27th October

30 Crossbills still present in the plantation today, managed to get some phone scoped shots of a female, also 6 species of raptor, 33 Golden Plover, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Snipe, 1 large Herring Gull in with some Lessers, 1 Great Spotted Wood Pecker, Siskin, Coal Tit etc.

26th October

Just the 5 raptor species today + 200 Fieldfares, 1 Tufted Duck and no Crossbills.

22nd October

Back phone scoping the Crossbills today, at least 30 birds showed well, 9 Whoopers later dropped on to one of the reservoirs. 4 species of raptor noted today, also 3 Ravens.

20th October

All the usual species today + 38 Crossbills in the plantation.

Silmarillion continued

Still reading the Silmarillion for about the 22nd time, found another picture of Fingolfins great battle with the dark lord Morgoth.

18th October

Brief stop at Fly Flats brought us a Dunlin and 2 Red-legged Partridge, then on to our usual spot where we clocked up 7 Shorties, 3 Barn Owls and 1 Little Owl, 1 brief Hen, loads of Kestrels, 2 or 3 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Grey Partridge, 32 Crossbills and 20+Siskin in the woods, at least 400 Fieldfare and a Reed Bunting etc. Phone scoped above Kestrel.

16th October

Todays birds included 6 Short-eared Owls, 3 Barn Owls, 5 Buzzards, loads of Kestrels and a juv male Hen Harrier. Also of note 3 Ravens, 250 Pinkies going south east and at least 500 Fieldfares going to roost, usual other species.

14th October Rock Pipit dip

DF found another Rock Pipit at Ringstone today, unfortunately when we arrived on site there was no sight of it despite 6 of us searching. Another dip on this species for Calderdale.

Glenn Huges gig

Me and older brother went to see ex Deep Purple bassist Glenn Hughes at Leeds Uni last night, the first concert Ive been to in 2 and an half years. It was a great night and his voice was as usual brilliant. He started off playing his preferred bass and then later on out came a real bass his very old Red Rickenbacker. This was a back to the old purple set which featured classics like Stormbringer, Burn, Mistreated, Getting Tighter, You Fool no one, Might Just take your life, You Keep on Moving and a brilliant rendition of Sail Away. He also through in 2 Deep Purple mk2 hits, Smoke on the Water and Highway Star excellent. I must dust of the cob webs on my Blue Rickenbacker and start playing more often.

7th October

Back on the moors, todays tally included 1 Raven, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 51 Pinkies, the first Fieldfares and Redwings of the autumn, 6 Buzzards, 1 Hen, 2 Barn Owls and a juvenile Peregrine which had a go at one of the owls.

6th October

Todays birds included all 5 British Owls seen at the same site within 1 hour, these were 3 Barn, 5 Shorties, 1 Leo, 1 Tawny and 1 Little Owl. Also in the area 2 Hens, 7 Buzzards and a Peregrine.

5th October

Local walk produced one predated Little Owl.

1st October

Back on the moors with AC today, first stop the plantation to look for Crossbills, we found 16 in with a huge flock of at least 100 Siskin, also a couple of Redpolls mixed in for good measure. Finally got a few pictures of one of 4 Barn Owls today using the iphone scope adapter. Other bird recorded were 1 Hen, 1 Buzzard, 1 Shortie, Tufted Duck, Great Spot Pecker, Grey Heron, Reed Bunting and a large looking accipiter which dashed through the wood but views not good enough to claim Thunder Bird 2. 2nd October, Wheatear at Tower Hill.

30th September

Another good day for Owls with 3 Barn, 2 Shorties, 1 Little and 1 Tawny sat out in the open. Also 1 Hen, 1 male Merlin, 4 Buzzards, 1 Herring Gull and 1 Common Gull, 50 Siskin, 2 Snipe and the juvenile Oystercatcher still present.