Luddendenfoot to Mytholmroyd and back

11;25 - 14:00

I decided to pay a visit to Sue's best friend, Helen, this afternoon and turn up all 'hot and bothered', so a good walk from  Luddendenfoot to Mytholmroyd and back would achieve this.

26 Degrees or so but manageable, especially going along the railway track - coming back via the canal path was a sticky do with very little shade.

I need to get a hydrogen balloon to tie to my camera so it can float up and take some of the weight off me back.

A lady in Mytholmroyd told me that she had a Nightingale singing each morning - I recommended the Merlin app to her and she seemed very interested. 

Talking of the Merlin app - it reported a Spotted Flycatcher 100yds before Mytholmroyd station I had a good look about but did not eyeball it - pretty dodgy I would say - but you never know.

Birds:-

Robin. Blackbird. Greenfinch. Goldfinch. c6 Blackcap.

Wren. Mallard. 5 Grey Wagtail. 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker. 

4 Goldcrest. Canada Geese. 2 Nuthatch. Jackdaw.

Woodpigeon. Crow. Blue Tit. Coal Tit. 6 Chiffchaff.

3 Song Thrush. Dunnock. Swift. House Martin. 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Whitethroat. Sand Martin. Swallow. Magpie. Bullfinch.

Heron. House Sparrow. Starling. Great Tit. Pheasant. Willow Warbler.

In Mytholmroyd - A Common Sandpiper was on a wall by the river where all the flood work has been done.

Bradshaw - Taylor Lane - Soil Hill - Taylor Lane - Bradshaw

13:35 - 16:00

It took a good while to get up some birding enthusiasm today.

Late June and July are not the best birding months on the calendar, but there is always the chance of seeing a scarce or rare bird - so I go out with hope.

I enjoyed a very hot meander up to and over Soil Hill and down the north slope.

A nice breeze greeted me on Soil Hill Top bit elsewhere it was very sticky.

Birds:-

Dunnock. House Sparrow. Chaffinch. 6 Swallow. Greenfinch.

Crow. Woodpigeon. Blackbird. Robin. 1 Oystercatcher.

6 Linnet. Magpie. Jackdaw. c20 Lesser Black-backed Gull.2 Curlew.

c12 Meadow Pipit. 4 Skylark. 7 Willow Warbler. 

1 Reed Bunting at the top of the north slope for a change.

4 Whitethroat. Bullfinch. 3 Pheasant. 1 Swift. 1 Herring Gull.

2 Stock Dove.

Phew - Thornton Old Railway Track

10:00 - 12:45

A bit of a change of venue for me today with a drive over to Thornton and a walk along the excellent tarmac path of the Old Thornton to Queensbury railway line.

I went as far as the Queensbury railway tunnel and called at the excellent cafe next to the track on my way back.

Lunch was a Toasted Currant  T Cake a coffee and a bun.., and a glass of tap water to qench me thirst in this hot weather.

Masses of birdsong but very few photos with the foliage in full flow.

Birds:-

9 Chiffchaff. Jackdaw. 5 Swift. Wren. Robin,.

Magpie. Crow.  Greenfinch,. Blackbird. Blue Tit.

GREEN WOODPECKER.

3 Bullfinch. c10 Swallow. Great Tit.

2 BLACKCAP.

TWO GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER - together.

Starling. Goldfinch. 2 Pheasant. 4 Willow Warbler. Woodpigeon.

4 Lesser Black-backed Gull. Dunnock. 

LINNET.

JAY.

Greenfinch seen from the garden yesterday.

Bradshaw - Taylor Lane - Soil Hill - Farm Track etc

14:10 - 16:50

I had a very humid walk up to Soil Hill and down the north slope to the first tree line, this afternoon.

I sat on a rock, ate and apple and a choc. biscuit to get my energy back up.

Home was via Ned Hill Road and the farm track and field path.

Coming off Soil Hill's west side I was scanning north and 2 Swift were being 'pestered' by what looked like a third Swift but maybe slightly larger.

Anyway the birds were toooooooo distant and soon became more distant - could have been a Raptor in there but I'll never know.

Birds: 

Kestrel. 3 Pheasant. Greenfinch. 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull. Blackbird.

House Sparrow. Woodpigeon. 5 Curlew. 7 Whitethroat. 3 Swift.

Chaffinch. Wren. Magpie. 3 Swallow. 8 Linnet.

3 Skylark. 14 Meadow Pipit. 3 Willow Warbler. Blue Tit.

Canada Geese with 3 Gosling.

Robin. 1 Herring Gull. Red Legged Partridge. Oystercatcher. Dunnock.

3 Rook. Goldfinch. Lapwing. Mallard. Jackdaw. 2 Mistle Thush.

Possible Raven - not sure.

Possible Ravnen

(In) Action Replay

14:00 - 15:15

A very murky morning improved into a very humid afternoon.

I did yesterdays walk again this afternoon , very calm and quiet.

Birds:-

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Buzzard.

Robin. Wren, Woodpigeon. Crow.

Jackdaw. 6 Swallow. 1 Meadow Pipit. 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Starling. 1 Linnet. 4 Dunnock. Greenfinch.

2 Blackcap.

Red Legged Partridge.

Chaffinch. 1 Skylark. Blackbird. Pheasant.

3 Whitethroat.

2 Stock Dove. Blue Tit. Goldfinch. House Sparrow.

2 Mistle Thrush.

Local Stroll to Ned Hill Road

After a busy morning, mid-afternoon I took a walk through the local fields and farms to Ned Hill Road and back.

After a warm sunny morning it was a warm, cloudy, clammy sort of afternoon.

Plenty of bird song and with the odd good bird it was pleasing to be out and about.

2 Buzzard were see over the garden and a third seen along the walk.

Beyond Crabtree Hall Farm a couple of Raven passed over head >NE (ish) was also nice to see.

Birds:-

3 Buzzard. 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull. Woodpigeon. Meadow Pipit.

Greenfinch. 3 Dunnock. House Sparrow. 2 Mistle Thrush.

4 Swallow. 2 Pheasant. Linnet. 2 Blackbird.

1 Whitethroat. 1 Blackcap. c50 Jackdaw. Magpie.

Crow. Blue Tit, Chaffinch, 2 Raven,

Bullfinch, Stock Dove. Wren. Little Owl.

Curlew. Robin.

Bradshaw - Local Stroll

12:45 - 14:00

I enjoyed a very slow saunter this afternoon, going through Bradshaw park and along a bit of the Calderdale Way near to Oats Royd and back.

Quite a muggy feel to a much warmer day than of late.

Birds:-

A Green Woodpecker called from Oats Royd area.

Greenfinch. Goldfinch. Chaffinch. Jackdaw.

Song Thrush. 2 Swift. 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Magpie. Crow. 3 Pheasant. Stock Dove.

House Sparrow. Starling. Robin. Wren.

Dunnock. Blue Tit. 2 Swallow. Buzzard.