This afternoon I finally got to Ogden to try and locate DJS's Crossbills seen earlier in the week.
Sue opted to drop me at Coal Lane end instead of a walk along the cycle track and a cold and windy start it was.
I started my 3 hour outing by scanning the conifers along the Track opposite Coal Lane and then the conifers approaching Back Lane, and then the conifers along Back Lane with no joy.
I called in the café for a chat, KitKat and coffee to warm up a tad and then did my usual walk around the pond - nothing special here.
Good to bump into CS who was hard at work.
When I got to the north end I headed off up the east path and up again across the new plantation to Back Lane.
On the way through the new small trees a small flock c20 birds flew over my head west and out of sight - Ugh Crossbills I suspected so I though that's me lot today.
Approaching the track opposite Coal Lane another small flock of birds flew over this time they looked to be landing on the far side of the Back Lane conifers so I retraced my steps and bingo there they were high in the conifers - result.
This is only my second sighting of Crossbill in Calderdale - hence all this guff about finding them.
Well chuffed I headed home with a spring in my steps, along my usual farm tracks.
Birds:-
c20 Crossbill (40 if the earlier flock were Crossbill, which I think they were).
3 Kestrel. 1 Barn Owl (Mobbed by Kestrel taking it's prey off it).
Heron. Great Spotted Woodpecker (x2 heard).
11 Pheasant in one field with at least 2 Red Legged Partridge that flushed (running).
A very high Raptor that I tried (& failed to photograph) was probably a Sparrowhawk.
5! Gulls on the water when I got there.
1 Cormorant in a tree.
A Small flock of Tit species with a few Goldcrest on the west side.
c10 Fieldfare.
1 Mistle Thush.
and... a big SMILE. 😂.
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