A breezy Soil Hill saunter

 13:15 - 17:00

I had quite a long afternoon out looking for something extra-ordinary but no extras today alas.

I did my usual walk up Bradshaw Lane to Soil Hill and down the north slope and I came home via the same route.

A bit on the breezy side really, but dry.

One Oystercatcher was seen and a second was calling faintly from nearby, but I could not pick it out.

The Oystercatcher I saw reminded me of an recent email from Octopus Energy with it's dirty big bill.

Nice to chat to Mr & Mrs H (and dog) on Percy road.

Birds:-

2 Whitethroat, 8 Swallow, 3 Pheasant, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull, Chaffinch.

3 Skylark, c10 Linnet, 1 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, c10 Meadow Pipit.

 Curlew, Song Thrush, 5 Willow Warbler, 6 Swift, 2 Blackcap.

Bullfinch, Great Tit, Pied Wagtail.

A Hot Hike and a Dip!

10:30 - 15:45

Hot and Sunny.

Following a Calderdale Birding Group Whatsapp from CK of a Cuckoo and a Tree Pipit near the Giant's Tooth, Ogden I thought I'd bite the bullet and go for a long twitch to see if I could locate either bird.

It was quite a grueller today , from Bradshaw to Ogden Water (rammed with people for the Halifax Harrier annual run) and up to Giant Tooth where Per-Spire-a-tion was in evidence.

After a lengthy look-see near the Tooth I sat on the stone seat here to have my sack's meagre supply of rations - 1 Pk Crisps, 1 Choc Choc Bar and an apple.

I slurped some water and had a look a bit higher up to my left at the conifers.

I did get a distant call that I could not place and my Merlin App could not hear it(deaf as a post) but it definitely was not either bird I was after.

Soon after I had passed the Wooden Seat near the Tooth a Pied Flycatcher called several times to my right from high in foliage.

I did not eyeball it , and it soon flew across the path >East-ish to call from further away in inaccessible woodland before being heard even further away.

I called at the Visitors Centre for a coffee and a Kit-Kat to fire me up for my trudge up Ned Hill Road and over Soil Hill to home.

(Some) Birds:-

Loads of birdsong today.

Willow Warbler. Chiffchaff, and lots Blackcap singers.

4 Whitethroat. 4 Stock Dove. 6 Swallow.

A Mallard with family in tow sailed very close to a Heron at Ogden Water, luckily the Heron did not bite!

3 Tufted Duck. Buzzard, Curlew.

10 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Herring Gull.

Pied Flycatcher.

Bradshaw - Ned Hill Road - Percy Lane - Taylor Lane

18:00 - 19:30

Just an breezy evening stroll today along the local roads, lanes and paths.

Quite enjoyable but nothing much happening bird wise.

A Few Pics:-

Bradshaw - Soil Hill

 13:00 - 15:40

Today I went up Bradshaw Lane to Soil Hill and came home the same route.

A breezy day that turned quite hot especially climbing back up the north slope, at least it gave my pores a reason to exist.

Usual stuff again today really.

Birds:-

3 Swallow. 5 Whitethroat. 12 Linnet. c30 Starling. 3 Willow Warbler.

Skylark and Meadow Pipit in good numbers.

2 Oystercatcher. 1 Curlew. 2 Mallard. 3 Blackbird. 1 Canada Goose.

2 Blackcap. 4 Stock Dove.

A Very Enjoyable Saunter

8:35 - 14:35

6 Hours out and about today on a great day for walking - sunny with a lovely refreshing breeze.

I had not been out birding for a few days so I was in the mood to stop and linger a bit.

Abi slept over Friday and Saturday and stopped most of Sunday as well.

On Friday evening, after devouring a huge meal in the Raggalds Inn for tea, she decided to make a sponge cake.

It took visits to 3 shops before she was set up with all the right ingredients.

Not being a baker myself  my cupboards seemed to be a bit lacking.

On Saturday Abi made a Chicken Curry which again was quite an experience (her recipe .

has 18 ingredients!).

On top of the baking and cooking we also had a couple of visits to Bradshaw Park with Sue's Rounders bat (Made with proper wood where the  handle had been  chamfered into the body by a fancy joint and the whole handle had some thick string stuff wrapped around it  - the bat  was probably 50 years old).

These rounders episodes were not a problem at all for me in the "Great Heat May 2026".

(I've probably got a "not" in the previous sentence by mistake).

Today I did the usual hike along the Bradshaw fields and through the farms to Ned Hill Road and along Ogden Lane, around Ogden Water to stop at the cafe for a natter and a coffee.

One of the ladies there told me this joke:

Question: What is E,T. short for?

Answer: Because he has little legs.

On again up Ned Hill Road over Soil Hill and down the North Slope to the first tree line.

Home was via Taylor Lane.

There are some free household items available again at the start of Soil Hill Mast Track.

It was nice to have a quick natter with NK who I bumped into at Ogden.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was hammering on a Blue Tit Nest Box looking for an egg sandwich.

3 Mallard ducklings looked very vunerable.

Birds:-

Wren, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Red Legged Partridge.

Little Owl, 4 Whitethroat, Starling, Blackbird, 2 Curlew. 

Robin, Magpie, c10 Linnet, 6 Swallow, Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, 1 Mistle Thrush, Mallard, Willow Warbler.

Grey Wagtail, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, c10 Blackcap, Blue Tit, Great Tit.

PIED FLYCATCHER, Dunnock, 1 Tufted Duck, Bullfinch, House Sparrow.

Pheasant, Grey Partridge, Lapwing, Coal Tit, 2 Oystercatcher (Soil Hill).

3 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, Canada Goose, Herring Gull, Greenfinch.

Stock Dove, Feral Pigeon. Goldfinch. Moorhen. Heron.

AND ...... Some photos taken from the garden during the "Great Heat May 2026".

 

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