Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Addingham.... black redstart... another! 03-08-2010

Went walking on the edge of Rombalds Moor above Addingham, down towards Ilkley and back via Addingham Moorside. The weather originally was calm but as I trudged back, a strong westerley was constantly blowing in my face. There was no chance for Spotted Fly in these conditions. I noticed a bird perched at the entrance of a tumbled down building (made out of wooden strips with a metal roof). There was a disorderly woodpile at the entrance and the Black Redstart was on it, with quivering tail. Unfortunately, it flew back into the shed so I waited for it to reappear. It didn't so I examined the back of the shed and found huge gaps that a race horse could get out of! After scanning walls, rooftops, farm equipment and farmyards, I gave up but feel lucky to have seen the same species on two day's running. Called in at Whetstone and on the brink of the hill saw 2 juv Whinchat.

Shaun Radcliffe

Oxenhope... gulls build to second peak? 03-08-2010


Gulls... mass dreading!... (c) 2010


Gulls.... mass dreading!.... (c) 2010


Curlews going West... next stop Ribble?... (c) 2010

WF3, 16degC, 65km, 2/8, QNH 1012 falling
1805 - 2040hr
A mainly cloudy morning but during the pm broken cloud becoming scattered and then few by early evening. Pressure falling all day. Masses of gulls on the deck and movement still happening but despite the big numbers of gulls absolutely nothing else of significance. Again very few mipits going west and no Wheatears at all. Four Curlews left the in-bye and went high west.... next stop Ribble??
LBB Gull 465
BH Gull 752
Herring Gull 1
Common Gull 12
Curlew 4
Meadow Pipit 5
Dave