Soil Hill & Oats Royd.

8:30 – 12:00

I left Sue with tea making duties, for the plastering gang, this morning knowing that we’d be having a megga cleaning operation this afternoon.

It was an early start for me (8:30 – this is mid morning for some birders -  I know).

It was a beautiful sunny morning and I soon got chatting to a gentleman I met on Taylor Lane, this was soon followed by another natter to another gentleman, who was strolling down Soil Hill main track.

The second gentleman mentioned being frightened to death, while cycling along Perseverance Road, by the sudden appearance of  a Short Eared Owl that nearly took him out.

By now my early start was history as the morning was fast disappearing.

On Soil Hill main track c30 Goldfinch were on the thistles.

On the hill C10 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 8 Meadow Pipit and a Skylark high overhead, singing like it was the first day of spring.

Also here Pheasant, 7 Woodpigeon, a few Mallard on the lower pond, 6 Common Gull, 7 Black Headed Gull, a Kestrel being given a hard time by a crow. 

C20 Canada Geese flying towards Ogden,

10:35 Oats Royd

It was quiet down here this morning.

2 Kestrel, 3 Common Gull, lots of Jackdaw, Carrion Crows and a few Rook, Moorhen,  Pr. Mallard.

Then a call from B.S, alerting me to an Osprey sighting over Thornton Moor Reservoir with the bird heading South, possibly my way!

I gazed skyward for a good while but I did not clock it. 

Please see my Birdbrain Link for a great report on the Osprey,

Also at Oats Royd a Heron, a few weak calls from a couple of Bullfinch, Jay and a Mistle Thrush.

After a hectic afternoon cleaning, and with the dining/kitchen room full of the lounge furniture, Sue & I sat outside and enjoyed a toasted teacake for tea, with the added bonus of a Green Woodpecker flypast - nice one!

Major stuff happening at Ogden wind farm

Skylark up high - singing

Mallard and possibly a Teal