Moors for the future

https://www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk/the-latest/recent-news/other-news-articles/landmark-survey-reveals-moorland-birds-are-thriving

Great to see the improvement since the last survey..You never know next time there may be a healthy population of Hen Harriers ..........................

HHHotel

beautiful light and little wind produced  3 takers tonight , all in around 5.30 -6.00 . A very distant view of a very large bird above the Pennine way had to be an adult female. Also in the area 1 Barn Owl hunting at 4.07 , 1 Little Grebe ,12 lapwing , 2 Common Gull , 2 BH Gull , Fieldfare and Redwings .
24.10.19
3 Hens (1 male , 1 first winter , Male and 1 Female .) 1 Merlin , 1 Raven , 2 Buzzards , 3 Kestrels , 10 Golden Plover , 2 BH Gulls and a few mixed flocks of FF and RWings.

Jackdaws

247 Jackdaws over Northowram at dusk tonight heading towards Coley..

Blake Dean to Lower Gorple

Still one male Ring Ouzel feeding at Widdop Gates and about 10 Mistle Thrush , 2 Fieldfare and a few Redwing. A flock of 50 Goldfinch and a couple of Ravens feeding on a dead sheep carcass and 3 Buzzards close by  .Very little else till we got to Lower Gorple where a Goosander was on the water , 2 Merlins and 2 Hens kicking about .

Nowt much

A Red Kite low over the motorway at Elland Road Leeds today and a couple of Common Buzzards have been seen between the junction at M62 and the M621 for the last few weeks..2 Buzzards at home in Northowram.....The odd small flock of Redwings at that is about it..............

Blake Dean to Walshaw Plantation

I have never seen anything like it , the valley below Widdop Gate and up to Walshaw Plantation  was full of Thrushes with at least 70 + Mistle Thrush , 4 Ring Ouzel (3 male and 1st winter female), 30 Redwing , 40 Fieldfare ,3 Blackbird and 1 Song Thrush(all 6 British Thrushes feeding in one Rowan tree) .........Also in the area , 2 Swallows ,4 Raven , 3 Stonechat , 1 Wheatear , 1 Merlin , 1 Hen , 1 Sparrowhawk , 20 Goldfinch , 1 Grey Heron , 1 Herring Gull , 2 Buzzards , 1 Barn Owl , 3 Kestrel ,Great Spotted Woodpecker , Wren , Robin , Chaffinch , Stock Dove , Woodpigeon ,1 Grey Wag and 4 Pied Wagtails...

                                                 Photo NCD...

                                                      Grey Wag at Lower Gorple

                                                                 Ink Caps

Lower Gorple  yesterday held , 2 Barn Owl ,  27 Widgeon , 6 Teal and a Merlin....

Fog.

When I got to Lower Gorple it was still dark but clear , the Rock Pipit flushed from under the bridge and by the time I got my binns on it a couple of minutes later  the fog had set in. ..I followed it along the dam wall it was feeding all the time and  was not bothered by my presence at all ..There were at least 5 Meadow pipits 7 Pied Wagtails , 5 Widgeon and 5 Greylags about as well . 2 Stonechats  and 2 Wrens  in the car park . A good sized flock of 120 + Redwings dropped into the trees at home....

Rock Pipit at Lower Gorple

A Rock Pipit was found tonight by Me and NCD it was seen for about 10 minutes by to drain at the Keepers cottage side of the dam. It may still be present tomorrow morning..Just got up to Lower Gorple as the rain was stopping and stumbled across this little beauty. Also 2 Hens , 2 Buzzards , 3 Barn Owl and 5 Pink footed geese dropped in at dusk...

                                         Diagnostic grey centre to white outer tail feather

Still present on the 2nd October great photo by Dave Franz ..cheers

It was last seen on the 6th October , very rare for one to stay for so long inland..It was seen by many observers and some great photos were taken , this is my favourite take by Gary Waddington .