A day of calls and Shelduck for Ogden

11:30 – 16:45

It was a cool and breezy morning giving way to a warm and very hot afternoon when most of the clothes ended up in the rucksack.

“The Walk”

A longish hike today, up and around Soil Hill, down through Coal Lane, through the plantation area to Ogden Water. Around the water, into the Bogart Brig café for a splendid Panini a lovely brew of tea and a flapjack to finish.

(The boring packet of crisps and small biscuit that I had brought for lunch, would not talk to me after that).

After the café I carried on past the golf club, had a nosey about thereabouts and exited via the houses at Brockholes. A left turn at Brockholes through the wall and up a steep path brought me out a Mount Zion church. Along Per Lane and down Blind Lane past the Peat Pit farms and down the lane to Bradshaw Park and home.

“The Talk”

Some interesting bird (and other) calls today.

First up: Below the north side of Soil Hill. 5 birds in the undergrowth thereabouts. They made 5 or so  “cheeps” then three quick “chips” – don’t laugh it’s the best I could come up with. Oh - go on then - do laugh.

The second call was from B.S. informing me of a reported sighting by DJS of 5 Shelduck on Ogden  (AT) – cheers all.

Then in the plantation area lots of activity and calls in the pine trees there (Goldcrest most prob. but I saw nowt).

Birds.

Birds were again hard to come by today.

Bradshaw Bridleway to Koi Carp farm:

Kestrel, Swallow, Common Gull.

Soil Hill:

There was a farmer mending a wall and a white van man attending the Mast Communications building, so that did not help.

Weasel, 8 Meadow Pipit, 1 Skylark, Pheasant, Swallows, 5 unids, c30 Goldfinch although there was prob. a lot more as, at this point, I legged it towards Ogden. a couple of Siskin.

Canada Geese feeding in the fields.

Plantation:

Coal Tit for definite and most prob. a few Goldcrest.

Ogden Water:

4 Shelduck, 2 Cormorant, 2 Great Crested Grebe and the usual gull sp. Possible Teal?

Ogden Golf Course Area:

I spent a good 45 mins here but it was deadsville. No sign of any “chats”, just a Jay to report.

Homeward  bound:

Got a bit of a clog on as time was passing me by – Jay and the usual smaller birds about.The sad sight of a dead hedgehog.

Siskin??

Teal??

Soil Hill from Ogden Golf Course

Ogden from Brockholes area

??

Another stunning video trying to record the bird call on Soil Hill!!