29th June

Out with Roy and Jack tonight, 3 LEO chicks hunger calling at a new site with adult seen briefly hunting. Then on to a Barn Owl site where an adult came out at 9.23pm. Also recorded Grasshopper Warbler and 4 Kestrels.

26th June

The dead and the living. Lots of young birds at Roils Head today with family parties of Long-tailed and Coal Tits, young Goldfinch and Robins as well. Also had a stunning male Siskin and a Skylark with a Ghost Moth at Highroad Well Moor. A few Red Admirals also at Roils Head and a poor dead fox on Heath Hill Road.

20th June

Had a Red Kite with missing outer tail feathers at Pellon today, looked very odd, also later on Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel on the moors. A couple of days ago got the moth trap out and the only moth of note was a new one for me, a Blood Vane.

17th June

Todays highlight was a stunning adult male Merlin seen 3 times, also female Sparrowhawk carrying prey, 2 Buzzards, 2 Ravens, Goosander still present and nesting Sand Martins.

15th June

Had a couple of hours at Swillington Ings tonight with Roy and his son Jack, we managed 43 species the best being Black-necked Grebe, Little Egrets and Avocets with young.

Catching up

11th June Usual spot, 3 Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk + all the usual Waders. 12th and 13th June Roils Head, Blackcap still singing, Great Tit with red plastic ring on right leg feeding young, apparently ringed in Northern Ireland. 2 Redpoll 2 Linnets 2 Bullfinch and 2 Common Gulls on 12th. 15th June back on the moors, 1 Shortie, 1 Buzzard, Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Common Scoters amongst the usual waders.

9th June

My Niece Phoebe, the next female Michael Schencker. 9th June, back on local patch with DF. 3 Shorties tonight also 3 Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 3 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Goosander, 1 juv Stonechat, 40+ juv Greylags, Sand Martin, Woodcock + all the usual waders, oh and nesting Black-headed Gulls.

8th June

Checked out a couple of LEO sites tonight with Roy. Nothing doing at the first site but a bird was out hunting at the second at 9.15PM, also here 2 Grasshopper Warblers a Kestrel and a Cormorant. Moved on to a Barn Owl site and had the adult bird carrying a vole to nest site. It was pursued by a Carrion Crow so didn't take the food to the nest but led the crow way.

4th June

4th June, A Marsh Harrier, probably a first summer male judging by size was the highlight of the day, other raptors were 2 Buzzards, a Peregrine and 2 Kestrels. Grasshopper Warbler still reeling and lots of young waders about, sadly our Ringed Plover nest has been abandoned over night and all four eggs have gone, probably due to disturbance from dog walkers letting their animals run riot on the shoreline, I gave one of them a right earful.