Soil Hill, Ogden, Golf Course, Stod Fold , Rocks Lane, Peat Pits and Bradshaw

I had a fair old hike today. A cool morning improving to a lovely sunny afternoon.

Soil Hill 9:15

Bradshaw bridleway had Mistle Thrush, Starlings and a Wren in full voice.

At Soil Hill - a first. The grass around the mast area was being strimmed by 2 men. I closed my ears and put some nyger seed down.

Just Skylarks and Meadow Pipit about - the strimming noise could just possibly, maybe, perhaps, conceivably, per chance had frightened a few meggas away!

A strange sound , like toads calling , was coming from the top area.I had a gander about but saw nowt!

A LBBG > N, and coming down onto Ned Hill Track a Whitethroat singing as it did a circular flight. A F. Blackcap was in the bushes here.

Coal Lane - Plantation Area 10:15.

2 Swallow, Chaffinch, 3 Large Gulls > W, Whitethroat, Skylark and 2 Pheasants.

Ogden Woods 10:45.

I took the path , north , through the woods to it's demise at the fence ,before open moorland.

There were tree fellers working lower down making a racket with a chain saw - actually there were only two fellows(ho..ho..ho).

And making a racket with a chain saw is a pretty neat trick ( ho..ho..ho again).

It seemed to be my day for noise.

Just Wren, Chaffinch, Blue and Great Tit plus GSW calling and  Curlew calling.

I retraced my steps back to Ogden water.

Ogden Circuit 11:30.

Tufted Duck, 2 Chiffchaff, A Greylag Goose and an odd ball Goose, Willow Warbler and  Sparrowhawk.

It was nice to bump into DJS and have a natter.

He received a call from NK re: a Whinchat singing on the golf course.

After DJS had left I had decided to stop for a lunch break and go around the res. afterwards, but after lunch I decided to give the Whinchat a go.

It was a pity I didn't pay a bit more attention to it's exact location on the golf course instead of trusting to luck because I did not see it.

Nice one Nigel well done.

However I did get a Pipit with a different call that I'm fairly sure was a Tree Pipit!! Also a couple of deer.

Going around the golf course area, Jay. Greenfinch, 4 Pheasant, 3 Swift, Whitethroat, 8 Goldfinch together and 3 Wren.

Stod Fold 13:00 and home via Rocks Lane & South Peat Pitts Farm had not a lot going on.

4 Canada Goose, Chiffchaff, Mistle Thrush and a few Swallow.

No Wheatear seen - a poor do for Wheatear this year so far.

Strimmers in the distance!!