A dull dank day never really brightening up with a SSW>5 and rain showers although very mild. 12 degrees in the garage.
Several parties of both Fieldfare and Redwing were coming over in waves late morning between 1000 and 1100 hours moving >S and >W probably looking for new feeding grounds whilst the local female Sparrowhawk skimmed across the car park making a half hearted attempt at Starlings.
At lunch time around 12 Goldfinch were feeding on weed tops on the rugby field but no sign of yesterdays Chiffchaff.
An amusing statement today from an old gentleman village character when he told me he was going to a Christmas do this evening but would be home " affor blunderbus gooas off " , a Queensbury saying I have,nt heard for a while.
This stems back to the late 1800s when the watchman at Black Dyke Mills used to fire a blunderbus at precisely 9.pm ever evening in the mill yard to let the owner Herbert Foster, who lived in the castle in Littlemoor Park, know that all was well in the mill.
It was also used as a curfew in the village when teenagers were told " You mun be ooam bi,t blunder gooas, thas to bi up bi six int morning".
The knowledge on this blog is amazing !!
BS.
WEST YORKSHIRE BIRDING. BRIAN SUMNER. I am based at Queensbury and bird a patch within a 10 mile range of home incorporating 16 stretches of water, several plantations, a belt of woodland, stretches of river and canal and good areas of moorland. I specialize in upland birds, reservoir and sky watching. My local patch is Fly Flatts reservoir. Any reports can be sent by text or call to 07771 705024 or see profile for e mail address. All images on this blog are copyright.(2025).