23rd May Fairburn Ings

Nipped over to Fairburn with Roy for the Night Heron but no show, did however relocate the female Bufflehead, origins very dubious. Also Spoonbill, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Avocets and a stunning sunset on the way home.

Thorne Moors 20th May

Thorne Moors with AC. Great day with no less than 25 Hobbies seen, 23 all in one view, other raptors were 8 Marsh Harriers, 1 Buzzard and 1 Sparrowhawk. The highlight was however a Crane which took off right in front of us from cover. A nesting Tree Pipit was also good to see as were several Cuckoos.

19th May

Around the reservoirs today just brought the usual species + we dipped again on a Sanderling at Fly Flats.

14th May

Nipped up to Fly Flats for todays reported Ruff, but sadly no sign. We did however have 17 Dunlin, 10 Common Sands, 7 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Ravens, Cuckoo, Shortie, 2 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, Wheatear etc.

13th May

Me and Roy visited St Aidans on 13th, best birds were an adult Black Tern, a first summer Little Gull and 2 Bitterns heard but not seen.

6th - 10th May

Catching up on the last week saw a few new birds for the year with a Whitethroat and Blackcap singing at Roils Head. A Common Tern at Elland and another at Cold Edge Dams. A Whimbrel flew in to Fly Flats on 10th joining the many Dunlin, Common Sands and 2 Ringed Plovers. Also got my first Swifts and House Martins of the year.

5th May

The Ring Ouzel was located again today but distant so still no decent photos. 4 LRPs showed well as did 5 Shorties and 1 Barn Owl. Nothing else new for the year. On 6th found a singing Whitethroat at Roils Head.

30th April

Todays highlights included 3 Shorties, 1 of which I phone scoped and another I got with the Lumix. 2 possibly 3 Long-eared Owls at dusk along with 2 roding Woodcock and a Cuckoo. Also re - found the Ring Ouzel but it wasn't showing well enough to get a decent picture. 3 Buzzards, two of which were eating Rabbits and lots of Snipe about.

28th April

All the usual moorland species today + a nice Ring Ouzel that I phone scoped at a distance. Pair of Stonechats showed very well and a Merlin dashed overhead having a go at a Meadow Pipit.

21st April

Had a rare evening visit to Cromwell Bottom with Roy today, highlights were a Kingfisher, 3 Goosander, 3 Blackcaps singing and a pair of courting Woodpigeons.

20th April

Over 40 species recorded today including 5 Dunlin, 7 Shorties, 1 Little Owl, 2 Stonechats, 1 eating an Emperor Moth, 4 Wheatears, 4 Buzzards etc.

19th april

All the usual birds today including 6 Buzzards, 6 Shorties, 1 Barn Owl, loads of waders, a Stonechat and lots of Willow Warblers.

14th April

All the usual moorland birds today including our first Common Sandpiper of the year, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers and a big juvenile female Peregrine that put on quite a show.

7th April

All the usual moorland species today including 3 Barn Owls, 3 Shorties and a pair of Merlins. Migrants new in were 2 Wheatears, 3 Little Ringed Plovers and a Swallow. Several pairs of Toads mating.

5th and 6th April

5th April, all the usual species including 3 Shorties but no new migrants today. 6th April, first Willow Warbler singing at Roils Head.

Born April 1979

BORN IN THE USA. April 1979.Just realised that my Rickenbacker 4001 Bass has just turned 40 year's old, it was maid in California in April 79. When I bought it in March 1980 the first thing I did was take the bridge pickup rest guard off to make playing with the fingers easier. This is the genuine Rick Bass of the 70s, model 4001 not the later model 4002 or 03 which from all reviews are not as good. Other famous Rick 4001 players have included Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Lemmy, Glenn Hughes, Roger Glover and even Geezer Butler and Phil Lynott have played one at one time or another. The only other one Ive ever seen on TV in this colour was played by the bassist in the Undertones on Teenage kicks. The other Guitar is my cheep Jap Westone Thunder 1A.

31st March

Most of the usual moorland birds today + my first Sand Martin of the year.