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.

31st December

6 Hens recorded today including the adult male, there may have been more but the rain was so bad we had to give up before dark.

Two of yesterdays birds

2 of yesterdays Harriers, pictures by Phil D.

28th December

An incredible 7 Hen Harriers today including the adult male, must be a local record? also 5 Buzzards and a Kestrel.

26th December

26th December Finally got out after 3 weeks feeling crap, still felt pretty bad so didn’t take the scope with me (fatal error). The first bird we saw was the Great White Death a Goshawk, probably a male by size. It zoomed across the moor then gained height soaring about for 5 minutes before stooping like a Peregrine into a nearby wood scattering a dozen Wood Pigs, first Gos Ive had here for a few years now. Next came 4 Buzzards and a Kestrel, 6 Goosanders, 30 Goldies, 7 Herring and 2 GBBGulls. Then what we had come for, 4 Hen Harriers including the tatty winged female we have named White Spot due to the obvious white spot at the base of the upper left primaries.

18th December

Not much doing the past few weeks, been out of action with the dreaded lurgy, even had to cancel going to see 70s glam rock band the Sweet for a second year running (last year a Pallid Harrier near Spurn was to blame). Today had a few bits, a Peregrine, 26 Golden Plovers and 40 Meadow Pipits were at Mount Tabor. Oh and my brother said the concert was great!!!!!!!

3r December

Just two Hens clocked today also 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks, 8 Herring Gulls, 5 Teal, 1 Dipper, a Nuthatch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

28th November

Out with tall Andy today, 4 Hens showed well also just 1 Kestrel.

25th and 26th Nov

25th November, went looking for DJS' Lapland Bunting on Swales Moor but no luck there so had a look at Elland GP and not much happening there also. 26th November, the same 5 Hens were again picked up today also 2 Buzzards and 2 Kestrels.

18th and 19th November

The Hen Harriers performed well over the last few days with 5 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday. DF got some great shots of the adult males tail pattern as it flew off whilst I managed to video an adult female sat on a post. Also recorded 9 Whooper Swans, 1 Woodcock and 4 or 5 Buzzards.

11th November

Todays raptors, 3 Hens, 1 Peregrine, 2 Buzzards, 3 Kestrels and 2 Shorties. 6 Teal, 3 Herring Gulls and a Snipe provided the backup.