A Couple orThree Firsts

Ogden 10:15 (Ish)

A very cold windy and unpleasantly showery morning kept the camera in the bag and the bins covered for my first circuit of the water. I began to loose heart and wonder what the hell I was doing here in this nasty wet stuff  - with no birds to speak of  just a good soaking.

Approaching the prom. at the end of my first circuit I had decided to call it a day after one final look for the Kingfisher at the spot where DJS had seen it a week or so ago. Alas the Kingfisher was not there, but as I turned for home I heard a high pitched call and looking towards the West end of the Prom. saw the Kingfisher fly over the Res. wall and out of sight – a Kingfisher at Ogden is a first for me.

Despite a good gander about I could not re-locate it.

After this my spirits brightened somewhat and as the weather had decided to dry up a tad, I went for a second circuit of the Res.

This was a much better foray with a Nuthatch seen on the feeders and with the usual birds now playing out with the better weather.

The usual small birds were about, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, and lots of Coal Tit. As I was trying to get a photo of a Coal Tit a Treecreeper landed on a tree trunk not far away, shortly followed by a second Treecreeper.

Then a group of maybe 12 small birds flew over, with a flight pattern  I did not recognised. They landed quite a distance away high in the trees.

It took a good while to get a photo (and not a very good one at that) but I believe there may be a Siskin in amongst the Greenfinch – if so it would be a first at Ogden for me.

Soil Hill

I left Ogden in a far better mood than when I had arrived there and decided to drive up to Soil Hill to put some birdseed down. When I arrived on the hill the weather took a turn for the worst so I decided just to put the seed down and take a look at Oats Royd.

A solitary Meadow Pipit was at the feeding area on SH, so maybe the birdseed will bring results.

Oats Royd 13:45

A Collard Dove was on the telegraph lines and Rook and Jackdaw were feeding together in the fields.

I did a tour of the ponds and was amazed to find a pr. Goosander on the lower pond near the fireclay works - another first for me here. As soon as they spotted me they were off.

Also down here, a Heron flew over and in the bushes Great Tit, Blue Tit and Goldfinch. A Jay was knocking about making a racket.

Back home a Mistle Thrush and some noisy Goldfinch were in the trees opposite the house.

It's pool night (or what we call pool) with neighbour John - so (after a good day birding) I might let him win!(As if I've any choice in the matter).

Fields near Oats Royd

Small wood near Oats Royd

The Goosanders make their getaway