Luddenden Dean

Had a couple of hours in the dean late morning - before the torrential rain came in !
Redwings all over the place after an overnight arrival - difficult to get any decent counts but probably 300+. They were getting blown all over the place but they were very alert and flighty, some heading up the dean and others down, perhaps wanting to settle but when they are in migration mood they do not seem to want to stay especially when the raptors were are also well in evidence.
400+ Woodpigeons though they went straight through >SW
2 Fieldfares
6+ Mistle Thrush
Buzzard
3 Sparrowhawks
4 Kestrels
1 Merlin - female fly-through came off Castle Carr Road, down into the dean strafing the fields then the tree tops then low over the moor >W
1 Little Owl
1 Dipper in the stream by the bridge just before the 'catti' pub
1 Nuthatch and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker both near the Lower Lodge

Very few small birds about in the blustery wind other than a few Chaffinch over >SW
1 Reed Bunting in juncus along Castle Carr Road