Monday, 29 March 2021

Windy Local Stroll / Ponden Reservoir

Another local stroll this morning was spoilt somewhat by a very strong wind.

What has become my 'usual' route - Bradshaw fields /Ned Hill etc - hopefully will soon come to an end with the easing of the lockdown a bit.

To break the monotony, today we enjoyed a run out along the quiet lanes to Ponden Reservoir.

(Not so quiet on the return though with a massive tailback of traffic from Thornton Road traffic lights way back to Roper Lane top. Fortunately we were going the right way and did not suffer much delay).

Birds:

2 Wheatear and 2 Little Owl along the fields.

1 Red Legged Partridge.

The gorse /whin 'plantation' near the farm, held a singing Linnet (not seen).

2 Pied Wagtail.

Skylarks were singing in the gale at the top of Ned Hill with a few Meadow Pipit here also.

I missed out on Soil Hill top, choosing to leg it at pace along PercyRd.

3 Pheasants.

4 Stock Dove.

1 Little Owl seen from Bradshaw Lane , nearing home.

Ponden:

The pot holed track has now got thick tarmac on it - looks like the M1.

I just had a short stroll along the side of reservoir wall today.

2 Toads were embracing each other - on the road - I moved them out of harms way (hopefully).

Birds:-

Not much on the water to start with but a few birds did turn up.

A very noisy clatter of c31 Oystercatcher came flying over the water, to land at the far end.

Some large Gulls dropped in for a while before moving on.

2 sub-adult large Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull with possibly a Common Gull as well.

2 Greylag Geese.

2 Pied Wagtail.

A Moorhen and a few Mallard.

2 Little Owl called from the far side (not seen).

Above Marsh Lane:

We stopped the car for a moment above Marsh Lane to look at the fields there.

Lapwings, Curlew, Woodpigeon and Starlings were all flitting about.

2 Red Legged Partridge were obscured by the sun.

Well Heads:

A small gathering of Gulls were in the fields behind the White Horse Pub (remember Pubs?)

A bit of juice in the Raggalds Flood with a couple of Crows but we could not stop the car to check further, with the long trail of traffic on the other side of the road.

Good to get a change of scenery.

And....along the way a Barn Owl.


Local:





Ponden:










Above Marsh Lane:



Well Head - taken from the car:





Today's Special:











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