Black Edge Lane - TMR

12:45

I managed a drive up to the farm shop nr. Black Edge Lane for a walk up to TMR and back. I cannot get very close to the Res. on the footpath so apologies for the photos.

Birds:-

Red Grouse 6.

Mallard C75 with a white duck.

Large flock of Lapwing appeared over the corner of the Res. but were soon out of sight.

Kestrel, Thrush in a tree nr the Res. house – sounded like a Mistle Thrush to me, Wren.

C20 Canada Geese flying over.

Some Lapwing and Gulls on TMR shore.

BHG, Common, LBBG not sure if there were any others.

Spent ages getting a poor photo of an elusive duck and it turned out to be a Mallard when I looked at in on the computer.

Today's Post

Sums up the following long distance shots.

I've included some far off photos just in case there is a mega in there!

Soil Hill from TMR

I've no idea what the 4 larger birds are.

Earlier …..

IS IT ME?

I could not escape shopping any longer.

Sue needed some retail therapy with a trip to Sainsburys, Dunelm Mill and Morrisons all planned, but first a trip to ye olde Post Office for a passport photo.

So we went to the post office.

“Get me a large 1^st class stamp please while I have this photo done” she said.

I noticed a sign near the P.O. counter:-

“For stamps please use the newspaper kiosk”.

So I go and queue at the newspaper kiosk.

“A large 1^st class stamp please” I say.

“That’s 62p” the lady replies. “Sorry – no, I mean a 1^st class stamp for a large envelope”

“Yes this is a large 1^st class stamp” the lady confirms.

“Yes it is a large stamp (and it was) – but it’s for normal 1^st class postage.

" I need a 1^st class stamp for a big envelope” I reiterate.

“Oh! I’ll have to ask ’im” she replies.

“OY – Is this stamp Ok for sending a large envelope by 1^st class post?” she hollers as she points to 'im.

“No – he’ll need a large 1st class stamp” he confirms.

The lady looks my way and says “Sorry I’ve no large 1^st class stamps. You’ll have to see ‘im”.

“ok” I say “lets forget the 1^st class stuff. Can I just have a book of 6 second class stamps please?”

“Normally yes – but not today. I should have seen ‘im earlier and stocked up, because I’ve run out – so no you’ll have to see ‘im”……

Meanwhile back at the passport photo booth.

Sue, with the gammy leg, has hopped about adjusting the booth stool to the correct height, inserted the £3.50 and digested the lady’s automated verbal instructions and voila clunk click down drop the photos.

“Look at these” Sue implores “I’ve come out all bright pink!”.

“You’ll have to see ‘im” I venture.

He says “Those photos are fine for the passport office”.

“But they don’t look at all like me!” Sue complains. (She’s getting annoyed).

“Anyway” he says “I don’t have a key for the photo machine so you’ll have to come back later”.

“I’ve got a gammy leg – oh! Forget it – keep the rotten photos – we’ll go elsewhere” Sue complains.

“Actually Sue” I comment “You now have quite a resemblance to the photos”.

That seemed to be the wrong thing to say at this point.

On leaving the shop I looked back at the door and noticed a sign

“Monty Python Cheese Emporium” 

no, actually it did say “Post Office”

Royds Hall Dam & Ogden

Cleaning day today so a late kick off.

Sue is getting restless so her foot must be on the mend.

Another few days and the stitches and bandage are replaced by a big boot, so my Walpoling days are numbered. I best make the most of it while I can.

Royds Hall Dam

With the poor weather and with B.S. report yesterday mentioning Royds Hall Dam, I decided I’d go have a look see. My first visit here and it took a bit of finding.

Birds:-

2 Mute Swan, 4 Cygnet. 55 Canada Goose.

5 Moorhen, 30 Coot, Cormorant, 3 Jay.

5 Tufted Duck, 2 GCG, Little Grebe, GSW, 60 BHG.

On the way home I called at the trailer park but was unimpressed with the footpath (or lack thereof) so I went to Ogden.

Ogden:

Action replay of previous visits.

2 Cormorant, GCG, 2 Woodpigeon on the shoreline, Coal Tit, 4 Chaffinch, Blue & Great Tit in good numbers, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Dunnock.

Royds Hall Dam:-

Ogden:-

Today's post

A strange old day.

I spent the morning fighting the washing machine, until with some help from my neighbour John W. we managed to kill it and dispose of its body at the Halifax tip.

Later on, an enjoyable trip to Soil Hill in beautiful warm sunshine, made the forthcoming cost of the new washer bearable.

On the way there, just a Wren and Pied Wagtail were seen.

11:30 Soil Hill- a strange old day

On Soil Hill 23 Meadow Pipit and looking over the north slope to the fields far below c110 Lapwing feeding in the fields. 

The Lapwing were a long way off for both bins and camera.

I then disturbed what looked like 5 Pheasant feeding together, however, 2 of the birds had a Red Grouse look to them.

Before you could say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious they had gone. Pity I did not get a picture. But I find in hard to believe that there would be Red Grouse up here.

Also here 4 Skylark and a Chaffinch.

I was sitting on a large rock having my sarnies in warm sunlight when another odd bird (for up here) caught my eye , gliding past, a Jay. 

Don’t know why a Jay would be up here , but I cannot think what else it could have been?

Leaving soil hill via the Ned Hill track 20 BHG were feeding in the fields.

And yet another oddity for me (up here) a large bird with an undulating flight flew below the track before landing against a telegraph pole on the roadside – a Green Woodpecker.

I have seen many a Green Woodpecker in Bradshaw but not this far up.

13:35 Oats Royd.

It’s been a long while since my last visit to Oats Royd.

Birds:-

Usual 3 Geese.2 Moorhen, Grey Wagtail.

Robin, 2 Wren, 3 BHG, 1F Bullfinch,.

3 Greenfinch (long time no see). Goldfinch,.

Jay, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Blackbird.

Mistle thrush.

A large flock of Starling, circling, a long way off that I’d guess at 80 or so.

An interesting and enjoyable day out and a tad more relaxing than yesterday's long hike and a bonus the rub-a-dub tonight after 4 weeks forced abstinence. 

Lapwing (& others?) a long way off

Soil Hill Meadow Pipit

Today's Post without Green Woodpecker

Track to Oats Royd

Autumn Colours at Oats Royd

Today's Magpie. I knew they were inquisitive but HEY!