that the bird had been relocated and was showing well. Too late now to get anybody to go back so will have to hope the bird stays for a few more days at least? Did hear a Crossbill flying over, also 2 Cormorants, 2 LBBGs, 1 Common Gull and the White Carrion Crow nearby.

23rd September wrong day

After hearing about all the raptors the Bradford and Hudds birders had yesterday I had a walk up to my watch point with high hopes. Unfortunatly it was very windy and freezing cold so I only lasted a couple of hours. Birds seen 1 local Common Buzzard, 6 Sparrowhawks including one which tried to take a Swallow, 1 Kestrel, 3 Cormorants south, 1 Herring Gull, 3 LBBGs and 6 unidentified ducks. After tea a walk over Roils produced 50 Goldfinch and a couple of LBBGs. Also had a Great Spot at Mount Tabor earlier on.

22nd September

Did things the wrong way round today should have gone to my watch point first instead did the walk over Roils Head. Did manage to find a Siskin in with the Goldfiches at Tower Hill, also had a Whinchat and a Wheatear at High Road Well Moor. Evening short visit to the watch point brough 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 LBBGs, 1 Grey Heron and a largish raptor sat on the moor, too far away to id.

20th September

Usual walk over Roils produced 4 or 5 Goldcrests in with the Long-tailed Tits, 1 Wheatear at High Road Well Moor, 1 Sparrowhawk at Tower Hill and a Kestrel over Wheatley Valley.

18th September

Not much birding done this past week due to a nasty virous but had a walk over Roils Head this evening, 2 Chiffchaffs still in with the Long-tailed Tit flock, 1 Kestrel at Tower Hill and a late Curlew heard but not seen over High Road Well Moor.

11th September

Finally found a Spotted Flycatcher at Roils Head today, at least 3 Chiffchaffs present (5 yesterday). Brief visit to Hunter Hill with DJS only produced 3 Grey Partridge, not much else.

9th September

Managed 1hour 10 mins at my watch point before the heavens opened up. The only birds of note were 1 Peregrine, 2 Kestrels and 2 male Common Buzzards, the local male was seen sparring with this other male possibly a young bird reared locally or an intruding male.

8th September 3rd Marsh Harrier

2 hours 15 mins spent at my local watch point today was rewarded with my third Marsh Harrier of the autumn. A cream crown came off the moors and circled for some 20 minutes before heading off to the south. Other birds today were 1 Buzzard, 1 distant Peregrine, 4 Sparrowhawks, 4 Kestrels and 4 Ravens together. 2 Chiffchaffs still at Roils Head and lots of Swallows +1 Wheatear at Crimsworth Dean this evening.

5th September

2 hours 15mins spent at my local watch point today produced the usual pair of Buzzards + 2 other sightings of separate birds, also 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 or 6 Kestrels and an unidentified small falcon probably a Merlin but not sure too far away. The most unusual sight was a Cormorant circling over the moors before flying south. Not much else, 3 LBBGs, 1 Common Gull and lots of House Martins and Swallows.

4th September

Another visit to the Cold Edge area today was fairly productive with a nice Merlin sat on a rock out on the moor, other raptors present were 3 or 4 Kestrels, 1 or 2 Buzzards and a Peregrine picked up dashing around the moors. The only birds of note on the dams were 1 Tufted Duck and 1 Little Grebe.Passerines included 3 Stonechats, 1 Whinchat, 1 Wheatear and several Meadow Pipits.

Marsh Harrier pics

Photos taken yesterday by DF of the Walshaw bird that me and SC had on 30th August. Good to know its still around.
Today had 1 Redstart and a Chiffchaff at Roils Head, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk at Tower Hill.

1st September

Had walk up to my local watch point but only stayed 1 hour, far too windy. Had 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 3 LBBGs going west, thats all.