Birding Bradshaw and District: Bradshaw - Soil Hill - Ogden

Thursday, 29 December 2016

Bradshaw - Soil Hill - Ogden - Bradshaw

9:25 - 14:00

A late blog tonight with Christmas festivities getting in the way.

I had a cracking walk today with beautiful sunshine all day and although it was cold, this will do me any day.

A walk up and around Soil Hill then down thro' Pottery Cottage and thro' the plantation to Ogden.
A walk around Ogden and Rocks Lane / Union Lane are before going towards Oats Royd.

A phone call here from 'er in doors, took me home and I was forced to 'enjoy' a bit of a pub crawl - an unusual hobby these days.

First up was the Moorlands, but we were not allowed to sit down unless we were eating - standing was ok, with the vino collapaso going down just fine.

Then a stroll to the Causeway Foot Inn where we were allowed to sit so we stayed a while.

A late evening walk over Soil Hill and down to the Raggalds brought on a thirst and a hunger and we managed to satisfy both before walking home - not as good an outing as birding - but pretty close.

Anyway ...

First off up the Bonnet this morning was 2 Foxes chasing each other around in the fields below Roper Lane.
A Mistle Thrush was in the trees here.

Looking NE from Taylor Lane revealed a few Common Gulls and lapwings.
A Fieldfare was in a tree nearby.

The Little Owl is becoming more and more sneaky but I managed to spot it well camouflaged perched on a wall - I was well chuffed.

Soil Hill

10:10 - 10:45

4 BT vans were parked near the mast buildings - this didn't bode well!
It was tough going up here today with a good scan about revealing 2 Wren and a Meadow Pipit!

A farmer was muck spreading in the fields above NK pond and 2 agitated Snipe flew high overhead calling - possibly flushed by the tractor.

c20 Fieldfare were in the fields on the way to the plantation with a few Pheasant hereabouts.

Ogden 11:30

Ogden car park was heaving.
c140 Small Gulls were on the water and not a lot else.
The circuit revealed Robin and Chaffinch.

A real bonus though was, hearing calling Geese, as I was under the trees.
I had a gap in the trees to look through and sure enough Pink Footed Geese flew past > WSW very high up.

I estimated 60 Geese at the time, but they were soon a distant sight.
I reckon there was 68 so my initial guess was ok.

Butty at the bridge, on the way to Rocks Road, Union Lane, led me to have a walk past the Golf Club.

4 Pigeon sized birds flew over > W, calling.
Their wings were 'too small' for their body size and the had a fluttery wing beat.
I though Golden Plover, then Redwing, they were in silhouette so I'll never know.

I decided to walk across to Oats Royd but as I walked down the track by the Calderdale Way path I had a phone call and a really good invite to the pub ......