Bradshaw – Mixenden – Wainstalls – Jowler – Booth – Luddenden Valley – Canal to Sowerby Bridge

9:40

A fair old hike for Sue & I today in dry but fairly dull weather, taking just a small camera  with me (with a wonky battery as it turned out).

The walk through Bradshaw farms brought an early, dodgy , encounter with some lively bullocks.

Just 6 Swallow and a few Meadow Pipits seen in the fields here. 

Approaching Ingham Lane a couple of Pied Wags and a BHG.

On Per Lane a glut of House Sparrow with c40 Starlings on the wires near Brockholes snicket.

Feeding in the fields at Stod Fold were 15 Canadas, C40 Jackdaw and a few Woodpigeon.

There followed a bit of a slog through the woods at Mixenden where our usual path had sprung a padlocked gate. (a very quick scan of the reservoir here revealed sweet Fanny Adams ) . 

The exit from Mixenden was up  through a narrow double walled path. Here the path is not walked and the nettles were higher than my head (4ft).

Putting on my best Bear Grylls impersonation I let the wife go first.

Birds through Mixenden were scarce with just 19 BHG on the green, Robin, Wren and 5 Turkeys with 3 unids see pic.

At Wainstalls a Kestrel was hunting.

Leaving Wainstalls for Jowler, Jays were in abundance with 3 spotted and another 3 heard making a commotion.

Keeping below Booth we walked next to the stream, passing below Murgatroyd (Luddites) Mill.

Here there was a good count of 5 Grey Wagtails. 

We exited at St. Mary’s church by the Lord Nelson not “by the Lord Harry” and followed the path to South Ives farm with a sign saying “Audax B.E.?”.

We climbed up the Kirk to Helen’s mums where Sue swapped her jar of home made marmalade for a cup of coffee and a ½ hr natter.

Leaving here for Danny Lane a Common Buzzard flew past at head height (4ft).

A couple of Mistle Thrushes, a Kestrel and 58 Canadas with a single Greylag Goose were in the fields here.

Near the Barley Wine Pub we joined the canal for a leisurely stroll into Sowerby Bridge – just a Robin, Nuthatch and 2 beached barges to report here.

The canal seemed to be suffering from the recent dry spell.

A pint of shandy in the new, very swish, Wetherpooons in Sowerby Bridge and a bit of a breather before the bus to Halifax and another bus to Tewit Lane where a mile or so walk saw us arrive home.

Not a lot, bird wise to report, but a really enjoyable walk.

(Alan if you are reading this -  I was very good at English Grammer at school and could work out how long a bath  took to fill with 2 taps running and with a hole in its base – but like lots of other stuff, I learnt at school, I’ve now forgotten most of it!)

A few pics before the camera croaked it:-

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 Today's Post - George.