31st December

6 Hens recorded today including the adult male, there may have been more but the rain was so bad we had to give up before dark.

Two of yesterdays birds

2 of yesterdays Harriers, pictures by Phil D.

28th December

An incredible 7 Hen Harriers today including the adult male, must be a local record? also 5 Buzzards and a Kestrel.

26th December

26th December Finally got out after 3 weeks feeling crap, still felt pretty bad so didn’t take the scope with me (fatal error). The first bird we saw was the Great White Death a Goshawk, probably a male by size. It zoomed across the moor then gained height soaring about for 5 minutes before stooping like a Peregrine into a nearby wood scattering a dozen Wood Pigs, first Gos Ive had here for a few years now. Next came 4 Buzzards and a Kestrel, 6 Goosanders, 30 Goldies, 7 Herring and 2 GBBGulls. Then what we had come for, 4 Hen Harriers including the tatty winged female we have named White Spot due to the obvious white spot at the base of the upper left primaries.

18th December

Not much doing the past few weeks, been out of action with the dreaded lurgy, even had to cancel going to see 70s glam rock band the Sweet for a second year running (last year a Pallid Harrier near Spurn was to blame). Today had a few bits, a Peregrine, 26 Golden Plovers and 40 Meadow Pipits were at Mount Tabor. Oh and my brother said the concert was great!!!!!!!

3r December

Just two Hens clocked today also 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks, 8 Herring Gulls, 5 Teal, 1 Dipper, a Nuthatch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

28th November

Out with tall Andy today, 4 Hens showed well also just 1 Kestrel.

25th and 26th Nov

25th November, went looking for DJS' Lapland Bunting on Swales Moor but no luck there so had a look at Elland GP and not much happening there also. 26th November, the same 5 Hens were again picked up today also 2 Buzzards and 2 Kestrels.

18th and 19th November

The Hen Harriers performed well over the last few days with 5 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday. DF got some great shots of the adult males tail pattern as it flew off whilst I managed to video an adult female sat on a post. Also recorded 9 Whooper Swans, 1 Woodcock and 4 or 5 Buzzards.

11th November

Todays raptors, 3 Hens, 1 Peregrine, 2 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels and 2 Shorties. 6 Teal, 3 Herring Gulls and a Snipe provided the backup.

5th November

3 Hens today including adult male late on, also 3 Buzzards, 4 Kestrels and 4 Whooper Swans.

A few more

Todays birds 4th Nov

Pics by DF.

4th November

Todays birds, 3 Hen Harriers including adult male, Peregrine, 6 Buzzards, 4 Kestrels, Stonechat, Redwing, Fieldfare etc.

2nd November

Just 3 Hens today + Merlin, 3 Buzzards and 3 Kestrels. 2 Stonechats have been present all week at Roils Head.

1st November

5 Hen Harriers today including the adult male which put on a great show, also Merlin, 3 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels and 5 Whooper Swans.

29th October Harrier day

An incredible count today of at least 6 Hen Harriers including a superb adult male, also Short-eared Owl, Buzzard and 2 Kestrels. Pictures by DF.

27th October

Not much happening all week just 4 Stonechats on my local patch. Much better today, after a dip on 2 reported Hawfinch me and Dave headed to our favourite site and were rewarded with at least 3 Hen Harriers together including a stonking adult male, there may actually have been 4 birds? also a Short-eared Owl a Buzzard and 2 Snipe+ 5 hares together in one field.

Last few days

Not much doing the last few days, Roils Head 2 Stonechats still present also 5 or 6 Goldcrests in the tit flock, odd Bullfinch, 30+ Goldfinch, 2 Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel.

17th October

Just a pair of Stonechats still present at Roils Head today.

16th October

Back to Roils Head where the sun had turned red due to sand in the atmosphere, 2 Stonechats, 2 Goldcrests and a GSWPecker and 2 more Stonechats at Highroad Well Moor.

14th and 15th Oct, Filey etc

Had a weekend trip over to Filey with my brother and his young daughter Phoebe. The best I could manage on south westerly winds were 4 adult Med Gulls at Holbeck, one of which made short work of my turkey sandwich. Other species of note were 1 Red Throated Diver, 1 Ruff, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Scoters and that's about it.

10th October

Roils Head today, 1 Wheatear, 1 Stonechat, 3 Goldcrests, 1 Jay, 1 Stonechat and 8 Linnets at Highroad Well Moor.

9th October

Roils Head today, a late Whinchat was a nice find also a Wheatear present, others included Goldcrests, 5 Common Gulls and a Kestrel.

8th October

Back on the moors today. Ringtail Hen Harrier, Merlin, Sparrowhawk, 5 Buzzards, 5 Kestrels, Raven, 60 Pink Feet, Cormorant, 2 Dippers, 30 Redwings, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Teal etc.

7th October

Up on the moors in poor conditions, the highlight today was a adult or second winter male Hen Harrier, also 3 Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 3 Kestrels, 2 Ravens and 13 Pink-footed Geese.

6th October

Not much happening this week just Stonechats and Goldcrests at Roils Head. Today had a Swallow over Highroad Well, a Snipe and 3 Stonechats at Highroad Well Moor and 3 or 4 Goldcrests at Roils Head.

1st October

Had just 2 hours sleep thinking about the Scop's Owl at Sunderland that me and tall Andy were going to see. Got up very early for me, only we never set off as the bird was not seen all day. So instead I watched the worst NFL game Ive ever seen, thankfully the Dolphins lost, so did the enemy the Patriots, and the Jets won, RESULT.

29th Sept

Out on the moors and 14 Stonechats on a fence line was a nice sight also 6 Buzzards, 6 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker and GSWoodpecker.

26th and 27th Sept

26th September, a different female Hen Harrier on the moors tonight also a Short-eared Owl, a Dipper and a Stonechat. 27th September, A Whinchat and a Stonechat at Roils Head.

23rd September

Back at our usual site and a Ringtail Hen Harrier flew right over our heads just when the light was at its worst, my pics are crap so Ive nicked Dave's. The bird shows a very worn tail so Id on future visits should be easy provided views are good. Its also rather plain looking underneath so could be the juv female we had in August, but would a juveniles tail be in such bad shape????. Also yet another Merlin, 3 Buzzards, a few Kestrels, 6 Grey Partridge and a Cormorant over.

22nd September

Around the reservoirs tonight, most of which are now full so no waders. Did however have 2 juvenile Merlins chasing a Meadow Pipit, 2 Kestrels and a Lesser Black Back, that's all.

21st Sept

Another ringtail Hen Harrier tonight being harried by a Merlin, also 2 Buzzards and 2 Kestrels.

Last few days

Last few days fairly quiet, Roils Head area produced 2 Stonechats a nice tame Wheatear and a couple of Sparrowhawks. Yesterday and the Wigeon was still at Ringstone Edge.

16th September

Back on the moors today and a nice find were 2 ringtail Hen Harriers tussling over a rabbit, A Merlin then powered through the area, others included 6 Buzzards, 6 Kestrels and 2 Ravens.

15th September

Me and DF plodded around Whiteholme for 5 hours but no Baird's Sand today only 1 Dunlin, Peregrine, Grey Wagtail, Sand Martin, Reed Bunting, Wheatear and 2 Common Gulls.

14th September

Back to Whiteholme today where the Baird's Sandpiper showed much better in good light, also 2 Ravens and a Wheatear there.

Lucky 13th

A quick look at Ringstone, just one Wigeon of note, then me and Dave went to try our luck at Whiteholme and struck gold in the form of a Baird's Sandpiper, a first for Calderdale, one at the same site in 1990 was rejected by BBRC. The video snaps are not that good so hopefully we will try again later today if its still there.

12th September

Evening at Ringstone Edge produced a very nice find of 7 Pintails and a Wigeon, unfortunately the Pintails flew off as soon as they were spotted. Also 1 Tuftie, 3 GCGrebes, 20 Golden Plover, 300+Lapwings.

10th September

Went with DF to pick up his new second hand scope from GW, a bargain Kowa 773 with 30x wide angle eyepiece. Whilst testing it we had 4 Buzzards, 1 juv Peregrine and a Kestrel. Not much doing at Ringstone or EGP later.

8th and 9th September

A Redstart at Roils Head on 8th and a Wheatear at Heath Hill Road on 9th was about it for last few days.

4th Sept

1 Redstart, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler at Roils Head today.

Dead Grouse

2nd September, fairly quiet today the highlight being a Merlin + 3 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and a Redstart, also found a dead Grouse, there will be a lot of dead Grouse up here in the next few months. 3rd September, just a Chiffchaff and a Kestrel at Roils Head.

Last few days

31st August., found something almost as rare these days as Hen Harrier, a Hedgehog at Silverwood Ave, Pellon on my way to Roils Head where I found 2 Redstarts and a Chiffchaff. Evening out with Roy produced one Sparrowhawk that's all.1st September, on the moors with DF, no harrier but 4 Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 6 Kestrels, 1 Raven, 2 Teal and 4 Tufties.