Bradshaw – Raggalds – Asa Nicholsons – Foreside Lane – Ogden – Bradshaw.

10:00 – 14:30

A wild and windy cold morning with the odd snowflake, improved as the day went on. We had a tough slog today with the wind being so strong.

We headed off up Bradshaw Lane , just a Common Gull on the way up, and had a look at Raggalds Flood. The two “puddles” have joined up, so there was a bit more water there than of late.

There was just c30  Lapwing,4 Starling and the odd crow keeping the flood company. The wind here made holding the camera steady, a tad difficult.

A trudge along the road, past the farm shop, to Asa Nicholsons earned us a well deserved cuppa and a toasted teacake.

 Just a solitary Common Gull seen on the way there.

From Asa’s we headed downhill and then we turned left to climb up Crag Lane and cross the main road to follow Foreside Lane. We followed this bridleway for ¼ mile or so to reach the fingerpost footpath sign at the top of the hill. Here we turned left downhill and crossed the moor hoping for Curlew or Red Grouse, neither of which we heard or saw – the gale force winds playing there part no doubt.

We eventually arrived at the main Ogden Bridleway onto which we turned left, downhill, to arrive at Ogden Water where we were greeted by a Blackbird . Apart from the area near the visitor centre, the water had just the odd small gull on it. We did a circuit of the water and apart from a flock of maybe 12 small birds leaving the firs on the opposite side to us (maybe Siskin – more likely Goldfinch though - couldn’t tell) and disappearing in the direction of soil hill, there was nothing about at all! (Although we did not check the feeders).

At the Visitor Centre area there were c10 Canada Geese with the Barnacle Goose that seems to have taken residence (B.S. blog yesterday) and the usual Mallards and small gull sp.

We headed off down the path by Boggart Brig  and out onto the main road. We had a stop at the Moorlands for a thirst quencher and then went home to Bradshaw via Ingham Lane.

Arriving at our gate I happened to look up, and I was rewarded with a Mistle Thrush perched proudly on the Apex of the roof – looking for some meal worms no doubt.

Not much birdlife but at least the forecast snow etc. gave us a miss for a change.

Bradshaw - Common Gull

Raggalds Flood - holding on

Foreside Lane (Bridleway)

Baildon from Foreside Lane

TMR from Foreside Lane

Today's Celeb. 'Gate Moss' (I'm sorry I have a cold)