19th March

Brother dropped me at Cold Edge, pretty quiet, 2 Greylag Geese, 1 Kestrel, 2 Oysercatchers, 2 Curlew, 1 Moorhen and a fly over Golden Plover was about it. Noted a few Meadow Pipits begining to move through.

17th March

Detour around Calderdale with SC didnt produce much today. 1 Grey Wagtail at Walsden, a pair of Little Owls at Mankinholes, then up to Walshaw Dean 8 Oysertcatchers, 16 Lapwings displaying and a handfull of Curlews was about it. Yesterday we had 1 Yellowhammer at Bradley Hall Farm and a total of 10 Goosanders there and at Elland GP. Not mush else at Elland 2 Coot and lots of Long-tailed Tits.

4th March

Got the bus up to local watch point this PM. Sparrowhawk mobbed by corvids on the way. Settled down for a couple of hours raptor watching, first a Sparrowhawk came out and started to display, did a very good immprestion of a Gos and had me going for a while. It finally ended its display by stooping at a passing Peregrine. The Peregrine then went off to hunt over the moors. Male Kestrel was the next to show followed by my first sighting this year at this site of a pair of Buzzards which started to talon grapple. The Sparrowhawk came out again and dashed behind the hillside puting up a few Magpies. Also in the area 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Red Grouse, 3 Mistle Thrushes. Had a stonking male Bullfinch near home when got off the bus.

3rd March

Went to Gorple today with DJS for the reported Water Pipit. Very flighty and very odd looking bird, didnt think it was one at first but better views and heard calling in flight later on had us both convinced it was one. The lack of obvious wing bars was puzzling but as MH pointed out that it was probably moulting prior to migration made sence. Also 1 Peregrine, 21 Golden Plovers, 20 Curlews, 3 Oystercatchers, 30+ Lapwing, 2 Red Grouse, 1 Dipper, 1 Common Gull, 3 Mistle Thrush and lots of Canada Geese.

Reunion booze up friday night

Todmorden Station mid-night left to right. Andy(5 basses)Smith, Mr Bink, Dave Junior(drums),Heavy Birder (Bass and guitar)Niggle(python guru), LA, Mark (Bass)and Paul (Ive got a Strat and a Gibson Les Paul) Turner.Brother Phil took the picture.Just about recovered from a rare great night out.

1st March

Cold Edge area today. 2 Curlews and 1 Oystercatcher at the dams, also 2 Goldeneye and 5 Greylag Geese present. At Cold Edge Road 5 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover and 5 Goosanders flying north.