Garden and Bradshaw to Ogden (and back)

A dull mild-ish calm day with the odd spot of rain. Rain arriving late afternoon.

Sue was busy making 'stuff' from the big apple bag so I sloped off for a long walk this morning.

I headed off across the fields, through Crabtree Hall Farm along Syke Lane and Ogden Lane.

A circuit of Ogden Water was followed by a Coffee and Kit-Kat in the café there,. 

Home was via The Grunt (Ned Hill Road), Ned Hill Track and Soil Hill Main Track(s).

It was good to natter to a sun tanned NK along the Ogden circuit.

An enjoyable 4 Hours out and about and there were just a few apples with their skins intact when I git back, just in time to wash up some BIG PANS - my speciality.

Birds:

Garden:

Very quiet - 4 Mallard, 3 Mistle Thrush and Meadow Pipits passing by.

Bradshaw to Bottom of Ned Hill Lane:

Jay (unusual bird here).

Little Owl, Pheasant.

Many (mostly Common) Gulls in the lower fields that I need to check out.

A Buzzard flushed from a tree near Crabtree Hall Farm.

Ogden:

Gulls not playing ball today, Just 1 Black Headed Gull on my arrival.

Other Gulls came along as I was way down the north end but were absent when I got back to the Prom. 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present though.

2 jay, 6 Swallow, 2 Cormorant.

A Female Goosander.

3 Nuthatch (heard).

Goldcrest in good numbers going by the contact calls - a few also seen.

Ned Hill Track:

2 Stonechat.

Soil Hill Main Track:

A family of 4 Stonechat.

2 Red Admirals.

Rare stone Duck at Ogden.

I took loads of Goldcrest pics.

Just 2 worth publishing.

(And these ain't great!!).