Black Edge Lane – Thornton Moor Reservoir – Ogden Woods - Ogen Reservoir – Foreside Lane Top.

Tues 11^th Aug 2015

10:00 – 14:45

After yesterdays stroll around Cromwell Bottom N.R. I had a longer hike over the moors today.

Black Edge Lane to TMR was very quiet with large black clouds looking ominous but not shedding any wet stuff.

Just a couple of Woodpigeon, a Swallow and a Meadow Pipit were seen on the way to TMR.

I had an interesting chat with a water board man who tells me that the water on the Res. by the salt pile has been lowered intentionally.

At the top of the lane by the ‘sand quarry’ 20 joyful Swallows were noisily flying - crowded together.

I then heard a loud  ‘korrp’ of a Raven and after a few moments I spotted 11 Corvid  > SW (ish) the leader definitely a calling Raven and the others looked similar (to my untrained eye!)

I managed a few poor pictures, but it is amazing how quickly the birds passed, and how slowly my bridge camera takes, to focus on moving objects!(poor excuse number 53).

I phoned B.S. in case they were headed his way, but after I crested the hill I could tell that they were going towards the Swalesmoor area.

Also here a group of c30 Starling >NE.

I had a tough yomp across the lumpy moor land grass to the TMR reservoir wall and hung about a while to see if the clouds would pass, allowing a bit of sun to help make the best of any distant pictures I took. Alas the clouds got more dark so I took a few snaps and left.

At least a Red Grouse sat patiently on the Res. wall to allow me to gets its picture. 

I also heard another 3 Red Grouse calling from the moor (keep your head down tomorrow!).

12:00

The walk from TMR to the Ogden Woods boundary fence held just 6 Meadow Pipit!

Nearing Ogden Woods a GSW called and a Jay was making a fuss.

Skirting the outside fence of the woods, a Green Woodpecker stood silhouetted on the hillside standing near a large rock. 

It soon flew into the trees followed by a second Green Woodpecker.

Entering the woods and approaching the water a GSW flew overhead and a Nuthatch was calling moving through the trees.

At the first bridge 2 Grey Wagtail were flitting about.

On the water, just the usual stuff – pr GCG, c140 small gulls all BGH as far as I could tell along with at least 20 LBBG and a Cormorant on the buoy.

Leaving Ogden for Back Lane 4 Goldfinch were feeding on the thistles.

13:45

I took the path that  ziz-zags  across fields to back Black Edge Lane.

As I left a third Green Woodpecker was calling, this time, from way down near the promenade and a couple of Linnet made a fly past.

Nearing Black Edge Lane my fourth Green Woodpecker was silhouetted against the side of a large sycamore tree.

Also hereabouts a Kestrel was hunting.

Where's willie

Green Woodpecker