Oats Royd & Coach Road

Oats Royd 11:00 - 13:00

After yesterday's marathon I enjoyed a leisurely stroll down to Oats Royd, up the killer hill to Roper Lane and along to the Raggalds before dropping down to Bradshaw.

It was very sunny and quite warm at Oats Royd but very chilly in the breeze along Roper Lane.

Approaching Oats Royd down the walled track, I scanned the walls over to the left near the Calderdale Way path junction, and I was rewarded with a distant Stonechat.

The bird was 2 fields over, near the stable block - it is a real bonus for me, seeing a Stonechat down here!

The partially frozen ponds held 2 Moorhen and 9 Mallard.

A startled Heron left the scene in a hurry and I also saw 2 Wren and heard 2 Bullfinch call.

Chaffinch was singing in good numbers today and a Sparrowhawk deftly "side-stepped" an inquisitive Corvid as it soared high above the conifers.

Going up the killer hill there were loads of Blackbirds and Woodpigeon with 2 Bullfinch calling.

The walk home via Roper Lane was uneventful.

Coach Road 14:50

We had our obligatory cafe fix at Lightcliffe Tearooms this aft and I persuaded Sue to take a walk down Coach Road in search of Peckers.

I did not see or hear any Woodpeckers of any description though.

Birds:-

3 Jay, Long Tailed Tit, Robin, & nice to see, 8 Greenfinch all in one tree, at least 8 Redwing seen through a myriad of small branches - so there were most prob. more!, 2 Bullfinch calling - not seen and 2 MistleThrush.

Today's Rhyme:

Here comes John, noshing a double-decker,

Pretty damn good as a long distance trekker,

Reservoir, Tree and Moor, bird-checker,

Camera at the ready  ...................

but still no Lesser-Pecker.

Oats Royd:-

The killer hill - it looks innocuous enough on this photo. 

View from Roper Lane

Coach Road:-