Well its been a tough start to the year with rain , wind and snow...and birds have been hard to find. Lower Gorple today was a break in the weather , 2 Merlins , Meadow Pipit , Raven , Hen Harrier , Peregrine and a few Stock Doves . A look at Walshaw plantation held a mixed flock of 20 Siskin , 5 Redpoll , 10 Goldfinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
A few Pink footed Geese skiens heading west , 2 GBBGulls ,Goldeneye , Tufted Duck , Teal ,Goosander have been hard to find but 65 species by the 19th January......
Added 8 Twite a rare bird now , long gone are the days when you could get um on Soil Hill , in fact the easiest place is Green Withens in winter !!!!! Great to hear Red Grouse calling here as well and not a gamekeeper for miles..Dipper in Hebden Bridge , Woodcock , Stonechat and a couple of Barn Owls hunting during the day at Widdop. Red legged Partridge , Nuthatch , Whooper Swan and a Grey Wagtail on the road at Slack, makes 76 so far 25th January.
15 years ago Barn Owl was mega rare and Twite was common. Also Nuthatch ,Marsh Harrier , Red Kite , Raven and Little Egret are now regular and used to be rare and Tree Pipit , Pochard , Wood Warbler , Water Rail , Whinchat , Lesser Whitethroat , Sedge Warbler are going the other way......
