Ogden to Bradshaw and more Pink Footed Geese

10:45 - 14:00

I caught the 10:30am No:504 Denholme bus from Bradshaw Church to Ogden this morning and walked back.
It was good to be out and about in the (very cold) fresh air.
Sunny to start but the clouds appeared half way around the Ogden circuit.

Ogden water was partially frozen over near the Promenade.

An unusually cold SSE wind on Soil Hill kept me moving along nicely.

Birds:-

A Kestrel sat on a lamppost as I got off the bus at Ogden Lane.

A skein of 98 Pink Footed Geese, very high, were seen as I got to the end of the prom.

c50 small Gulls here, mostly Black Headed. Just a few Common Gulls and at least one Lesser Black Gull with a few Herring Gulls passing overhead.

3 Bullfinch were heard, but remained unseen, as I walked the circuit.
A mixed flock of Redpoll and Goldfinch were in the west side Alders. They left the trees with beautiful 'tinkling' calls, to return to more or less the same place.
They did this a few rimes before moving off.
Again, the birds were obscured by branches and a decent photograph was hard to come by.
My bogey bird (Siskin) would have been nice, but ,I can't find any Siskin in the photos.

Along the east side, firstly, from far in the woods, a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Then a drumming G.S.W, presumably the same bird.
My first 'drummer' this year.
Then a very raucous call from presumably the same bird. 
It sounded like it was defending its territory.
No Woodpecker seen alas.

Along Back Lane and through the plantation just a Mistle Thrush seen.

Coal Lane had a Stock Dove, and a few Common Gulls with 2 Herring Gulls feeding in the fields with them.

Soil Hill:

Brrr!
A Snipe flew fast overhead, calling often. Then a Kestrel was seen immediately - presumably it had flushed the Snipe.

3 different sighting of Kestrel on the way home were probably the same bird.

A couple of Meadow Pipit and Starlings with 6 Fieldfare were feeding in the fields hereabouts.
Some Fieldfare were lighter than others presumably they were different ages.

c80 Lapwing were 'miles off' near the Raggalds.

A real buzz of a day with Pinkies moving big style.
Thanks to BS and DJS for keeping up to the texts!

Black Headed Gull

Common Gull

98 Pinkies

Redpoll Photos:-

? Herring Gull or Common ? - I'd opt for Common

Herring Gull

Common Gull

Common Gull?