Swales Moor and Shibden Valley

Shore Lark still present this afternoon with 6 Skylarks but very, very windy so difficult to hold binoculars still although we saw the bird down to about 12 mtrs.

Shibden Valley (upper area from Shibden Mill Inn) was much calmer out of the wind. A Tawny Owl was found roosting in a holly bush and stayed on its perch as we looked at it from 5 mtrs or so. Also several Bullfinch and c200 Redwings (difficult to count as scattered widely in the valley with lots of hawthorn berries to feed on). Also 12 Fieldfares, Green Woodpecker, Jay, c60 Chaffinch and lots of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits. A male Sparrowhawk complete with its prominent russet/red chest was hunting in the upper valley and also a female near the ski slope headed over Ovenden. 1 Grey Heron and c90 Woodpigeons in the beech woodland so not a bad afternoon birding.

Its also very encouraging to see the stream in Shibden valley looking now much cleaner than it did in previous years when lots of sewage came down from the treatment works at the head of the valley. Well doneYW/NRA - looking for dippers now? DJ & J S