31st December

2 female Hens today, not much more other than 3 Buzzards, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 200 Fieldfares.

23rd December

6 Crossbills still in the plantation today also 3 Barn Owls, 2 Shorties, 1 Hen, 1 Buzzard and the Oystercatcher still present.

16th December

All the usual species today, 7 Shorties, 2 Barn Owls, 1 Hen, 1 Buzzard, 1 Raven, several Kestrels and a drake Teal.

13th December

A freezing day out and about, most of the usual species including 3 Barn Owls, 2 Hens, 3 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, Kestrels, 1 Oystercatcher etc.

12th December

No sign of the Red-crested Pochard at Cold Edge today, looks like its gone. Did have 2 Goldeneye, 2 Tufties, 1 Reed Bunting and a Pink-footed Goose.

9th December

The day after the night before- Last night saw our annual Upper George Reunion take place in Halifax, so it was with a bit of a saw head that I set out today with Phil D. First stop Cold Edge to check and see if the Red-crested Pochard was still present, it was in good light. Then on to the tops for 6 Shorties, 4 Barn Owls, 1 Harrier, 1 Buzzard, several Kestrels, 1 Oystercatcher, 50 Herring Gulls and 1 Great Black back and a flock of Fieldfares.

HELL RAISER

After missing them at the last moment for the last 2 years I finally got to see the SWEET last night at Holmefirth Picture Drome, and I have to say they were bloody great. This is the group that started my passion for loud rock music in the 70s which led on to heavier groups like Sabbath and Purple etc. These days there's only the original guitarist Andy Scott left in the band but the other newer members played superbly well and their harmonies were the best Ive ever heard form any group live. All the old favorites were played, Ball Room Blitz, Blockbuster, Fox on the Run, Teenage Rampage etc, they even played the one that Mary Whitehouse got banded, Turn it Down, but the funniest moment for me was the sound of 2000 heavy metal fans singing along to Wig Wam Bam. What a great night out I would definatly go see them again.

Red-crested Pochard 206

After getting a soaking on Saturday and blown away Sunday we finally hit the jackpot today. News broke of a first for Calderdale when a Red-crested Pochard was found on my old stomping ground of Cold Edge Dams. Me and Andy C were strait on site to check the birds credentials and we both came away happy, fully winged and no rings, that's my 206 species for Calderdale. Up into the hills and what an afternoon, 10 Short-eared Owls, 4 Barn Owls, 2 Harriers, 1 Buzzard, 3 or 4 Kestrels, 1 Oystercatcher and a superb Woodcock sat in the middle of the road on our way back.