Recent bits

Had a Barnacle Goose and a Greylag Goose with a red neck collar the other day ( the red neck collar I think comes from Windermere ). Plenty Common Sandpipers on the upland reservoirs and the odd LRP. Plenty of gulls on the move with BHGull , Herring , LBBGull and the odd GBBGull heading west. Swallows also trickling through in small numbers and small groups of Chaffinch also heading west. The SEO population seems to be having a very good year with many birds been seen all over the uplands. 2 Common Terns At Cromwell Bottom with 6 Mute Swans here....Cuckoo and a Spotted Flycatcher on the 29th April and my first Greylag goslings of the year............

Marsh Harrier and SEO..(honest)

Been a good year for raptors and Owls  so far with , Marsh Harrier , Hen Harrier , Osprey , Merlin , Peregrine , Kestrel , Sparrowhawk  lots of Buzzards..Barn , LEO , Little , Tawny and lots of SEO.

Osprey No 2

Also in the area Merlin , Peregrine , SEO ,Raven , Buzzard , Wheatear , Swallows and Sand Martin.

SUN

Its was hot today ...red hot........popped to Jay house lane , Blackcap ,Chiffchaff ,Willow Warbler , Skylarks , Curlew and Swallows.10 Guinea fowl....

Sun at last........

Headed for the high moors this morning , Chiffchaff singing , 5 Common Sandpipers , 1 LRP , 1 Sand Martin north , 4 Swallows north , Male and female Sparrowhawk display , 9 Buzzards (1 with pale rump below) , 1 Peregrine , 4 Kestrel ,1 SEO (display clapping) 8 Snipe , 2 Redshank , 1 Golden Plover , Lapwing , Curlew , Oystercatcher(lots of display  and calling) , 3 Jays (a bit odd up there) 1 Raven and 2 Goosander

First Swallow

First Swallow today at Cooper Bridge flying down the river....
2011......1st April
2012.....21st April
2013....10th April
2014....12th April
2015....13th April
2016......4th April
2017.....21st April
2018.....7th April

Oak Beauty

Grey Shoulder Knot

Caught this little beauty last night in the trap at Northowram , its not been recorded before in Calderdale and was a rare moth in Yorkshire till 2004 .It is now recorded as regular in many parts of Yorkshire. First Small Tortoiseshell in the garden on the 5th April..............

Tatty HH

Good to catch up with Little Owl and Common Scoter over the weekend, but no migrants back yet....