29th December

Finally got back out on the moors today, highlights being 1 Hen Harrier, 6 Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, 1 Crossbill and a Woodcock on the way home.

New old toy

After last weeks Uli Roth gig the old six string as been back in action, even got the cry baby wah wah pedal fixed. Last few days just kept getting wet out birding with not much to see. Then my brother knocks on the door, do you want my old record player, amp and speakers, you bet, haven't had one for a very long time and was thinking of selling all my old records. First one on the deck was an Uli Roth Electric Sun album from 1981, then Black Sabbaths 1975 album Sabotage which sounds amazing, followed by Wishbone Ashes New England record from 76, the bass playing on this records sounds fantastic, last as its 43 years to the month since Tommy Bolin died I put on Deep Purples 1975 album Come Taste the Band, you can tell the influence of Glenn Hughes on this one. Hello Neighbours pay back for your effing dog barking for all those years.

7th December

Hen Harrier survey weekend. We had our old friend Mirlander today plus a second bird seen earlier on at another location. Not much else happening except for 5 Herring Gulls.

Uli Jon Roth gig

Uli Jon Roth or Ulric Roth gig last night in Bradford. Didn't know what to expect as he is known to do two sets, one heavy rock and the other classical IE Vivaldi played on the Guitar instead of the Violin, sometimes he mixes both into his set. Tonight it was all about rock music with no classical music at all. What a treat his playing was just fantastic, one of the best Ive ever seen, he started with two tracks from his Electric Sun albums back from 79 - 80, Indian Dawn off Firewind was incredible, ive waited along time to hear that played live. Next he went through his Scorpion days the highlight being Pictured Life off the Virgin Killer album. He finished off with some Hendrix, all along the Watch Tower and a brilliant version of Little Wing. He had a great band with him some new others I think he has used before, the female singer I think was with him years ago on the G3 tours. All together a brilliant night out, it was just a shame the audience was so few, there must have only been 150 people there, but 150 lucky people. Net years he's doing a one man all classical show, might go to that also.

SWEET FA

Still recovering from last nights Sweet gig at Holmfirth Picture Drome, and what a gig it was, they were even better than last year, with 3 new members they had dropped all the acoustic numbers and replaced them with much heavier songs from their early albums and b sides to singles, Sweet Fa was a stand out number. They also did all their popular hits from the 70s. Next Gig Uli Roth on Tuesday.

19th November

Went looking for the Snow Buntings at Whiteholme today with no luck, did have 2 Ravens there. 5 Mandarins were found at Ryburn, also Goosander and 3 Grey Wagtails.

17th November

My big Kowa 88 scope turned 5 years old on 15th November, so I gave it a bit of a rest today and tried out its little cousin the 601. 3 female Hens showed well all afternoon, also 2 Barn Owls out hunting mid afternoon, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawks.

12th November

3 female hens today + 4 Buzzards, 2 Barn Owls, Kestrel, 1 Grey Wag, 15 Fieldfares etc.

10th November

8 Whooper Swans and 2 Hens were just about it for today.

5th November

Adult male and 2 female hens today, also 3 Buzzards, 2 Ravens and 5 Grey Partridge.

30th October

3 Hens today + Merlin, 2 Buzzards, 2 Ravens, 1 Wigeon and a pair of Kestrels fighting on the ground. The female had the male pinned to the ground, there was lots of calling coming from the frightened male who eventually escaped, me and Dave have never seen anything like this before.

27th October

6 Hens today including adult male, juv male and 4 females, also Merlin, 4 Kestrels, 3 Buzzards, 1 Raven, 10 Herring Gulls etc.

26th October

Back watching the harriers today, only 2 females seen, also 1 Merlin, 7 Whooper Swans and this Water Pipit which Dave managed to photograph in the same spot the Rock Pipit was in 3 weeks ago.

24th October

Todays birds included 3 Hen Harriers, adult male, juvenile male and a female, also 1 Merlin, 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Raven etc.

20th October

Northerly winds today produced 21 Whooper Swans east, 7 Hen Harriers, 5 Buzzards and 2 Kestrels.

19th October

An unexpected visit to the moors with no scope produced 2 ringtails, 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrels and a flock of c25 Pinkies moving west.

15th October

2 Ringtails today + 3 Buzzards, 1 Merlin, 2 Kestrels, 2 Ravens 1 Goosander and 1 Ring Ouzel in with Redwings, Fieldfares and Mistle Thrushes.

14th October

Local walk produced this cracking male Sparrowhawk at Highroad Well, the camera was set up all wrong so I have had to rescue these pics.

12th October

Todays highlight was a superb male Hen Harrier at dusk, not much else to report.

7th October

4 Ring Ouzels found today in a huge flock of Thrushes, also 1 Hen, 1 Merlin, 4 Ravens, 2 Buzzards, 1 Wheatear, 3 Stonechats, GSWoodpecker ETC.

5th October

Rock Pipit still present today, photos taken in poor light, also 1 Hen, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 2 Ravens, 5 Wigeon, 4 Stonechats etc.

3rd and 4th October

Not much happening the last few days, Stonechat at Roils Head and a Fox eyeing up some juicy plump breasted chickens off Moor End Road.

2nd October

Me and Dave refound the Rock Pipit today and it showed really well late afternoon. Its took me many years to find one so here are another 7 photos taken on 2nd October. Also in the area 2 Hens, 2 Merlins, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, Kestrel, Barn Owl etc.

1st October, Rock Pipit 209

Me and AC braved the bad weather and the cold and it paid off in the form of a Rock Pipit, at last after years of searching for this species in Calderdale we finally found one. Also 2 Hens, 2 Buzzards, 2 Barn Owls, 5 Pink Footed Geese, 2 Swallows and a wader over calling that I think was a Grey Plover, but I will have to probably let that one go.