Nice Visitor

                  Quiet today in the garden even the Goldfinch were in
                  low numbers, but had a nice visitor which had all the
                  birds panicking even the corvids were on edge, it was
                  a female Sparrowhawk on the hunt for my finches, she
                  didn't get one but might have had more luck a few gardens
                  away where she flew on to very low and quick.

Buzzards are back

         Two Buzzard soaring above Claremount moving towards
         Shibden, a large raptor flying from Halifax town centre towards
         Ogden but too far away to identify. 3 Swift and Swallows buzzing
         about in fields at Claremount. Lots of Goldfinch with young in the
         local gardens and 8 Linnet flying about but soon moved on. Gold,
         Green and Chaffinch in garden along with 4 House Sparrows, Jackdaws,
         Collared Dove, Magpies and Wood Pigeon.

       

Garden Watch

           Not been out since sunday due to decorating duties' but the
           garden is a busy spot, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Jackdaws,
           Collared Doves, Wood Pigeon, House Sparrows, Blue Tits, Bullfinch,
           all visiting garden, Swallows and House Martins flying about the garden
           and back field, Sparrowhawk flypast this evening and Roe Deer in field
           and local Weasel appeared dancing around the garden and nightly visits by
           Brock and Bats.

Wheatear Heaven

         Went up to Fly Flatts for a look early this morning with dark
         skies and mist rolling in and very windy, was gonna give it up as a bad job
         until I seen 4 Kestrel rolling about in the sky so I stayed and the weather
         Improved, then bumped in to Brian Sumner and had a natter and a laugh,
         he taught me which way was north haha.

         Lots of Wheatear on the rocks and down the hillside as I walked down
         there and also loads down the road towards Oxenhope, Kestrels were on
         form and then a merlin that Brian had told me about showed up, but too
         far away for a shot, Canada's and the adopted Barnacle goose were on the
         water and I spooked 4 grouse at north end of res and a Curlew also flew
         over heading towards Oxenhope and when I drove down the road I spotted
         another 4 along with Meadow Pipits and Swallows but the Black Redstart
         didn't show so went up to Withens and there were more Meadow Pipits and
         Goldfinch and also a couple of unknown juv birds, Linnet ? I think.

         Garden had Gold and Greenfinch, Jackdaws, Magpies, Wood Pigeon, and
         Collared Dove and 4 House Sparrows on the feeders, back field had 20+
         Swallows & House Martins.

Wet & Foggy Fly Flatts

            Took a trip up to Fly Flatts today but not much to see
            in the rain and the fog, Kestrels braved it for a while and
            a few Swallows darting about and seen a few juvenile birds
            knocking about but as I'm no expert I can't always tell what they
            are, and a few gulls around as well,  I didn't even see the Canada's
            today. 4 Pied Wagtails, juv Wheatear ? and juv Meadow Pipit ?
                 
            Also went up on the Oxenhope rd above Hebden Bridge where
            Kestrels were in abundance and also Crows.

            Garden had Gold, Green and Chaffinch, Jackdaws,Magpies,
            Collared Doves & Wood Pigeons and 4 House Sparrows which
            is unusual.

                   


           

A Few Recent Pics

Fly Flatts & Soil (soul destroying) Hill

           Had a trip up to Fly Flatts yesterday evening and this afternoon
           after hearing of Short Eared Owls being spotted, but no sign of them
           for me in fact not much sign of anything.
       
           1 Kestrel both days
           1 Buzzard both days
           1 Juvenile Wheatear today
           1 Stonechat today
           6 Swifts yesterday
           lots of Canada's both days. Little Owl & Swallows at Withens
         
          I then headed up to Soil Hill but it was soul destroying.
     
          1 Meadow Pipit
          1 Skylark
          1 Kestrel
          1 female Pheasant that I nearly stood on
          3 Wood Pigeon
          1 Stock Dove.
          another Kestrel hovering on back road nr Raggalds pub.

         Garden had the regular finches and 2 Bullfinch have returned again
         which I'm chuffed about and Buzzard was soaring overhead, had a
         Sparrowhawk attacking my finches on saturday just missing my head
         it looked like a juvenile one and the finches got away this time.

         Joke.
       
        I've been on a Garlic diet for a month and Ive lost 3 friends and a wife.