9th March

Another day on the tops brought a surprise odd looking pipit thought to be a Icelandic Meadow, also 2 Crossbills nearby, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Hen, 3 Barn Owls, 2 Shorties, 200 Curlew etc.

6th March

The local Frogs are back spawning almost 2 weeks early. Tried the new camera out on a few Skylarks in flight, still not quiet got to grips with it yet.

2nd March

Tried out the new Lumix over the last 2 days and these were the best I got out of 200 shots, conditions were not great though.

27th February

Out with tall Andy today. A female Crossbill showed well in the tops of a Pine tree. A Ringed Plover and a Redshank were the earliest Ive had in Calderdale. Loads of Curlews, Lapwings and Oystercatchers are back also early. Raptors included 3 Barn Owls, 5 Short-eared Owls, 1 Hen, 2 Buzzards, 1 Little Owl and 4 Kestrels.

23rd February

Todays tally included 3 Buzzards, 2 Hens, 3 Sparrowhawks, 3 Kestrels, 3 Barn Owls, 2 Shorties, 1 Raven, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Tufted Duck, 30 Curlews, 30 Goldies, 16 Oycs, 400 Lapwings, 2 Dippers, 1 GSWPecker etc.

21st February

Tried out the camera again today on the local gulls, had 2 Bramblings at Roils Head.

Rat on a feeder

Had another go with the new camera today although conditions were not great. Saw the oddest thing I have ever seen on a bird feeder, a Dirty Rat?????

16th February

Me and Dave tried a few new sites today and we hit the jackpot when Thunderbird 2 flew over, good job I have just got a new camera for some record shots, 3 Sparrowhawks 2 Kestrels and 2 Buzzards here. Then on to our usual spot where we had 2 Hens, 4 Barn Owls, 3 Shorties, 1 Buzzard, 1 Raven, 7 Oycs, 300 Lapwings and 8 pesky Curlews.

New Camera

Treated myself to a new camera the lumix fz82, tried it yesterday and was disappointed with my results, so returned to Mount Tabor today with different settings and a bag of bread and did a little better.

10th February

Another day out on the moors, todays tally included 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 6 Kestrels, 1 Hen, 3 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Shorties, 1 Barn Owl, 8 Crossbills, 1 Dipper, 4 Ravens, 6 Herring Gulls, 70 Fieldfares, 2 GSWPeckers, 50 Red Grouse etc.

7th February

Very windy today but we did still manage a Raven and 2 Peregrines on route, followed by 1 Hen, 1 Buzzard, another Raven, 3 Barn Owls, 1 Shortie, 1 Oystercatcher and 15 Lapwings.

2nd February

A glorious but cold day out on the moors produced 2 Hen Harriers, 3 Buzzards, 1 male Sparrowhawk, 4 Kestrels, 3 Shorties, 2 Barn Owls, 1 Woodcock, 3 Teal, 2 Ravens, 6 Greenfinch, 2 Reed Buntings, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Great Spot Woodpecker.

27th January

26th January a wash out but we had a Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard before getting rained off. 27th January, very windy, todays totals were 2 Hens, 2 Buzzards, 2 Ravens, 4 Kestrels, 1 Barn Owl, 80 Herring Gulls, 4 Great Black Backs, 10 Lessers, 2 Great S Woodpeckers, 1 Grey Heron, 70 Fieldfares and 2 Stock Doves.

19th January

Another good day out produced, 4 Whooper Swans, 80 Pink-footed Geese, 35 Herring Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Goosander, 2 Hens, 1 Buzzard, 6 Kestrels, 3 Shorties, 3 Barn Owls including a fantastic golden orange bird I managed to get some film of, 2 Dippers, a Grey Wagtail, 5 Crossbills, 8 Brambling and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

18th January

Back on the moors today in the snow and rain, not a bad day considering the conditions with 2 Hens, 3 Buzzards, 3 Shorties, 3 Barn Owls and a flock of 28 Pinkies north west.

13th January

Had a walk into Halifax today to Sainsburys car park for a second time to try to connect with the Waxwings that have been present for about a week. A small group of birders found 3 birds feeding on berries in the middle of the car park, the weather was not great so we had to wait for a 10 minute break when the sun came out for better light. Also 1 Redwing 2 Blackbirds and a Grey Heron over.

12th January

Took a walk over Roils Head and had a superb adult male Kestrel land on a fence post right in front of me. I rushed to get the camera out, which was set up all wrong, so I had to make some quick adjustments and managed to fire off 16 shots before the bird took off. Unfortunatly the conditions were poor so quality not as good as expected. Also in the area 1 Brambling, 3 Herring Gulls, 150 Common Gulls and at least 80 BHGs.

9th January

Out on the moors again and all the usual suspects, 2 Barn Owls, 2 Shorties, 1 Hen, 3 Buzzards, 1 Crossbill and a Raven I phone scoped from the best part of half a mile away.

1st January 2019

A glorious day out meeting up with some old friends and new. Bright sun shine and very little wind meant it would be a good owl day, and it was with 3 Barn and at least 6 Short-eared, also a surprise was a superb Merlin + 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Hen Harrier, 1 Raven, 21 Goldies and the usual Oystercatcher.