30th and 31st August

30th August, 2 Hens tonight along with 6 Shorties, 2 Leos, 1 Barny, 2 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Ravens and loads of Kestrels. 31st August, first Redstart of the autumn found at Roils Head.

28th August

A great evening out saw us get 3 Barn Owls, 3 Shorties and 2 Long-eared Owls all hunting at the same time. Also our first autumn Hen, Peregrine, Buzzard, 4 Kestrels, 2 Ravens, 11 Curlew and a couple of Tufted Ducks.

25th August

Fly Flats produced 1 Buzzard, 4 Dunlin, 3 Curlews, 4 Teal, 8 Tufties and 7 Wheatears. Whiteholme held just 2 Ringed Plovers a Dunlin and 3 Wheatears and Blackstone Edge had just 1 Curlew.

22nd August

Me and Dave went to Whiteholme in poor conditions and found this rather odd looking godwit, first we thought Bar Tailed then we changed to Black Tailed then after looking at photos I decided I am not sure HELP. We should have tried to flush it, that would have clinched it. I am guessing it may be an Icelandic Black Tail, that might explain the reddish on the flank. Also present 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Sand and 1 Snipe.

21st August

Me and Phil went to check out 2 more Barn Owl sites, didn't see any Barnies but had 2 Short-eared Owls and a second Marsh Harrier of the year.

18th August

Fly Flats produced 4 Ringed Plovers and 3 Dunlin today, elsewhere we had 7 Common Buzzards up together, 4 Shorties, 2 Ravens and a juvenile Peregrine.

16th August

Dashed up to Fly Flats to see a superb summer plumaged Grey Plover, then on to Whiteholme where we found 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Redshank and 3 teal. 1 Dunlin and a Common Sand at Blackstone Edge, not much at Ringstone.

14th August

Not much to do today so me and my brother took my 6 year old niece Phoebe to Hollingworth Lake. I used my Zeiss and Phoebe used my spare Leica 8x32s, don't know if she will take to it but worth a try, she seemed more interested to talk about UFOs and American conspiracy theories, how things have changed since I was a kid.

11th August

Out today with Dave, Fly Flats held 2 Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, 1 Buzzard and 4 Kestrels. Moving on to the Walshaw area we found 3 Crossbills feeding in the plantation, a male and female and a juvenile, we also had a family of Stonechats, 4 Buzzards and 18 Kestrels.

10th August

Zipped over to Fairburn Ings with Roy this evening for a couple of hours. 2 Spoonbills showed well again along with 2 Little Egrets, 1 Whooper Swan, 7 Black Tailed Godwits, 4 Green Sands, 4 Common Sands, 1 Dunlin and 1 Snipe.

9th August

Returned to last nights Barn Owl site and managed to locate the new nest site, that makes 8 breeding pairs so far this year.

Juv Cuckoo

Last nights juv Cuckoo taken through car window.

8th August

After a tip off me and Phil went looking for another Barn Owl site and found not one but two, needs another look to prove breeding. Also had 3 Short-eared Owls and a juvenile cuckoo on our travels.

6th August

Out with Phil D again checking our last Barn Owl site, this time found 4 youngsters sat out waiting for supper, in all we have found 7 pairs, 5 of which have raised a total of 20 young. At two other sites 1 pair had all 6 young predated and at the other 6 eggs failed to hatch, still a very good year. Short-eared Owl close by feeding young on the ground.

4th August

Highlights today were 2 Sanderling and 2 Green Sandpipers at Fly Flats. Couldn't find the Greenshank that was present for its second day. 4 other reservoirs produced very little apart from 2 pairs of Great Crested Grebes with young.

2nd August

A quick look at 3 reservoirs produced 4 Ringed Plover, 1 LR Plover, 6 Dunlin, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Common Sandpipers and a Curlew.

31st July

Had an evening out at Fairburn Ings with Roy for a change, Adult and juvenile Spoonbills showed well, also an unseasonal Whooper Swan, 1 Little Egret, 3 Green Sandpipers and another Barn Owl.