5th April

Out looking for migrants today but nothing on that front. All the other usual moorland birds including stacks of Shorties and a Buzzard with a huge full crop.

1st April

A good day for raptors with 2 Peregrines, 1 Merlin, 4 Buzzards, 6 Kestrels, 5 Shorties and wintering harriers now down to 3 birds. Also had a Little Grebe out of place, 1 Goosander, 25 Goldies, 3 Redshank and numerous Oycs, Curlew and Lapwing.

30th March

A quick detour today saw us scoping a Sandwich Tern at Fly Flats, only my third record for Calderdale. Moving on to the next site which usually doesn't produce much we found a pair of Pintail on the distant shore line, another species that can be hard to find locally. Also had 2 Hens, 2 Buzzards, 3 Shorties, 1 Raven, 1 Woodcock + the usual waders.

25th and 26th March

Two more days on the moors produced 3 Harriers on 25th and 4 on 26th, good numbers of Shorties about, 8 counted on 26th with one bird catching 3 voles in 10 mins on 25th. Also at least 6 Buzzards and 4 Kestrel recorded + the odd Sparrowhawk, Raven, Goosander, Herring Gulls, Tawny Owls, lots of Redshank + numerous other waders.

24th March

2 adult male hens today but just 1 female, 2 Peregrines, 1 Buzzard, 4 Kestrels and at least 6 Short-eared Owls. Other birds included 25 Goldies, several Oycs, 3 Redshank, numerous Curlew and Lapwing and a Woodcock heard last thing.

13th March

DF found a Knot at Ringstone today, so we had a quick look at that before moving off to our usual site which held 9 Hen Harriers and 9 Short-eared Owls, 2 of which were in full display. Also Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzards, 6 Kestrels, 1 Redshank, 1 Raven, lots of Curlew, Oycs and Lapwings and 3 Grey Partridge to end off a good day.

10th March

At least 7 Hens found today including the adult male, also 3 Shorties a Goosander, 4 Oycs and several Curlew and Lapwings.

6th March

6 Hens today including 4 sat on posts, no sign of the adult male though. Also 2 Shorties and the Merlin which I missed. Managed to get some video of 3 birds, 2 of which are shown above.

5th March

Todays birds included 4 Hen Harriers, 3 Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Shorties, 1 Tawny Owl, 2 Teal, 23 Lapwings and 6 Curlews.

3rd March

Odd sighting today of a white Greylag type goose on the 5th tee of West End Golf Course, only other bird of note a Cormorant north over Roils Head.

26th February

Got a little side tracked today, me and Andy were going to check for harriers when we got a call saying there were 2 possible Rough-legged Buzzards in the south of the area. We arrived half an hour later but no sign, we did clock a Raven 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel and 5 Golden Plovers.

Fairies wear boots !

Just received an early birthday present from my older brother, Black Sabbath's last every concert on dvd from Birmingham last year. I was pleasantly surprised at just how good it sounds, much better than when I first saw them in Bradford in 1978. The second track Fairies wear boots is awesome, just a shame that DF had 2 spares tickets for that particular show and forgot to tell me until it was too late. All the tracks come from the classic line up from 1968s Black Sabbath - 1977s Technical Ecstasy. Not much happening today bird wise so turn the volume up to 10 and lets rock, OH Lord Yer.

24th February

Only 5 Hens today including the adult male which sneaked in at 5pm only to bounce back out at 5.30pm and returned at 6pm. Also 6 Buzzards, 4 Ravens, 1 Woodcock, 1 Tawny Owl, 14 Oycs and 40 Curlews.

20th February

6 Hens today including adult male, all 6 up in the air together at one point with 3 Buzzards and a Short-eared Owl. Also Kestrel, 3 Oycs and 7 Curlews.

19th February

Adult male + 4 or 5 female Hens today in foggy conditions, also 4 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 8 Oycs, 7 Curlews and the usual Dipper.

17th February

Adult male Hen back today with 4 females, 5 Buzzards, 5 Kestrels and the Merlin still present. Also 9 Herring Gulls east, 11 Goldies, 2 Curlews, 150 Lapwings and the usual Dipper.

11th and 12th February

11th February, very wintery conditions, still 5 Hens, 4 Buzzards, 1 Merlin, 5 Oycs, 1 Cormorant, 52 Herrings and 2 GBBGS. 12th February, 6 Hens, 6 Buzzards, Peregrine and 2 Kestrels.

4th February

5 Hen Harriers today including the stunning adult male also a superb Goshawk nearby putting ever bird in sight into the air. Also 4 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk and a Woodcock flying around in broad daylight.

30th January

Pink-footed Goose on the ground at Cold Edge today, also 2 Stonechats, 130 Fieldfare and a Little Owl at Castle Carr Road.

27th January

Phone scoped images of the Glaucous Gull at Hollingworth Lake on Saturday, first thought to be a second winter but probably more likely an advanced first winter due to dark eye.

26th January

6 Hens, 2 Peregrines, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, 1 Dipper, 80 Lapwings and 6 Golden Plovers today.

14th January

6 hens and 1 Sparrowhawk is all we had today.

13th January

7 Hens recorded today also 2 buzzards and that was about it.

11th January

Managed to get some poor video of the adult male today sat on a post, also had 5 females 1 Buzzard, 1 Shortie and a Teal.

10th January

DF took the afternoon off work, so we headed to our regular spot and recorded 8 Hen Harriers, with the sat tagged bird not seen today that must mean we have 9 birds in the area, fantastic!!!! also 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Kestrels, 1 Dipper, 1 Great Spot and 3 Greylags.

8th January

Out on the moors again today, 6 Hens including the adult male, 3 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels and the usual Dipper, not much else.

7th January

Todays birds included 1 Red Kite, 1 Merlin, 5 Hen Harriers, 3 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Dipper, 1 GSWPecker and a Flock of Herring Gulls passing through.

6th January

6 Hens recorded today including the adult male, also 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Dipper, 1 GSWPecker and 6 Golden Plovers.

Baird's Sandpiper Accepted

News as just come in that the Baird's Sandpiper me and DF found at Whiteholme last September as been accepted by the BBRC making it a first for Calderdale (will just have to bite the bullet and forget the one in 1990).

1st January 2018

Terrible conditions today but managed 3 Hen Harriers including the stunning adult male sat on the ground and on fence posts. Managed to get some video footage in heavy rain but quality very poor, still here's a few video snaps of the male. Also 1 Buzzard, 18 Herring and 2 Great Black Backs over, not much else.