BRADSHAW RAMBLER:
A report on the birds seen by an amateur birder on his regular rambles
through Bradshaw, Halifax, West Yorkshire and beyond.
13:45 - 17:10
Loads of tedious bureaucratic nonsense to deal with today - took all morning and a bit of the afternoon to sort out.
I finally got free to go a-birding after a late-ish lunch.
I found it quite cold this afternoon but after clogging up Ned Hill to Soil Hill the cold was not an issue any more.
It was good to bump into Terry M. at Ogden and we did half a circuit of Ogden Water together before Terry headed up towards the moors and I continued along my usual route.
No great shakes again on Ogden alas.
Birds:
2 Little Owl ( 1 Wards Garden, 1 Taylor Lane).
Tawny Owl called NE side of Ogden,
4 Curlew (1 Bradshaw - 3 Soil Hill Area).
2 Pied Wagtail.
2 Greenfinch.
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 Ogden, 1 Bradshaw Lane).
1 Meadow Pipit!!
2 Grey Partridge (flushed from Soil Hill).
2 Song Thrush.
1 Mistle Thrush
and some of the usuals.
After most of the morning and some of the afternoon spent at Sowerby Bridge it was good to squeeze some birding in, with a visit to Ringstone mid-afternoon.
As I was walking along the west side wall, a WhatsApp came through from Adele, on the east side, of a Great Crested Grebe here.
I could not see the Grebe for the mist but I did pick out a Drake Goldeneye and 5 Oystercatcher, which I Whatsapped, these would have been out of sight for Adele.
Anyway all birds became visible when the mist lifted soon after.
It was good to put a name to a face when Adele came along the west side later.
Birds:-
7 Oystercatcher.
1 Drake Goldeneye.
1 Drake Tufted Duck.
1 Great Crested Grebe.
2 Pied Wagtail.
2 Skylark.
2 Herring Gull.
1 Chaffinch.
5 Lapwing.
2 Mallard.
10:00 - 14:15.
I had a long outing again today, parking at Luddenden Foot I walked along the railway / river path to Hebden Bridge.
I called at the railway station cafe for a takeaway coffee to 'sup with me sarnies' on an outside bench in the sun.
The return route was along the canal towpath.
I went a bit further along and called at Helen's for a well earned rest, a cuppa cha and a good laugh.
Home 16:30.
Birds:
4 Pied Wagtail. Starling. Great Tit.
6 Nuthatch. Blue tit. Chaffinch.
5 Heron(3-1-1). Canada Geese. Mallard.
Magpie. Carrion Crow. Long Tailed Tit.
Coat Tit. Goldfinch. Robin.
2 Song Thrush. Jackdaw. Bullfinch.
Greenfinch. House Sparrow. Blackbird.
Woodpecker Drumming (Mytholmroyd).Wren. Dunnock.
Red Head Goosander. Black Headed Gull. 2 Dipper.
3 Grey Wagtail.
I don't think I've mention this before but....
A while back I decided to try this stand up comedy malarky.
I went by the name " The Grey Wag" pretty catchy for an aging birding comic.
My career in stand up didn't last too long - they just laughed at me.
Ode To A Money Lender.
On my pricey blue electric cycle-let.
I turn on the power and speed like a ram-jet.
I can go anywhere I flipping like.
No bells of whistles on this trike.
-
Along the towpath like Insane Bolt.
I use my power - turn up the volt.
You better scarper, you better scat.
and get out of my way - in 10 seconds flat.
Anon.
9:00 - 14:00
Mixenden Reservoir.
It was a bright and sunny morning as I set off to drive to Wainstalls to check out Cold Edge Dams.
As I drove along I looked down ay Mixenden Reservoir from the top road and noticed some large white blobs on the distant water.
I parked up and took a few distant phots before driving on, and parking near Mixenden Reservoir to walk up there and get some better photos of the 13 Whooper Swans on the water.
It was nice to bump into B.S. who called to see them on his way home from Fly Flats.
The Whoopers had probably recently arrived because they were not apparent when B.S.
checked from the high road as he passed earlier.
A very nice start to my birding day.
Wainstalls Rd - Cold Edge Dams - Castle Carr Road (400 yds).
I parked on the main road, just before Wainstalls Road, with parking a bit cluttered lower down with the schools on the go.
I enjoyed a walk along Wainstalls Road and up the moorland to Cold Edge Dams.
I though wearing a T Shirt, Shirt, 2 Jumpers and a waterproof coat I thought would be lathered but Cold Edge was true to form with a cool breeze up there on the tops.
I did a leisurely circuit of both dams before sitting on a rock in the sun and enjoying a sandwich for lunch.
I did another circuit of both dams before returning to the road and walking along Castle Carr road for a while.
2 overcoats warmer on Castle Carr Road phew.
It was a very enjoyable outing today in the sun and ,the moorland up here in the sunshine, is very, very picturesque.
Just 4 people and 2 dogs seen in all.
Birds:-
Mixenden.
1 Kestrel.
13 Whooper Swan.
Mallard and Canada Geese.
Usual Gulls as far as I could tell.
Wainstalls Rd - Cold Edge Dams - Castle Carr Road (400 yds).
Loads of birds song / calls and Gulls coming and going.
1 Kestrel.
At least 6 Stonechat - well spaced out - mostly along the road side fences.
6 Meadow Pipit.
4 Skylark.
3 Oystercatcher > E.
6 Curlew.
2 Red Grouse.
10 Lapwing (6 - 2 - 2).
3 Wren,
3 Reed Bunting.
2 Buzzard.
Canada Geese.
Mallard.
Herring Gull. Common Gull. Black Headed Gull.
Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Robin.
House Sparrow. Dunnock. Blackbird. Pheasant, Crow, Jackdaw. Chaffinch.
Mixenden.
