Mixenden Reservoir to Bradshaw

13:40 - 17:00 (ish).

A windy and very wet, at times, outing today.
A few heavy showers with one a refreshing hailstone type.
Nevertheless it was an enjoyable walk with plenty of birds popping up to keep me occupied.
The downside of the poor weather, was the lack of any decent light, especially around Ogden where at one point it was as black as night.

Birds:-

Mixenden Reservoir.

Proper wet here but a full circuit of the water did bring some rewards.

A pr. Goldeneye eventually popped up, but they kept moving to the opposite side of the water to me as I walked around.
A good local tick - presumably some of DJS's birds.
They were diving more often than Ronaldo.

Also here a F. Goosander and a Cormorant  with  c30 Small Gulls and the Mallards.

The walk from Mixenden to Ogden ,along the fields is always an enjoyable traipse - today was no exception.

An airborne flock of c20 small birds, very Goldfinch like, had a less 'regimented' flight than Goldfinch and with lots of white showing.
They were distant, over Stod Fold Kennels and I am pretty sure they were Siskin - my bogey bird.

A Little Owl called from the same direction - not seen.

A flock of Thrushes were feeing in a newly manured field.
They were very skittish and soon vamoosed as I approached them along the path.
C30 Redwing with at least 2 Mistle Thrush were here.

Just a Kestrel seen along the 'Golf Course Track'.

Going along the path next to the steam, that leads to the Golf Club House, a lovely gem - Pr. Stonechat.
Further along the track, before the tough climb out of the dell, there were Great, Blue and Coal Tit with Chaffinch and Bullfinch.


Ogden Reservoir:

The usual small Gulls here with what I thought, at the time, was a Great Black-backed Gull, it soon left.
Looking at the photos and comparing it's size to a Mallard I think it's a Lesser Black-backed.
A Herring Gull made a fly past.

Along the west bank the dark clouds rolled in making it as dark as night at one point.
Along with the clouds came c12 Lesser Redpoll.
They landed in the Alders, as soon as the sun came out, they flew into the woods - typical!

Around the circuit 2 separate Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard, neither seen.

Also along the circuit a Treecreeper and a small flock of Long Tailed Tit. 

A 'loiter' on Back Lane produced a lot of Woodpigeon!

Along Syke Lane, homeward bound now, there were 3 airborne Fieldfare.

A very enjoyable if wet walk about.

Track above Stod Fold to Ogden.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Similar size to a Mallard.

Some Lesser Redpoll photos taken in the dark!