Mixenden Whoopers / South of Denholme Velvets

Early morning and looking south from the bedroom window it was thick fog, looking north it was bright sunshine.

The fog however won on penalties an engulfed the sunshine!

I was hoping that the forecast sunshine, due to arrive later, might arrive but after lunchtime I'd given up on the sunshine and was just on my way to Denholme Velvets when a grapevine text had me make a slight detour on the way.

A fantastic find by NK of 14 Whooper Swan on Mixenden Reservoir on this cold, cold foggy day, was just reward for him.

As I arrived at Mixenden NK was just leaving and we enjoyed a very quick chat.

Other birds here - Herring Gull, Common Gull, Black Headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Mallard.

A real smile bringing outing seeing these majestic birds.

South of Denholme Velvets:

A stroll along Thornton Road to look at the bottom of Soil Hill.

Not much seen in the gloom, but c25 Lapwing were in a nearby field with Starlings.

Afterwards I had a cold stroll up the bridleway behind "County Bridge" terrace as far as the abattoir ruin and back.

Birds:-

A group of c60 Gulls with a few Lapwing took to the air from the fields.

Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull and Black Headed Gull were all in the mix.

4 Pheasant.

2 Canada Goose.

3 Curlew.

2 Red Legged Partridge - ran instead of flying and proceeded to make a couple of clucks from their hiding place.

3 Stock Dove and not a lot else.

This is a good spot for Wheatear, but none seen today.

Denholme Velvets Area: