More on the Rough-legs.....

A visit on to the Moors this afternoon, enticed by nice clear weather for a change and news that the Great Grey Shrike which has been residing just outside the Barnsley recording area had made the short hop to Cowell Flat which is just inside the Barnsley boundary. Met John Hewitt here who was already looking and we found out from the original observer (Roy Twigg) that it was in the area at the eastern end of Cowell Flat where the wires run across the moor and also on the northern side of the road at Canyards. We failed to find it but for anyone who wishes to look again, that's where to start. We then spent a couple of very enjoyable hours on Dukes Road, the Barnsley recording area border line;- a juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard was over the valley and continuously in view for around two hours and just before dusk a second Rough-leg was up over the ridge towards Holling Dale. Both birds headed off towards Holling Dale, presumably to roost. Technically, both these birds were outside Barnsley airspace as we watched them but at least one of them was seen in our area earlier and it was quite a show it put on for us. A ringtail Hen Harrier put in two or three appearances, at one stage alongside the Rough-leg (and that did fly into Barnsley airspace), a couple of Kestrels and two Ravens made up the numbers.