Back to where it all began, Dailie fields to Queensbury old railway station.

            A first for me this year, Long Tailed Tit.

    Looking down the Dailies to the old triangular
                               railway station site.

  View to the NE, Baildon Moor on the horizon.

                                   One of the old tunnel vent shafts.

          Looking down the old track. A carriage used to be winched
 up here with goods from the station to the village.

 These Hawthorns were only planted a few years ago,
                                                  now its a jungle.

  The long climb back up. Seems steeper than when I was 12 yrs old.

                    Perfect Gorse habitat. This area has held Linnets
                                   since I first began my birding here.

A cloudy day with a cold NE>4 and a few light showers.
                                            Todays walk took me to where my life of birding began back in 1963 when HC and me started off our birding career at 12 years old some 57 years ago. We used to trek up and down the Dailie fields and into the old railway station on a regular basis as well as Shibden Valley. Surprisingly the fields have hardly changed apart from where there was just plain grass the hillside now is a jungle of Hawthorns which will be a haven for passerines in another few weeks.
                                          As I walked down this morning I could remember each area well and the birds we saw down there. A large area of gorse half way down always held Linnets and today I got my first of the year in just the same spot. In those days Yellowhammer , Redstart and Lesser Whitethroat were common sightings.
                                         We watched it that regular that we got to know where every species could be found, along with their nests and every Holly bush that held roosting Tawny Owls.
                                         The station area is well overgrown now and a cycle track runs through it to Thornton. Arguments are still ongoing whether to repair the tunnel that goes through to Halifax making it into a tramway and cycle track. We went in the tunnel several times lobbing stones at massive icicles that hung off the ceiling. The station was still complete with lines and buildings along with the old viaduct. We used to play in the signal box and once collected a load of track blocks to take home for fire logs. The farmer saw us and chased us up the Dailies , each with a bag of logs on our back ,and still he could,nt catch us. I dont think I could do that today.
                                           As I say, each time I revisit here, this place needs watching, and then it gets neglected again with visiting other sites. Birds were quiet today with the cold NE wind and early in the season but I,ll be spending more time here whilst the lock down is on at least. I only did the Dailie fields area as access into the station is not easy with 3 dogs in tow .

Dailie Fields
5 Linnet
2 Long Tailed Tits
3 Blue Tits
7 Great Tit
1 Robin
2 Dunnock
1 unseen calling Green Woodpecker
+ usual Corvids etc
Keep safe and don,t forget to put your clocks forward. 
BS