√Happy New Year & Christmas quiz answers

No birding time of late with Ken, Abigail and Emma to entertain. 
I did get a gut buster of a joke from Ken's 2017 Joke Book, when we paid him a visit yesterday, though.

Quasimodo, the hunch back of Notre Dame, gets home at 6pm after a long, long day bell ringing.

He notices Mrs. Quasimodo in the kitchen with a Wok.
"Ah! he exclaims, Chinese for tea - my favourite meal"
"No" says Mrs Quasimodo "I was just going to iron your shirt!"

Thanks for looking in on my blog in 2017.

Best wishes for 2018, where I aim to surpass the dizzy heights attained by the blog this year.
That won't be too difficult I hear you say.

Oh ... and the quiz answers:-


I had a chance meeting with Mr. Aven on Soil Hill.

The chap, he a Santa fan, went on and on.
He had a much calmer lingo than I have, I must say.
He was getting old he said with death rushing towards him.

He told me of his past, fishing, 'pull in net sharply' his dad said.
He lived in rented accommodation and saw rent increases as inevitable.
As we spoke a bird landed in a field, far east ways it, left with turns to NE.
He mentioned camping, one night in gales blowing, he recalled  he'd had a real throb in the toe from walking that day.

He'd stolen apples, reds, tart and horrid.
How he ate a rhubarb, red, yuk.
He took a liking to my black cap that I covered my camera with in the wet.

Once on the moors, from a valley, he'd seen the fire
crest a hill.


He was near Stood Fold one day and saw a man mending a car, it had a loose nut , hatchback wobble, and a flat tyre. He'd made a huge yell "ow -  hammer's hit me finger" and some swear words then his wife appeared  and a terrific row, at Brook House Farm ensued.

He came from the very chic Hough estate , Northowram, and he drove a Roller.
He had lived on Blake St. Relatively close to all amenities and really enjoyed it there.

"That's a gosh" - awkward   - had to say something at this point..yawn!

His wife loved shopping, Annette, was her name.
They'd had a beautiful marriage he recalled.
His daughters and Martin his son were coming home for Xmas.

She was off shopping, it's now bun tin getting , time of the year she said.

He was working on the garden weeds and had part rid generous sections of them.

He said his daft mate ,Curly Bill, had got upset by "a curl 'e wasn't 'appy about" silly sod.

Don't get cross Bill I'd said.

He'd bumped into a prat in Coley and after an argument he'd headed off seeing the plump tar M1 gang working hard.


He was off to the bar now looking forward to a beer and perhaps a puff in the smokers hut later on with his smokes and RAT (subtle little pet of his) not.

Thanks for reading this  B! rambling garbage.


Birds:

There should be at least 36 bird species hereabouts with one appearing flying backwards.



1. Raven
2. Pheasant
3. Merlin
4. Thrush
5. Linnet
6. Wren
7. Fieldfare
8. Turnstone
9. Nightingale
10. Robin
11. Redstart
12. Wheatear
13. Blackcap
14. Firecrest
15. Nuthatch
16. Yellow Hammer
17. Crow
18. Rook
19. Chough
20. Roller
21. Kestrel
22. Goshawk
23. Gannet
24. Fulmar
25. Sand Martin
26. Snow Bunting
27. Partridge
28. Curlew
29. Crossbill
30. Pratincole
31. Ptarmigan
32. Barn Owl
33. Puffin
34. Bustard - spelt backwards
35. Brambling
36. Hen

√Christmas Round Up

A  busy Christmas for us (especially Sue - having two Christmas dinners to prepare) with family ties for most of the time.

Wednesday 27th Soil Hill.

I did get out for a walk up to and around Soil Hill, looking for Snow Bunting.
Very cold today and Soil Hill still retained some of the earlier snow.
I didn't expect a lot and birds were scare with just a couple of Crow types on the hill.
An enjoyable walk all the same, to shift some of the excess calories.

A First Winter Common Gull (I think) was on the Bonnet Fields. 
It had a damaged foot.

Thursday 28th Bradshaw to Haworth.

Our annual Christmas period,3 hour , pilgrimage to Haworth today.
We normally walk to Haworth, get some pub grub, and get a taxi back. This year however, a text received by Sue, part way along the walk changed things a bit.
It's a long walk with no time to stop and stare, so no bins or camera today.
It, was a beautiful, crisp cold day, where my many layers of clothing came in useful.

On the way past the revamped, Row Farm mansion, a Sparrowhawk left the building roof.
Walking along Syke Lane, approaching Ogden, a Green Woodpecker undulated by, on it's way to the trees by the 'Bradshaw Farm' track.

We followed Ogden Back lane all the way to the watershed opposite Oxenhope reservoir (TMR), a bracing walk with just calling Red Grouse for company.

At the summit it was freezing with a strong, biting NW wind.

Down, down, down and along the higher track, to the west side of Leeming Reservoir, where there were a good few small Gulls on the exposed banking.

Past Lower Leeming and Oxenhope Railway, where the car park(s) were full with the steam train running today, to pick up the lovely path next to the stream that leads unfailingly into Haworth.

A 'Massey' of Tractors at Haworth was an interesting and unexpected sight.
All out and about in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

We tried our usual pubs to get some grub but could not get a table in either!
A text on Sue's mobile meant that we had a journey to make to Halifax fairly quick.

We opted for the Hebden Bridge bus route.
Thinking that the views, from the bus, would be spectacular over the moors.
The bus duly came along, but with the recent salt spreading, the bus windows were a tad dark and we could not see much out of them!

While we waited at the bus stop in Haworth, near the Co-op, a check on the stream paid dividends with a Dipper on the rocks.
I managed a photo of it on my mobile before it left.

We were lucky with our Halifax bus connection and made it into Halifax, sorted out the problem and eventually settled for a great curry and some plonk on the Witherspoons at Barum Top, Bull Green.

Back home at 7:30 pm and in bed for 8 pm absolutely pooped, a long but enjoyable day out.

Friday 29th Bradshaw to Amble Thorn in heavy snow.

Today, the forecast snow duly arrived in bucketfuls.
We had a Birthday present to deliver to Ambler Thorn, Queensbury and decided to don the waterproofs and wellies and hike it up the fields and along Roper Lane leaving the car , at home, in the snow.

Heavy snow showers accompanied us going but they packed in for the return leg. 
After shifting the white stuff from outside our house, the forecast thaw arrived.

A very enjoyable Christmas period for us - I hope you enjoyed it too.

A few pics:-

Wednesday 27th Soil Hill:-

A First Winter Common Gull with a bad foot

Thursday 28th Bradshaw to Haworth:-

Looking to Soil Hill from high up back lane bridleway

Oxenhope (TMR) Reservoir

Looking from the summit down to Leeming Reservoir

Very distant Gulls at Leeming Reservoir

Haworth and Abigail's fav. colour - pink.

A distant Dipper

Friday 29th Bradshaw to Amble Thorn in heavy snow:-

Sue - in front as always.

(I think she is a Toyota)

Roper Lane

Adult Common Gull

√Christmas Bird Quiz - Can you spot 36 birds?

If you are sat looking at the TV, bored, (like I have been recently) then you might like to  pass some time looking for birds from your armchair!!

Christmas is here and some more drivel from me, to leave you Rapt or exasperated.

I had a chance meeting with Mr. Aven on Soil Hill.

The chap, he a Santa fan, went on and on.
He had a much calmer lingo than I have, I must say.
He was getting old he said with death rushing towards him.

He told me of his past, fishing, 'pull in net sharply' his dad said.
He lived in rented accommodation and saw rent increases as inevitable.
As we spoke a bird landed in a field, far east ways, it left with turns to NE.
He mentioned camping, one night in gales blowing, he recalled  he'd had a real throb in the toe from walking that day.

He'd stolen apples, reds, tart and horrid.
How he ate a rhubarb, red, yuk.
He took a liking to my black cap that I covered my camera with in the wet.

Once on the moors, from a valley, he'd seen the fire
 crest a hill.

He was near Stood Fold one day and saw a man mending a car, it had a loose nut , hatchback wobble, and a flat tyre. He'd made a huge yell  - "ow!  hammer's hit me finger" - and some swear words then his wife appeared  and a terrific row, at Brook House Farm ensued.

He came from the very chic Hough estate , Northowram, and he drove a Roller.

He had lived on Blake St. Relatively close to all amenities and really enjoyed it there.

"That's a gosh" - awkward   - had to say something at this point..yawn!

His wife loved shopping, Annette, was her name.
They'd had a beautiful marriage he recalled.
His daughters and Martin his son were coming home for Xmas.

She was off shopping, it's now bun tin getting , time of the year she said.

He was working on the garden weeds and had part rid generous sections of them.

He said his daft mate ,Curly Bill, had got upset by "a curl 'e wasn't 'appy about" silly sod.

Don't get cross Bill I'd said.

He'd bumped into a prat in Coley and after an argument he'd headed off seeing the plump tar M1 gang working hard.

He was off to the bar now looking forward to a beer and perhaps a puff in the smokers hut later on, with his smokes and RAT, (subtle little pet of his) ... not.

Thanks for reading this  B! rambling garbage.


Birds:

There should be at least 36 bird species hereabouts (excluding the raptor example at the start) with one bird appearing flying backwards and at least one hen.

For the answers, put you name and address on a stamped and addressed plain brown envelope (together with £500 or equivalent Euros or Dollars). 
Deposit the envelope in the 5th waste bin around Ogden Water. 
Start the bin count, from the Gents toilet walking over the prom. until you reach the 5th bin.

OR

Read this blog later on in the week.... 

I don't know which of these options is best for you really.

Happy Quizmas.

√Bradshaw to Ogden

14:00 - 16:20 (Dark)


I thought I'd give Ogden Water another go after missing B.S's bonanza yesterday afternoon...
(On TV tonight - After the Lord Mayors' show....comes the Hit Charts.)

It's a good job I love walking, because the weather was awful with dense mist and drizzle blown along by a near gale force wind as I left the house.

I thought the wind might shift the mist - and it did eventually as I'd complete a circuit of Ogden Water.

A Little Owl was very, very pleasing to pull out of the gloom, soon after I'd left the house.

The farm track revealed a Goldcrest, calling very loudly.
I did eyeball it but not for long before it went for cover.
I hung about a bit but I could not relocate it.

The light at Ogden Water was very, very poor.
The usual Small Gulls were present as far as I could make out.
Later, chatting to B.S. on the prom. he mentioned that there was a 2nd winter Herring Gull here as well.

After B.S. left 2 Cormorant circled overhead a couple of times.

The walk home was 'good exercise'.

Stacks of Gulls passed overhead, heading NNW - presumably to the Oxenhope Roost.

I even had a detour to Bradshaw Park, in the dark, to see if anything might be lurking there - sad or what?

It's that time of the year ... hope I get another good joke book for Christmas - like last year!

You just can't beat 'em.

Especially on a day like today!

Bradshaw Village

I sure there was a Goldcrest here - but I can't find it!

At least I've found it in this photo

Can't turn it it a Firecrest though

Very poor visibility  - Arriving at Ogden Water

Things got way, way worse.

Ok the focus may be a tad incorrect on this one.

2 very distant Cormorant

Sky full of Gulls on my way home

Quite pleased with the amount of light in this photo.

16:00 and it was black as sin in reality.

√Mist Off

13:00 - 14:10

A bit of shopping to do in a brighter, than of late,Halifax this morning was followed by a visit to Sue's Dad, Ken at Ing Royde - Birdcage Lane area.
The Ing Royde trees held a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker for a couple of minutes and a calling Nuthatch also.

I intended to take a look at Soil Hill this aft with Bradshaw dull, but not too bad, before getting thrashed at Snakes and Ladder by Abigail later, no doubt.

By the time I'd go me boots on, low cloud had rolled in over Roper Lane and therefore Soil Hill.
I set off for Ogden, instead, going along the field paths through the farms to Ned Hill Road.

As I approached Ned Hill Road a large bank of cloud enveloped Ogden Water so I abandoned Ogden as well and went for a local stroll about.

This turned out to be a mistake - see B.S.'s blog.

Thanks for the texts Bri.

Birds:

A dull afternoon with not a lot stirring.

A Little Owl was on field walls near 'carpet Mick's' as I headed across the fields.

The farm's areas were quiet just Dunnock, Robin,Jackdaws and Starlings about.

What look liked very, very distant Redwings, in a tree top, turned into Goldfinch on closer inspection.
The pictures of the distant birds, lightened and cropped, are rubbish, alas.

6 Moorhen were near the pond near Bradshaw Park with Chaffinch, Great and Blue Tits about.

The path towards East View Farm

√Bingley Canal

A grim day in Bradshaw with drizzle and mist for the most part.

We had a run out to Bingley,late afternoon and squeezed in a half and hour's walk along the canal.

The weather here was better, dry but very,very dull.

Nothing out of the usual seen today.

A good supply of Long Tailed Tits feeding in groups along the canal - c15 birds in all.

Blue and Great Tit - a Tit sp. very similar to a Coal Tit but not a Coal Tit made a brief appearance but I did not get a photo or too good a look before in vamoosed.

Lots of House Sparrows,Chaffinch and Goldfinch about.
Pleasing to see 6 Greenfinch together in one tree.

The canal was quiet with just a couple of Moorhen seen during our short visit.

A pr. of Redwing came chasing along the towpath, one was very, very agitated and made a loud alarm call.

I hollered "Don't look Ethel - but it was too late"
(Ray Stevens - The Streak May 1974).
The agitated Redwing decided to call at the W.C. hitting 'Ethel' on the forehead.
It could have been a lot worse - it could have hit me!

I wondered afterwards, given all the commotion,if the second bird could have been a raptor - maybe a Merlin?

Shall we sit down for a spell?

√Mytholmroyd to Hebden Bridge (& back)

11:35 - 14:30

An enjoyable walk from Mytholmroyd to Hebden B. today.
Sunny and quite mild (6 degrees) to start but mist and some drizzly stuff arrived after our cafe break.
The drizzle tried to spoil things but failed.

Birds:-

We walked along the canal towpath to the point where it's closed for repairs - lively here:-

2 Jay, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail with Tits and some Finches in the bushes as well.

We crossed over to the bridge by the old Walkley Clog factory, ruin, to walk along the river.
A first time along this path for me and a very pleasant stretch it is too.

Looking down to the river as we went along the road, prior to the clog shop, proved interesting.

3 Dipper were seen within 200 yds of each other feeding successfully on the river - beautiful birds and good swimmers.

Hebden Bridge park held 2 Song Thrush, squabbling.

On the return journey, 2 F. Goosander were on the river close to the railway station bridge.
Another Dipper (or one of the earlier ones) was also seen.

An enjoyable couple of hours.

Oh! I forgot to tell you.

Last Monday I went to see the doctor with a bad foot.
"What have you brought that thing in here for - take it away" he said.
No - he didn't say that really.

I told him I had a bad foot, he looked at it, prodded and poked it, squeezed it and sniffed.
Wash you foot, put this ointment on it and put a clean pair of socks on everyday.
Come back and see me next Monday.

Well 'Next Monday' is today but I can't seem to get me boots on!!

The old ones ...

2 Dippers here - on the move

2 Dippers here as well

√Leeming Reservoir, Oxenhope & Foreside Lane Area, Denholme

A lovely, crisp sunny cold day.

I intended to take a look at Leeshaw Reservoir but soon after turning right off the Oxenhope - Hebden Bridge Road, the road ahead was closed - I opted for Leeming Reservoir instead.

10:40 -11:50 Leeming

The water is very low here, there are some works taking place below the  concrete drainage channel, so this may be the reason for the lack of juice.

c300 mostly small Gulls were on the Ironworks and along the south east, exposed shoreline.
At least 4 Herring Gulls were here also.

When I got to the south end many Gulls had left, presumably they were waiting for the sun to thaw the fields before venturing out for some grub.

6 Red Legged Partridge, that were very distant on a hill top, soon ran for cover, spooked by something.

Other that that birds were hard to come by.
There was a distinct lack of the smaller birds in the trees and hedges surrounding the reservoir,however a few Pheasants, a Mistle Thrush and a Grey Wagtail were seen.

12:00 - 14:00 Foreside Lane Area.

I had a walk up Foreside Lane, took the first right , over the stile and across the fields to Black Edge Lane.
Up here and a right through a  tight gap stile, across fields, towards the Salt Pile.
A butty stop on a field wall and then I returned to Black Edge Lane and then across and down the Water Board permissive path to Foreside Lane and back to the car.

Red Legged Partridge, Few Lesser Black Backed Gulls overhead and a Red Grouse called.

2 Meadow Pipits were heard as I had my butties.

Pheasant, 2 Stock Doves and 2 Mistle Thrush also seen.

I had a walk along the main road, to the Shay Fields, below Soil Hill.
A better vantage point here that on Soil Hill but my view was still obscured by walls.

c30 Starlings, some small Gulls and c60 Lapwing were here.
I could not eek out any Golden Plover from the group.
There could well have been another 20 or so Lapwing obscured by the wall.

A Kestrel came in to join the group, feeding on the deck,  and the birds did not seem too bothered??
Unless of course the bird is a Merlin - but that, of course, is a bit of wishful thinking!!

Not a bad outing on a cracking day, but birds remain difficult to come by.

Leeming:

Not sure of this Gull sp.

Probably a Common Gull

Very distant poor shot of Partridge on a distant hill 

At least when its cropped you can see they are Red Legged Partridge.

Foreside Lane Area:

A Red Legged Partridge - a tad nearer than previously

Butty stop, looking over towards Thornton

Very Distant Kestrel on the power Line

Lands at the back of the Gulls and Lapwing (just Visible!)

And off we go.

The other birds took no notice of the Kestrel?

Pretty Christmas Tree.