Ogden - Some excitement at last

14:00 - 16:15

A couple of hours at Ogden this aft.
Cold with darker skies to start with some brightness as I left.

Ogden Water:

Quiet again.
Moorhen, Mallard, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
8 Herring Gull over, later.

A circuit of the water produced a 'chuckling' Jay - a first for me.
2 Treecreeper, a second Jay.
3 Song Thrush.

Ogden Woods:

A walk along the North East main path brought some rewards.

First up was a calling Green Woodpecker that then flew past at speed to land nearly out of sight.
I fired a photo off, and managed to catch it, just!

A Great Spotted Woodpecker called and later one was seen.

Also about Mistle Thrush, Curlew.

Passerine Alley was very lively for a change, with a real bonus for me, a pr. Siskin - one of my bogey birds!


Owls:

A pair of 'large Owls' entered the woods from the North East to land high in the dark conifers.
They seem displeased with each other, calling loud and very raucously.  
Then pandemonium broke out with every bird in the vicinity mobbing the Owls.
One left immediately, flying towards the water pursued by Magpies and Crows.
The other stayed a short while, but it too left.

3 mins later all was as quiet as a mouse.

Still, some great excitement.

I tried to get some photos, but the Owls remained hidden and very high in the dark conifers.

Long Eared Owl must be the favourite option for ID.
My impression of LEO is of a longish Owl in flight.
These Owls seen large but 'dumpy'.
Anyway I'll never know.

Thanks to JM for your text -  I'm beginning to agree with you!!

Great to get another Buzzard over Bradshaw this morning.

Spot the Green Woodpecker.

Speedy Gonzales