Wednesday, 11 March 2015

Oxenhope - Hipperholme - Ogden

I had a more sedate day after yesterdays ramble.

Leeshaw:

Leeshaw was as busy as I’ve seen it this year and not just as cold. There was a lot of activity with Lapwing , Curlew and Geese calling and a flyover of 5 Golden Plover taking top spot. I put some Nyjer seed down on the path (where a Dunnock was feeding).
I had an enjoyable chat with Ian H. who was kind enough to point out a Little Owl perched on a far off wall.

Birds:-

3 Greylag Geese (seen on the brow of the field – so there could have been others).
40 Canada Goose on the water, 3 Oystercatcher – very active, 5 Golden Plover, 1 Little Owl, Pr. Dunnock chasing about, Cormorant in breeding plumage.
Grey Heron. 3 or 4 Curlew (at least), and there were a few Meadow Pipit in the fields during my stay. Usual small gulls on the water as far as I could tell. Kestrel.

Lower Laithe:

Some repairs were taking place to the ‘gantry’.
3 Oystercatcher with shrill calls, running about with their bills pointing downwards.
The usual small gulls on the water with 4 Canada Goose and pr. Mallard.

Ponden:

Very quiet – I didn’t stay long.
Sparrowhawk, 3 Oystercatcher (3 seems to be the number today), 5 Canada Goose, 2 Greylag Goose.
Driving home - Nr Spring Row - Long Causeway, ‘ a lot’ of Starling & Fieldfare in the fields. Hard to estimate the numbers, but most probably more than 20 Fieldfare.

When the rain came at Ponden I decided to have a pilgrimage to Coach Road not my best idea.
The rain was quite heavy here keeping things quiet.

Coach Road:

Birds:-

2 LTT, 3 Robin, Blue & Great Tit, Wren & Song Thrush.
(No Woodpecker heard or seen).

Ogden 16:00 - 16:45

I tried out Ogden in the drizzle and murk on the slim chance of seeing the Whooper Swan  -  reported earlier in the day - but it had left the scene – can’t blame it really.

A bit grim here this aftBirds :-

2 Jay making a racket, 4 Canada Goose on the water, 4 Chaffinch, 3 Robin, 2 LTT, Goldfinch usual Mallard and a few gulls.

15 Crows (some Carrion Crow – not sure if they all were) were in the top car park trees making a lot of noise? Perhaps they were just getting ready to roost for the night but an unusual sight here for me anyway. I had a scan about, but I did not see anything that might have been unsettling them. 

Leeshaw:








Moral of the story (Ian) we should always keep our eyes peeled when we are having a long chinwag.
Departing Golden Plover!





Upper Marsh Area:


Lower Laithe:


Ponden:


Ogden:








3 comments:

  1. Looks like you had a good day john plenty to see, I'm jealous I've done nothing just went to physio's after work then it was pouring down so stayed indoors.

    Dave

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  2. Thanks for the seed down John and the text about the Whooper missing, saved me a dash after work.

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  3. Bit grim at Ogden Dave - but better than the crossword!
    I thought you would be tempted to have a look at Ogden Bri - shame the Whooper had gone - but , like you've said before , they don't normally stay long at Ogden.
    John

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