Reservoir Day.

I had a look at a few reservoirs today while Sue sat and read in the car.

On the way to Oxenhope, about 1/4m after the salt pile turn, a group c80 birds feeding in the fields. A mixture of Fieldfare and Redwing with Fieldfare the vast majority also a Mistle Thrush. They were very flighty and although we stopped the car and had a walk towards them the soon shifted further away. 

A footpath with a very old antique iron turnstile here - must have been older than me.

Leeshaw 9:45 (ish).

A very cold SW wind blowing here keeping the hands numb to match the head.

One day soon I’m going to turn up at Leeshaw in a T Shirt (and be warm).

C30 Lapwing were feeding in the fields, crying out and careering about . 

A couple of Meadow Pipit also in the field next to the Res.

3 Cormorant were on the water and c40 Canada Geese were in the fields obscured by a wall, so there could have been many more. The Canada’s were making a good old racket. 3 Greylag Goose landed in the field next to the Canada’s while I was there. 

A Grey Heron and a Wren were also about and a lovely surprise a Buzzard > E being buzzed by a corvid.

Grouse were calling from the moor and there were a few Pheasant in the fields. 

2 Owl were calling loudly – Little Owl – I guess - although I could not locate them.

2 Oystercatcher were moving between the fields and the shoreline.

The usual small gulls were on the shoreline with 2 possible LBBG – not sure.

Ponden 10:50

Kestrel, Grey Heron, Curlew calling – but not located, 6 or so Oystercatcher in the fields, in good voice. Pheasant & Mistle Thrush.

The fields on the far side of the road were full of Lapwing and Starling.

After lunch Sue dropped me at Ogden.

Ogden 13:30

2 F Bullfinch, usual Blue / Great Tits – did not see any Coal Tit today.

Jay, 3 Canada Goose on the water with the usual Mallard and small gulls. 

A Drake Goldeneye I believe looking at the pic. which I though at the time was a Tufted Duck just about as far away from me as possible and although I did the full circuit I did not get any nearer to it as it gave me the cold shoulder.

I heard an incessant chattering coming from the very top of a large fir which took me off the path and into the woods to look-see. There must have been more than 10 birds (most prob. Goldfinch) and although I looked skyward for a good 15 mins. I did not see one of the illusive blighters.

The wait did me good though because on my return there were 3 Siskin feeding in the trees I’d left earlier.

A GSW calling had me retrace my steps into the wood but the bird disappeared further into the wood and I did not see it. There were a further 3 Siskin here though, with a few Goldfinch for company.

Nothing out of the ordinary seen on the trudge home – I gave Soil Hill a miss today.

Pool at 6:15pm a real rush to go to press!!

Amazingly it is in very good working order, hardly a creak from the turnstile!

Leeshaw:

Ponden:

Ogden