On setting off from home a yellow bird was on the wall by Foxhill school and as I got opposite it flew across the front of the car heading west, a female Yellowhammer. The last Yellowhammer I got in Queensbury was 52 years ago when they were common in the old railway station, remember that Comp.
Yesterday was cool and heavy rain throughout and the whole area was alive with Snipe, Curlew, Mipits etc but with the sunshine today the place was dead. Not a single Snipe or Goldie and only 2 Curlew and a few Lapwings plus the usual geese etc.
A single male Wheatear was present briefly and the conditions were good for raptors but otherwise poor, bring back the grey stuff.
Thanks to DJS, IH and Steve Downing for info on yesterdays Peregrine with the red leg ring which appears to be a Lancashire bird probably ringed in Greater Manchester. Ian had a juv sporting a red leg ring at Keighley Moor 24/8/2016, possibly the same bird or another.
The highlight of todays watch, though frustrating, was a large raptor which flew low across the west moor before disappearing over the west ridge with about 30 seconds of viewing through the camera. The bird was well out of camera range , in the sun and a background of heather making photos near impossible but going by what I saw and the 4 disgusting photos I can only have a stab at cream crown Marsh Harrier going by the light mark on its head and wing tips turned up with no white rump although the protruding head looks good for Honey Buzzard but maybe not the wings. It had a slow, very casual flight with deep slow wing beats. I could be way off the mark but hopefully the raptor experts will be tuning in. To be investigated further.
