Utch 31/7/10 1630-1850.

Highlights this evening included a brief male Redstart in the cow field hedge, female Wigeon among the Mallards and three juv' Little Egrets that flew in from the dark side at 1755.


Little Egret 3, Redstart 1, Yellow Wag' 1, LRP 15, Oyst' 4, Green Sand' 5, Common Sand' 4.


That's all folks.

Sat' Nav' Blunder at Blithers!

Hey up folks never managed to get to Utch today so you can bet ya bin's that there's summat paddlin' around right now! I did however manage to get to Blithers for another session in the shed and it proved quite worthwhile on the bird front with a Garganey and 1st sum' Med' Gull again in Tad Bay.

Forget the birds though, today's highlight for a packed hide was a kamikaze pensioner who'd obviously not realised that his sat' nav' had taken him onto the far shore in Tad Bay. He must have had a sherry or two before leavin' the old folks home though because instead of turnin' around he decided to carry on along the shore towards the Tad and before long he was up to his axles in the mud.

He was initially spotted by top Blithers lister Manty who alerted us all to what was goin' on just as the poor sod got stuck. From then on we all forgot the birds and listened to our Grahams runnin' commentary. The poor sod didn't get an ounce of sympathy from anyone in the hide because almost to a man we'd all done the same thing at one time or another, some had even done it twice!!! Unlike moi who's never done that but did crash into one of those huge tree stumps that run along the far shore in Blithe Bay many moons ago and ended up with just fourth and reverse gears and ended up reversin' almost a mile back back to the causeway and then drivin' the eighteen miles home in fourth!!!

Anyway back to our hero who after havin' a quick look at the situation decided to start shovin' a few nice green branches under the wheels to give him some traction.

After tryin' this several times and sinkin' ever deeper the owd duck decided to have a brew which I thought was pretty cool for someone of such a mature vintage

It was at this point that our Graham(he of the big lists) started to uncharacteristically feel sorry for our hero and if it hadn't been for The Cakeman stoppin' him he'd have been down to his Y-fronts and givin' it the old breast stroke across the bay.

What struck us all watchin' was that he never once seemed to think about callin' for help, perhaps he was to embarrassed. Anyway I hope he got out eventually the soft old sod!!!!

That's all folks.

Utch 29/7/10 1805-2000.

Hey up folks after a day of catchin' up with Birdtrack and scorin' brownie points with Jan I was lookin' forward to a good couple of hours relaxin' birdin'. Oh how wrong can you be??? The night ended up with me and Mol' bein' chased off by the manager who'd turned up on speck for a quick security check. Thankfully when I bumped into him on the way back to the car he didn't seem to realise it was me he'd been after and gave me his number just in case I saw anybody up to no good!!!

He also told me that after a security alert at the quarry the other night at about half eleven, the local bobbies had searched a blokes van who was parked on the access road that runs alongside the A50. Not only was he dressed in full leather gear but the back of his van was full of "exotic" ladies undies and other tools of the trade!!! Needless to say after a good giggle they let the poor sod go without chargin' him/her.

What with the streaker and now a bloke in a gimp suit it might be an idea to start birdin' Utch in twos just to make sure you're safe.

LRP 17, Green Sand' 5, Common Sand' 1.

That's all folks.

Utch and Blithers again 28/7/10.

Only a quick one tonight I'm afraid, just got back from a liquid tea with Jan after she finished work and the Strongbow is provin' rather soporific.

As you can see from the photo above work as started on the next phase of excavations at Utch which means they are workin' slap bang in the middle of the main lagoon but it didn't seem to make much difference to the birds that were present.

Nothin' new on the wader front apart from an adult Dunlin. Highlight was a load of Gypos that must of caught the bus from nearby Rocester because there's no way they could have flown after eatin' all that free nosh at the JCB site.

Gypo Goose 10, Dunlin 1, Green Sand' 1, Oyst' 2, LRP 7, Common Sand' 3.

After Utch I headed off to the high security site that is Blithers. After gettin' through security I headed for Tad Bay and for the second time in two days I found myself sittin' in a hide!!! I'm beginnin' to get that used to it I'm considerin' cuttin' an hole in the side of me shed.

Not a bad hour in the shed with a 1st summer Med' among the blockheads and 2nd sum' YLG struttin' around on the mud.

Med' Gull 1, YLG 1, Black'wit 5, Common Sand' 1.

Word in the shed was that yesterdays Sanderlint was still on the causeway so I decided to nip round to see if I could get a snap or two with the old Mugimaki 750 SLR. With images like this I bet Steve Young is crappin' himself!!!

That's all folks.

Utch and Blithers 27/7/10.

Well after last nights episode at Doxey it was nice to actually get good views of a bird or two today. Sadly pour moi they weren't at Utch despite two visits. Todays highlight at Utch was a flock of 9 Yellow Wag's that got up from below the main track. I eventually ended up with 12 birds in total.

Utch o930-1050 and 1435-1510.

Yellow Wag' 12, Willow Tit 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Green Sand' 1, LRP 7, Common Sand' 3.

While we were at Doxey last night top mid's lister Jules Allen told me he'd had two Med' Gulls at Blithers over the weekend so even though I can't be doin' with how Blithers has changed over the last few years, for the worse in my opinion, I thought I'd pick up a new key and then have a look round to see if Manty had missed owt on his mornin' rounds.

Blithe Bay alone held more than Utch: Common Tern 8, Black'wit 1, Redshank 1, Dunlin 1, Common Sand' 3, Little Egret 1 and 3 Yellow Wag's.

Tad Bay produced the goods with two Med' Gulls among the BHG's, a corkin' juv' and a first summer bird, both showin' well from the first hide. Perched in the hide were Blithers stalwarts Paul Hide, Clapper and Manty who all greeted me with "BLOODY HELL! What are you doin' here?" At one time you'd never have got me in the hide I always preferred the plank even when it was rainin' but the new regime decided to get rid of it. Shame that, new isn't always better.

Manty then had a call sayin' the ad' Little Stint was on the causeway so along with Mr Hide we shot round for a shufty. Guess what? It wasn't a stint it was a Sanderling!

Back at Croxden tonight I finished clear fellin' the VP and no sooner had I put me scope up and a Hobby flew right in front of me! Get in, Cheesedale year tick number 116 I think, must find that list.

That's all folks.

The Thrill Of The Chase.......

Hey up folks, little of note at Utch this mornin but I did bump into the manager and he was tellin' me that the next excavations will force the birds nearer to the main path because that's where all the water is now bein' pumped to!! Brilliant, just in time for the juv' Wilsons Phal' and no worries about gettin' a good view.

Hobby 1, Green Sand' 4, Curlew 1, Oyst' 1, Common Sand' 1, LRP 16.

A spot of prunin' was called for this evenin' on the viewpoint at Croxden, yep that's right prunin', well what's the point of a viewpoint if there's no view? So I whipped out the old secateurs and did it me self! And not a bad job too, even if I do say so me self. Once the view was restored I settled in for a spot of gullin' and soon picked up the juv YLG among the hordes of Lesser's below the VP. Then jolly old RP turned up and while we were havin' a moan about the Doxey Cattle Egret guess what came on the pager? Would you Adam and Eve it, "Staff's, juv' Cattle Egret showin' well from the main hide at Doxey".

If I'd been at home there's no way I would have gone for it tonight but minutes after tellin' RP I'd pick him up en route after droppin' Moll' off at home we were racin' along narrow country lanes with Scandinavian Symphonic Metalers "NIGHTWISH" beltin' out of the speakers. Not that RP was any the wiser, he thought we were listenin' to Kiri Te Kanawa the Kiwi warbler of posh tunes. At one point as we sped round a bend like"The Stig" in a reasonably priced car, we had a huge slice of luck when the bobbies sittin' waitin' for unsuspectin' Staffs birders completely missed us when they were lookin' the wrong way!! Result or what?

By the time we got to Doxey the light was fadin' fast but thankfully North Staffs RSPB's head honcho John Booth was leadin' the way and lite up the path with the sparks comin' from his slippers as he blazed a trail towards the main hide. Half way along the path we bumped into up and comin' young twitchers Steven Turnippers and Russ "car" Toon who yelled something about RP and logs as we raced past.

Once in the hide a quick glance across the water brought us down to earth rather quickly. The egret that had been showin' well now resembled a white plastic bag as it sat preenin' at the back of the bush and that's where it stopped apart from a brief moment when it stretched it's neck and wings! I've never been so underwhelmed since I "ticked" a Black-throated Blob in a Bush through a nice Mr Gantletts Questar somewhere in Norfolk many moons ago.

A major surprise tonight while I was earwiggin' in the hide was the revelation that a top mid's lister had recently moved into sheltered accomodation after bein' turfed out by his old dear. Thankfully he's settled in well and has made friends with "thwarden".

That's all folks.

ALEX "HURRICANE" HIGGINS 1949-2010.

Along time ago in the Kingdom of Cheesedale I stunned my careers teacher when she asked me what I wanted to do when I left school? This genius is one of the reasons my answer was "a Snooker player miss".

Don't worry i'm not goin' all Princess Di' but what a player!

Utch 25/7/10 1305-1530 and the "S" word!

Hey up folks family commitments meant an afternoon visit was the best I could hope for today. I've never been a fan of birdin' at this least active part of the avian day and today was typical with very little of note apart from a single Hobby causing havoc along the east coast and a juv' Peregrine flappin' around aimlessly.

A single juv' Dunlin was the only new wader today and that didn't stay long after the Hobby went over.

Curlew 11, Oyst' 10, Green Sand' 2, Common Sand' 2, Dunlin 1 juv', Hobby 1, Peregrine 1 juv', Yellow Wag' 2, RLP 4- 1ad' with 3 juv's.

One of the first messages on the pager this mornin' was " Staffs, Cattle Egret left Grey Heron roost at Doxey Marshes at 0535". What?? Why was somebody at Doxey at half five in the mornin'? I'll tell you why because the bird had been seen goin' to roost on Saturday evenin' and even photographed yet the news was not released until the bird had left the roost this mornin'!!!!!! Who ever was guilty of suppressin' this bird should have their bin's confiscated and then be skewered with a rusty old tripod leg!!

Better go for a lie down in a dark room me thinks.

That's all folks

Utch 24/7/10 0715-1005.

Willow Tits were almost guaranteed at Utch before last winters severe weather, which I thought had wiped them out locally. So one this mornin' in the cow field hedge was a nice surprise and a Utch year tick to boot!

Else where around the site warblers were showin' well, Blackcaps were feedin' young, Reed Warblers were carryin' food, Whitethroats still singin', Lesser'throats showin' well, Garden Warbler and a young Willow Warbler in phragy on the edge of Cottonmill pool. A Buzzard with two juv's near Spath Farm was a nice surprise.

Redstart 1 fem/imm', Willow Tit, Yellow Wag' 6, Reed Warb' 1, Blackcap 4, Lesser'throat 3, Whitethroat 3, Garden Warb' 1, Willow Warb' 1, Green Sand' 4, LRP 10, Oyst' 7.

That's all folks.

Site Tick! Utch 23/7/10 1800-2000.

If only eh? Yes I've managed to finally nail a Redstart at Utch. At least two have been on the pager for Utch since Wednesday and knowin' that they tend to stick around at this time of year I decided to play it cool and hang on 'til today. After checkin' the "Big Hedge" with no luck I eventually found one of them, a fem/juv', callin' loudly in the "Cow Field Hedge". It showed briefly but long enough to find it's way onto the old Utch list. That's the beauty of this place it's just like startin' birdin' all over again.

Also new in tonight were 6 Yellow Wag's and a Ringy.

Redstart 1 fem/juv, Yellow Wag' 6, Green Sand' 8, Curlew 8, Oyst' 3, Common Sand' 2, LRP 23, Red-legged Partr' 2.

A quick call in at Croxden on the way home produced a juv' Shelduck, juv' YLG, Oyst and Peregrine.

That's all folks.

Dipped Again! Chasewater 22/7/10.

I've always been a glutton for punishment so last night I headed off with Mad Malc' for another stab at gettin' a good look at the Franklins Gull at Chasewater. No luck again as it flew off five minutes before we got there and then when it was relocated we got to where it was and it flew off with the Blockheads it was roosting with! Brilliant! Despite the temperature droppin' rapidly, one well known local was actually shiverin', we stuck it out 'til just after nine and then drew stumps and called it a day.

Back at home first message on the pager was "Chasewater Franklins Gull at dusk" . Why do we bother?

Despite missin' Frank we did manage to see a juv' Peregrine runnin' amok and also an adult Med' Gull so it wasn't a complete loss.

Still with gulls at Croxden tonight a juv' YLG showed well below the VP and was later joined by an adult just before I left at 2020. Also 2 LRP's and an adult Peregrine.

That's all folks.

BACK IN BLACK 21/7/1980-21/7/2010.

Quite simply the greatest rock album that was ever made! Thirty years of pure genius.

Utch 20/7/10 1745-1945

Tonight's visit(100th in 2010) nearly got aborted when Frank came on the pager as I got there but I decided to plod on and boy am I glad I did!


LRP c45, Wood Sand' 1 juv', Green Sand 8, Oyst' 9, Curlew 4, Common Sand' 3, Dunlin 1.


LRP's along with Green Sand's are a feature of birdin' at Utch but this is a bit different, the local birds must have been joined by migrant birds displaced by the weather because over the w'end there were very few LRP's around and I was beginning to think they'd shipped out early.


It's been quite a year so far for waders in numbers with tops goin' to 55 Dunlin, c45 LRP's and 17 Oyst's. All we need now is that one quality bird which needless to say will not be found by moi despite my best efforts.


That's all folks.

Stock Takin' and Dippin'! 18/7/10

Hey up folks Webs stock takin' day today and these pesky free flyin' critters are part of the JCB collection at Rocester which is one of my sites and is full of other interestin' stuff that would get the old pulse racing momentarily if they turned up at nearby Utch. Wildfowl are always suspect at the best of times but round here everything has to be checked right down to the last feather!

After checkin' Hales Hall and Brookers and pickin' Jan up from her mornin' scourin' graveyards for long lost rellies I decided to break from the stock take and hit Chasewater for a second helpin' of Franklins Gull after it came on the pager as still present "but distant". A quick call to a long time birdin' pal with the offer of a lift which was turned down, finally confirmed what I've suspected for a long time now the lad is sufferin' from domestic strife or to give it it's medical name Henpeckeditus . It's sad but it looks like me old mucker has finally fallen by the wayside.

Anyway an hour later I was standin' on the dam at Chasewater in the rain with no sign of FRANK and very few birders lookin. After an hour and a chat to former Blithers regular Mike Inskip with nothin' more than a couple of YLG's on show I decided to hit Utch on the way home, finish the stock take and finally call at Croxden.

Utch 1335-1520

No sign of the Wood Sand' while i was there. The highlight bein' cripplin' views of a Lesser'throat and a crackin' count of seventeen Oyst's!

Oyst' 17, Green Sand' 4, LRP 5, Lesser'throat 3, Shelduck 1.

The best I could muster at Rocester was a single Common Tern perched on one of the steel birds in the middle of the north lake.

One last look at Croxden before home produced four Ravens overhead and an adult YLG among the LBBG's below the viewpoint! Brilliant, out all day and the bird of the day is a mile from home!! A Cheesedale year tick which puts me on 115 I think but can't be sure because I've lost me list.

That's all folks.

Utch 16/7/10 1845-2005.

Crippling views of the juvenile Wood Sand' this evening as it fed with three LRPs along the east shore.

Wood Sand' 1, Green Sand' 3, LRP 15, Oyst' 3, Shelduck 1.

That's all folks.

Chasewater 15/7/10 "a tremor at Tesco's".

Hey up folks for the second night runnin' plans for a night of wedded bliss were hastily scrapped but this time it was a Staffs Mega!!! FRANKLINS GULL @ CHASEWATER!!!! After missin' the Blithers bird this was one bird I wasn't goin' to miss.

Then I realised Jan had just gone out in the car and she wouldn't be back until nine! Shit, shit and double shit!!!! A few calmin' deep breaths and two text's later I was out of the house and runnin' the mile across cow pat laden fields that lie between my humble abode and Powells Palace. With some nifty footwork and the odd Lionel Messi style body swerve I arrived at RP's spotless but very out of breath and with legs that hadn't felt that bad since I last dipped on Blakeney Point.

Jolly old RP had just wolfed down a rather tasty Jau frezi Ruby Murray, but in his haste to get off for what would be his 350th British tick he forgot like I had the night before to drop a log in the bog! Oh dear, by the time we got to Tesco's at Uttoxeter he was virtually diving out of the car as he pulled up in the mother and child spaces. What followed next can only be described as a bit of a tremor and probably caused a sunami at Blithers ! Back in the car and a stone lighter RP put his trusty size thirteens flat to the floor and just after eight we pulled up at the sailing club at Chasewater. After my earlier exertions there was no chance of me breakin' into a sprint the best i could manage was a hurried shuffle towards the assembled great and good of the staffs birdin' scene. Friendly as ever, old Bernie Smith got me straight onto the Franklins as it roosted with Blockheads in the middle of the almost empty res'. Not the best of views in poor conditions but when it popped it's head up it brought more than a little delight to RP and moi.

It was nice to see a few faces I haven't seen for a while includin' Fair Isle, Nick Pom', Sylvia Staffs, Budgie Burgess, The Moorehen, The Nut and best of all The Cakeman(not my words) old Eric Samuel Clare who was goin' on about Utch gettin' Blithers birds. With the record Blithers as got it will take a long time to even come close to touchin' it and with very few people coverin' Utch, it will take even longer.

Many thanks to the finder, Graham Evans I think, for gettin' the news out so quickly and to my curry lovin' mate RP for the lift, TOP MAN.

That's all folks.

Utch 14/7/10 2020-2100 Sorry Jan......

After checkin' the forecast last night and seein' heavy showers forecast for this afternoon and evenin' there was no doubting where you'd find moi tonight."Incredibly" the forecast was miles out and so I decided to start the wedding anniversary celebrations early and take Jan for a Ruby Murray. Big mistake!

When we got back home the idea was to watch a film and...... but then I checked me 'phone and a message from RP read "Wood Sand' @ Utch", before Jan's derriere had hit the settee I was back in the car and on me way!

Trying to cover ground quickly with a bellyful of Lamb Dupiaza is not easy but tonight I could have given Paula Radcliffe a run for her money. At one point I thought I might need a few dock leaves but thankfully I managed to hold it in and got to me old "mucker" just as the Wood Sand' decided to pop into view, get in there!! Within a couple of minutes it flew out of sight behind a mound and I can tell you that for once I was glad to see the back of a bird so I could get back home for a #####.

Nice one RP.

That's all folks.

Utch 13/7/10 1810-2000.

Hey up folks, let's get the nogger out of the way first and congratulate the sons of waiters( only jokin' Toni in Puerto Pollensa, top man) after they rode the tide of Dutch cloggers to win the World Cup for the first time. Whatever happened to "The Beautiful Game" played by the likes of Johan Crufts, Johhny Reprobate and Johan knee-skin?

A good couple of hours at Utch this evenin' in the rain with the highlight bein' a twenty minute Greenshank that dropped in at 1925 and flew off east over the border into the dark side at 1945. Green Sand's were back up to eleven which beats the previous highest count of ten set last year. Common Sand's were back up to five.

A juv' Little Egret brought back memories of the Rudyard bird from nearly twenty years ago that caused a real stir in staffs and meant I had to rush round pickin' everyone up to make sure they saw what was in those days a rare bird!!! I went up to Rudyard every day for a week!! How times change eh?

Greenshank 1, Green Sand' 11, LRP 19, Common Sand' 5, Oyst' 8, Little Egret 1.

That's all folks.

Utch 11/7/10 1100-1320.

Very warm day at times again today although the strong w/sw wind did it's best to keep temp's down. The best i could come up with was a single Black'wit roosting among BHG's on Leasowes pit before moving onto the main pit and a flyover Kingfisher. Almost a complete clear out of Green Sand's with just one present today.

Black'wit 1, Green Sand' 1, LRP c25, Kingfisher 1, Common Tern 1.

In the end I ended up snappin' a few 'fly's. Nothin' juicey though just ya run of the mill stuff.

That's all folks.

Utch 10/7/10 1900-2100.

Bloody hell it's waaaaarm! So what better reason to take our Ellie for a paddle in the ice cold waters of the top lakes at Dimmings Dale. Typical four year old is our El' at first she wouldn't even dip a toe in but within ten minutes she was in up to her knees once she realised Grandad wouldn't let her fall in. She enjoyed it so much that she wants to go back tomorrow with our cozzies!!!! I don't think so, not even for our El'.

Sorry about that folks you'll just have to indulge a very proud Grandad once in a while.

Highlights at a very warm Utch tonight were a double figure count of Green Sand's, 2 juv' Yellow Wag's and an adult Common Gull.

Green Sand' 10, Curlew 11, LRP c20, Common Sand' 2, Oyst' 3, Common Gull 1, Yellow Wag' 2 juv's, Sedge Wobbler 2.

Blakehall in the moro for me final TTV and possibly a quick visit to Utch before we settle down to watch the dutch choke on their Oranginas. Even my liking for top dutch arrow chucker Raymond van Barneveldt can't stop me cheering on the sons of waiters to a glorious win and better Spanish holidays for all of us!

One last thing, this was by the back door when I went to work this mornin', anyone got any idea what it is? I can't find it in what few books I've got. Answers as usual on a postcard please.

That's all folks.

Utch 9/7/10 1830-2020.

Well if you didn't know already you do now folks, today is the first anniversary of my old mucker RP's moment of Utch birdin' glory! A year ago today I was at a barbie soggin' it down me instead of at Utch as usual when me phone rang and RP's rather shaky voice uttered the words" where are you I've got a Spoonbill at Utch"!!! Needless to say you could have knocked me down with the proverbial feather! All I could do was carry on suppin' and hope it would still be there in the mornin'. True to form and my usual luck it was gone by the time I got there the following morning. Happy anniversary pal.

At Utch tonight a nice increase in the number of Green Sand's around with 8 scattered around the site. Two Ringed Plovers were among the LRP's. Another nice surprise tonight was an adult Common Tern with a single juv' over the main pit.

Green Sandpiper 8, Ringed Plover 2, LRP 24, Common Sand' 2, Curlew 2, Oyst' 5, Common Tern 2.

That's all folks.

Utch 7/7/10 1910-2030.

Ever the optimist I hit Utch this evenin' in the hope that this mornin's prolonged rain had forced any waders that might be on the move early to check out North East Staffordshires wader hot spot. Alas it wasn't to be and there was actually fewer waders around than on Monday. Every cloud has a silver lining though and this meant I could get back to see the demise of Klause Meines love children after a flyin' header from Spains very own Capitan Caveman, Carlos Puyol!!!! Viva Espania!

Oh yeh birds, the only bird of note tonight was a single Yellow Wag', first of the autumn?

Green Sand 4, Oyst' 4, Curlew 4, Common Sand' 2, LRP 18, Yellow Wag' 1.

That's all folks.

Utch 5/7/10 1810-1940.

A message on the pager this a'noon reporting 9 Barwits at Blithers meant a change of plan this evening and a quick recce of Utch just in case they'd upped sticks and dropped in at Utch. Sadly no sign of the 'wits but still a nice smattering of mudpeckers on show. Tonight also saw the first juvenile BHG and another two broods of Tufties on the pit by the River Tean.


LRP 19, Common Sand' 6, Green Sand' 5, Curlew 6, Oyst' 7 and 12 Lappies.

On the way home i called in at a well known breeding sight for Peregrines to see if there was any sight of the two juveniles that fledged nearly a month ago. Guess what? No sign and do you know why? Because two camera toting members of the aviarrazi were plonked right above where not just the juv's normally favour but the adults as well, brilliant!!!! Well done lads.

The picture above was taken at Belvide by one lucky snapper last winter and along with the other million on the tinternet is proof if we need it that there is ABSOLUTELY NO NEED TO GET WITHIN TOUCHIN' DISTANCE OF BREEDING BIRDS, RARE OR OTHERWISE!!

That's all folks.

Utch 4/7/10 1230-1430.

Well after a crackin' "Night Of The Dog" and a touch to much of the amber nectar it meant I didn't get to Utch until dinner time. The very strong south westerly wind meant it felt more like autumn than mid summer.

As you can see from the photo' there's a lot less water now than a couple of months ago and there are lots of little scrapes for the next Staff's biggie to paddle around on! White-rumped Sand' would go down rather nicely me thinks. Nothing of any real note today apart from four Green Sand's, a pair of Mute Swans on the River Dove with SIX cygnets and a female Mandarin flying round over one of the fields.

Green Sand' 4, Common Sand' 5, Oyst' 6, LRP 10, Common Tern 1, Sedge Wobbler 1. Mandarin 1.

A stroll round cereal fields on the way home failed to turn up any Quail, now that would be a real Cheesedale blocker!

That's all folks.

"well I'm baaaaaaaack.....back in black!"

Hey up folks, haven't posted for a couple of months after being on species protection with the Cheesedale Home Guard but the latest issue of Classic Rock mag' forced me to make the effort. If you've never had long hair and worn ridiculous cloths(not to bed) and don't like rock n roll it will mean nothing to you but THE VOICE OF ROCK Ronnie James Dio as popped his elfin clogs! When i first heard from Bert The Beard at work I was gutted and went home to play Dio's "Holy Diver" full blast followed by the Rainbow "Rising" album and Black Sabbaths "Heaven and Hell". Everyone a true classic and the musical equivalent of Jose Mourinho winning where ever he goes. Can't see him turning up at Elland Road to soon though, eh oh. Ronnie is and will always be a TOPMAN.

With that off my chest it's back to birds and birding from today, well not quite. Tomorrow sees me and Jan at our very own Cheesedale version of the Download Festival "NIGHT OF THE DOG V". Needless to say copious amounts of the local brew will be taken so birdin' may get off to a slow start on Sunday.

That's all folks.