Bradshaw Ogden Water Soil Hill (Sunday)

I had a sit in the garden this morning where the skies were empty but a singing Chiffchaff brightened the day.

Late afternoon and as I sat outside with the crossword a Red Legged Partridge and a Grey Heron were heard.

Also a WhatsApp from MM reporting Pink Footed Geese east over Wainstalls resulted in me finding them in the sky a tad later to the south of me.

It was very warm late morning, early afternoon once the sun got it's act together as I set off across the fields.

I was wearing about 2,000 layers of clothing too many!

I called at Ogden Visitors Centre to cool off a bit.

There were so many cars here, parked all over the shop,  I asked someone to point me in the direction of the free beer tent.

No free beer alas - Apparently there was a Pumpkin extravaganza at Boggart Brigg.

Later, as I was leaving Ogden Water, some cars were in for a shock, I think - A police car was weaving it's way along Ogden Lane through traffic - I wonder Why?

It was good to get out and about in this fantastic October weather today.

Birds:-

Garden.

Singing Chiffchaff.

76 Pink Footed Geese.

Red Legged Partridge.

Grey Heron.

Walk.

Stock Dove, 2 Nuthatch.

Greenfinch. 2 Kestrel. Bullfinch.

1 Wigeon.

2 Tufted Duck.

4 Teal.

Cormorant, Pied Wagtail, Bullfinch.

2 Canada Geese.

Goldcrest.

1 Skylark.

Rook.

Plus usual Gull etc.

Bradshaw - Soil Hill (Saturday)

(Hoping for a rare Stonechat).

A late afternoon stroll up to and over Soil Hill top , was very warm, still and very, very quiet.

The 4 dogs on Soil Hill top might have had a bearing on the job.

Birds:-

2 Buzzard.

6 Pheasant.

1 Skylark.

Goldcrest.

Coal Tit.

2 Song Thrush.

Stock Dove.

A few Mippits.

A poor do really.

Buzzard above - Miles Off seen from the garden.

Buzzard - Bradshaw Fields.

Bradshaw - Soil Hill - Bradshaw

After my caviar sandwich lunch today I had my usual walk along the local fields, up to and over Soil Hill, back via Percy Rd & Taylor Lane.

Nuisance drizzle for the most part was ok apart from Soil Hill top where it was heavier, but visibility was ok.

A good meander across the bricks and stones, humps and bumps , bits of metal and green "stuff" was interesting.

Birds:-

Little Owl. Bullfinch.

The  c30 Gulls in Bradshaw Fields and c20 in Syke Lane were predominately Common Gulls.

Not as many Lesser Black Backed Gulls seen of late.

2 Kestrel. 9 Skylark. c30 Meadow Pipit.

2 Stonechat north of the comms mast.

2 Pied Wagtail. 2 Stock Dove. 5 Pheasant.

Mistle Thrush low-ish > south in ones and two numbered about 10.

Plus another 7 see photo.

C20 Starling.

Good to be out and about today.

Skylark on the horizon

Mistle Thrush

A Long Day

Just after 9.00 a.m. I had a drive over to Luddenden Foot and walked along the 'railway' path to Hebden Bridge. 

At Hebden I turned tail and walked back along the canal path to Ludd. Foot.

At Brearley a Barnacle Goose was kind enough to call and I picked it out in among the Canadas.

At Luddenden Foot I carried on another mile or to divert up the road to scrounge a cuppa at Sue's friend Helen's.

Back at the car I realised that my birding optics were too heavy to carry comfortably for todays 10 mile plus outing.

There are roadworks here abouts and to avoid them I decided to go home via the Crag Vale Road, to check out Blackstone Edge reservoir.

It was dark , bleak and windy at Blackstone with not a bird in sight.

Disappointed I then decided to call at Ringstone 'on my way home'.

It was windy here , the farmer was cutting the grass with a real brute of an accessory on the front and back of the tractor.

As I parked the car the masses of Geese on the water left flying west.

As I drove along Huddersfield Road I spotted about 15 birds high > NW either geese or Swans in more or less a V but an odd direction - unless they were Canada Geese

Back home near 5 p.m. pooped.

Birds:-

Walk.

Jay, 2 Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch.

Cormorant, Barnacle Goose with many Canada Geese.

Dipper.

Buzzard over Helen's house.

Blackstone Edge Reservoir.

Zilch.

Ringstone:

(Failed to locate any Goldies or Lapwing).

Great Crested Grebe.

Many Canada Geese.

Greylag Geese.

Pink Footed Goose.

Bradshaw ... Soil Hill

A shorter birding walk this afternoon through the local fields, up the grunt, up the incline and 'over the hill '  (like me).

Home via Percy Road and Taylor Lane

A tad colder out there than I  had expected but any enjoyable outing none the less.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, so they say.

In my case the proof of the pudding its down my shirt!

Birds:-

Little Owl

C30 Gulls in the fields

3 Buzzard.

9 Skylark

Kestrel.

Wheatear (Soil Hill Top).

Bradshaw Fields, Farms, Ogden Water, Soil Hill etc

I enjoyed a 4 hours plus birding walk this afternoon.

It was pretty cold as I left the house although the weather forecast said  it would by 18 degrees.

It warmed up a bit later but was very windy on Soil Hill top.

Great to get out of the house with me boots on and I actually saw a few decent birds as well.

I had a long helpful chat with Cheryl and Pat, the volunteers at Ogden Water cafe, as I scoffed a choc bar with my coffee.

There was a single Duck asleep on the water that I reckon was a Wigeon.

3 Teal that were deep in vegetation were a tad easier to ID.

There was also 3 Ducks on the shore, asleep with their back to me, these are also Teal.

I was scanning for a 'rare' bird on Soil Hill when a Wheatear flushed and disappeared out of sight over the hill.

Good (for me ) to get an October Wheatear.

First one Skylark was heard then seen quickly followed by 3 more single Skylarks that eventually flew close together burbling.

Birds:

(some of 'em anyway).

6 Teal.

1 Wigeon.

4 Skylark.

Little Grebe.

3 Kestrel.

4 Pheasant.

3 Raven.

8 Stock Dove.

2 Pied Wagtail.

Little Owl.

Cormorant.

Goosander.

2 Red Legged Partridge (flushed on quiet wings).

Groups of Gulls in various fields along the way.

Wigeon Above:

Teal Above.