Ogden

10:15 - 13:30

I enjoyed a few hours walk around the Ogden area this morning. It was a cool blustery morning improving as the morning progressed.

A Jay flew over Taylor Lane which was a good sign, not many Jays seen hereabouts.

A walk up Back Lane revealed the resident Woodpigeon and Pheasant gang. A Curlew called from high on Thornton Moor and there were a couple of Meadow Pipits in the fields.

A loud yaffling Green Woodpecker was obviously very close but took some finding, giving me a long awaited Green Woodpecker tick. It was yaffling off and on through the walk; it's amazing how far the call travels.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the same area but I did not see it and there was also a solitary Skylark singing here.

The Green Pecker lifted my spirit so I decided to give the Giant's Tooth area, a coat of looking at.

On the way there a flighty Goldcrest and a Treecreeper were seen.

Near the Tooth there were many Meadow Pipit flying about.

One in particular gave me pause for thought.

It landed high in a small tree, took off and seemed very reluctant to land on the deck, circling and calling anxiously until it found another tree. It did this a few times - never landing on the deck. Tree Pipit behaviour??? I live in hope!!

A Red Grouse called just once from the Withens area and there were calls from a couple of Curlew.

One Curlew was flying and calling on the horizon.

A "Sparrowhawk" flew leisurely up the clough , disappearing before I could get a decent photo.

I did get 2 poor photos though but looking at the photos I don't think it is a Sparrowhawk!!

The bird looked brownish with a very long cream and brown, barred tail.

My Raptor ID skills match my Gull ID skills!!

Back at Ogden Water things were exceptionally quiet with 9 Canada Geese and a few Mallard.

A pr. of Great Crested Grebe redeemed the situation somewhat.

An interesting bird box has appeared in the woods.

A bit of a strange phenomenon occurred as I crossed the prom.

A Snipe-like bird with a high pitched call, flew erratically across the water, weaving up and down and from side to side with very jerky movements. Maybe Redshank I thought.

After a circuit of the water it left, flying away south, over the prom.

Going by the length and shape of the bill , I'm fairly sure it

was a Curlew, but I've never seen one over the water here before, or flying so erratically.

No pic of course!!

Ah well another mystery.

There were 3 singing Chiffchaff about, and as I went down to Boggart Brigg cafe for lunch, a Sparrowhawk was seen flying high in the distance.

It circled around, coming back over the cafe to land in the conifers thereabouts.

As it landed I got the impression that it was greeted with a call from its mate - possibly a nest site?

A Pheasant, Pr. Collard Dove, Lapwing, singing Song Thrush and a few House Sparrows (among others) completed a rather enjoyable saunter.

B.O.G.O.F.

Spot the Treecreeper

Spot the Goldcrest

There now follows a short interlude with pictures of a pipit in a Tree!

All the above were the same bird I hope!!

Meadow Pipit with large "hind claw"

Mallard Over I believe

Meadow Pipit

Sparrowhawk (or Not)

Interesting large bird box

Sparrowhawk - Boggart Brig - bit more confident that this was a Sprawk!

A few pics taken over lunch in the cafe