Bradshaw - Soil Hill - Ogden (SPECIAL) - Bradshaw

   13:15 - 17:00

The weather was awkward today - the forecast this afternoon had a 40% chance of rain so "Mr, Glass Half Empty" donned his waterproof trousers.

It was quite cool early on and a strong wind on Soil Hill Top (No North Slope today) was disappointing.

Ogden Lane and the "cafe" were open and apparently had not been shut for the 4 weeks that was shown on signage early on.

I enjoyed a laugh with the volunteer ladies in the cafe as I  filled me pack with excess clothes including me waterproof trousers.

My KitKat and coffee went down a treat.

There is a small amount of shoreline now so there might be a chance of a Wader or three.

The water today was very quiet with very few Mallards and a few Large Gull coming in to spruce up before leaving again.

I struck GOLD however halfway around the west side path when a bird call that was unusual had me stop in my tracks.

The bird took some finding but it was very kind to me and sang for England until I eventually eyeballed it - a PIED FLYCATCHER.

This bird was a real bonus for me - the last few I have seen were originally found by DJS so it was pleasing to find "one of me own".

This was a real spirit lifter.

Birds:-

Bradshaw Lane - Soil Hill - Ned Hill Track.

4 Swallow. 4 Skylark. 2 Curlew. 3 Pheasant. 2 Whitethroat. 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

5 Meadow Pipit, 7 Linnet. 2 Lapwing. 3 Blackbird. 2 Canada Geese, 2 Willow Warbler.

Ned Hill Road - Ogden Water.

1 Pied Flycatcher.

1 Mistle Thrush.

Grey Wagtail.

1 Bullfinch.

5 Swallow.

12 Willow Warbler.

4 Mallard.

2 Heron.

Pr. Tufted Duck.

10 Lesser Black-backed Gill and 3 Herring Gull at one point.

Pied Wagtail.

Green Woodpecker top of NE woods.

2 Blackcap.

Coal Tit.

Farms / Fields.

13 Magpie all together on the hillside.

2 Stock Dove.

2 Swallow.

2 Meadow Pipit.

and a few other usual species throughout.

Fly Flatts ( Ruff Dip )

14:00 - 15:30

With an excellent find by B.S.  of a Ruff at Fly Flatts this morning, I pondered whether to go and twitch it. 

The weather forecast was mixed but promised better weather in the afternoon so after lunch I had a drive over.

This place is quite vast and only accessible by the public at the north end.

Fly Flatts can destroy the soul or brighten your spirits - today the sun shone, there was a pleasant breeze and a few Waders and Raptors about and some absolutely beautiful moorland scenery (in my eyes anyway).

So today was a spirit lifter (bart whiskey).

No Ruff seen today but you have to take the " Ruff with the smooth" ho ho ho.

Birds:-

1 Red Kite.

3 Pied Wagtail.

2 Buzzard.

1 Kestrel.

Raven.

2 Curlew.

4 Oystercatcher.

3 Lapwing.

Dunlin.

2 Red Grouse.

2 Redshank.

Skylark.

4 Meadow Pipit.

2 Wheatear.

2 Common Sandpiper.

2 Reed Bunting.

Some more very, very poor photo's

Ringstone

15:40 - 17:00

I slipped up a bit with the weather today, struggling to find some birding enthusiasm after Soil Hill not producing much, so while the sun shone this morning I went to Tesco's Queensbury to up my vittles supply.

Later I sat in the garden supping coffee and doing the crossword.

I scanned the sky now and again and this paid off when I spotted a Red Kite, high , distant, to the south of me. I tried for a photograph but failed to pick it out in the viewfinder and I could not pick it out with the bins again. I am happy it was a Red Kite, however.

After lunch, crossword done, I sat and read my new detective novel.

The weather deteriorated and sent me inside.

Eventually boredom took over and I managed to frame me sen and get my fat behind in gear and drive over to check out Ringstone Reservoir at Barkisland.

The weather here was very poor with drizzle of  varying strengths throughout.

After an hour and having seen nothing spec-tack-u-lar I decided to call it a day.

Just I was about to leave the reservoir wall for my car a bird flitted about on the cobbles - a Yellow Wagtail.

It stayed a bit before flying off. I stayed a bit longer and another look behind the big stome circular structure revealed two Yellow Wagtail but they flushed immediately , so I did not get a picture of the second bird but it looked like the same sex as the first.

Birds:

2 Yellow Wagtail.

2 Great Crested Grebe,

2 Pied Wagtail.

2 Swift.

20+ Swallow.

Skylark.

2 Oystercatcher

36 Lesser Black-backed Gull at one point.

2 Herring Gulls.

2 Lapwing.

2 Meadow Pipit - One carrying nesting material.

Mallard.

Many Carrion Crow - distant in the north field with a few Rooks.

Bradshaw - Soil Hill (Fri)

12:35 - 15:05

A bright sunny morning had me washing 'me smalls' so I could use solar power to dry 'em.

After my usual champagne lunch with Heinz baked beans and sausage followed by a helping of spotted Dick I did my, now, usual trek again up Bradshaw Lane to Soil Hill hoping for a new Warbler species.

Again there was a strong cold WNW wind on the hill top. The bottom of the north slope was cool and a bit calmer so I stood about there for a while.

A few Willow Warblers sang and the odd Whitethroat chipped in now and again but nothing new again today.

Birds:-

3 Curlew. 4 Meadow Pipit, 7 (3,3,1) Swift. 3 Blackbird.

c10 Linnet - but probably lots more as they were calling from all over the shop.

Mallard. Lapwing. 3 Pheasant. 3 Swallow. 2 Canada Geese.

4 Willow Warbler.

6 Whitethroat.

2 Wren. 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Mistle Thrush. Chaffinch. 2 Dunnock. Greenfinch.

Garden Later:

1 Swift. 4 Swallow.

The View From Soil Hill's West Side.

Bradshaw - Soil Hill (Thur)

8:25 - 10:30.

With a decent  weather forecast for this morning and a poor weather forecast for this afternoon I enjoyed an earlier birding outing than usual, leaving home at 8:25 a.m.

This is early for me but late for serious birders.

I suppose I could set off at "silly o'clock" many mornings as I often wake up just after 5 a.m. -  try to drop off again - but fail  - getting out of bed at 7:15 a.m though is plenty early enough for me.

The unseasonable cold weather continues with quite a cold wind on the hill and frequrent heavy showers this afternoon, some with hail.

On Soil Hill , I ventured down the north slope to the bottom tree line and I did get a reward when 2 Swift flew past, very low > W.

Other than that the same birds as previous were on offer with Whitethroat calling from a few locations but difficult to see.

A bonus was a singing Reed Bunting that refused to show itself remaining ensconced in a tree, out of the wind.

I came back down on the same route as I had gone up via Taylor Lane

Birds:-

Greenfinch. 3 Swallow. 3 Pheasant.

C10 Linnet. Chaffinch. Red Legged Partridge (called).

5 Skylark. 2 Robin. 6 Willow Warbler.

6 Whitethroat. 

2 Canada Geese. 2 Mallard. Moorhen.

2 Dunnock. 3 Wren. 2 Lapwing.

Kestrel.

2 SWIFT.

.

Bradshaw - Soil Hill (Again Monday)

13:00 - 15:45

It was an unseasonably ? cold day again today.

After lunch I had my now usual pilgrimage up to Soil Hill, a loiter at the bottom of the north slope before heading off to go through the farms and fields to home.

I am still struggling to hear, or see a 'new' Warbler species on the hill - they are probably further down the north side than I am willing to go (Birding excuse No 5).

Few singers again today and the usual vociferous Whitethroat are reduced to scolding me from the undergrowth periodically.

A couple of competing Blackbirds and a few Willow Warblers did sing, trying to brighten the job a bit.

Birds:-

7 Linnet (at the very least).

Greenfinch, 3 Rook. 4 Pheasant. 4 Skylark,

2 Curlew. Meadow Pipits flitting about.

5 Whitethroat.

2 Lapwing.

Moorhen. Canada Goose. Mallard.

5 Willow Warbler. 4 Dunnock. 2 Blackbird.

2 Swallow. Stock Dove.

House Sparrow.

 

Bradshaw Lane - Soil Hill - Bradshaw Fields

9:45 - 13:00

A cold start this morning warmed up nicely as the walk progressed.

I went over Soil Hill and had a short stand at the bottom of the north slope, venturing no further than the bottom treeline. Very few singers here today.

It was a bit draughty on the summit but not bad at the bottom of the north slope.

Home via Ned Hill Track and the farms and fields.

Birds:-

Dunnock. Skylark. Curlew. Meadow Pipit. Lapwing. Willow Warbler.

Linnets seemed to be happy with the new look summit with lots about.

A Buzzard was very high over the large Ogden wind turbines.

5 very secretive Whitethroat.

2 Mallard. 2 Canada Geese. 1 Moorhen.

Blackbird. A Red Legged Partridge called a couple of times.

Pheasant. 2 Chiffchaff. Bullfinch. Goldfinch.

A Raven was very, very high over Mixenden Reservoir - seen from Ned Hill Track.

A "Long Winged" Raptor very very high that I cannot ID - 1st photo.

Wasn't sure I had actually captured it on the camera till I looked at it on the laptop.

A couple of Swallows passed by the garden this afternoon.