Soil Hill – Ogden Water - Ogden Golf Course – Bradshaw

Soil Hill 10:25

Sue dropped me off at Soil Hill this morning and it was a pleasant surprise to bump into my lost glove, Dave  S and Dave B on the hill.

I threw some more Carrion Crow jock down on the path.

It was extremely windy up here this morning, especially on the west facing slope.

Not much bird life though just a Kestrel, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Skylark for me – the Daves had also see 4? Fieldfare.

Ogden:

I thumbed a lift down to Ogden with Dave B. where, after Soil Hill, the weather was from a different world.

We both had a saunter around the water and thereabouts.

A look for the kingfisher in the usual spot proved fruitless and the going was tough on the circuit with 7 Robin and a few Blackbird.

The water held a few small gulls but a M. Goldeneye made up for the lack of bird life to some extent.

The Goldeneye was keeping its distance so decent pics were hard to get.

At lunchtime Dave left and I decided to brave the drizzle and try my luck down by the Golf Course. 

As I was crossing the promenade, the Goldeneye came a bit closer to let me get a half decent picture.

Now that the drizzle had arrived I tried the Kingfisher area again, and to my surprise it was present on the very back wall of the culvert area(sorry Dave).

I had a walk past the golf course, along the stream and up the path past the mowing machine building and saw nowt!

On the return journey by Brook House there were c20 Goldfinch and 3 Greenfinch in the trees.

At Per Lane c90 small gulls (mainly Common) were in the fields.

7 Canada Geese were in the Bradshaw Park area.

Tough birding today but great to be out and about – we desperately need some sunshine though.

Enjoy your weekend when it gets to you.

Probably a Moorhen on NK pond

Trees being felled Bogart Brig access track

A very interesting 'bird' on the golf course.

Gulls a long, long way off - Mixenden Res

Looking back over Ogden from above Brook House

Norland Moor from Ingham Lane