Ogden & Raggalds Flood

I had a mid-afternoon drive out to a wet Ogden yesterday.

I have not been here in a while.

Fine drizzle mostly and not a lot happening here.

At least the poor weather kept the school holiday gang to a minimum (old grumpy sod, what I am).

I called at the muddy pool, aka Raggalds Flood , on my way home.

A whopper of a shower here, soon sent me packing though (soft sod , what I am).

Birds:-

2 Swift over the house earlier.

Ogden:

2 Lesser Black-backed Gull on the water soon left.

1 Swift.

Usual species for here with a Treecreeper sighting being the best of a meagre show.

Raggalds Flood:-

1 Oystercatcher. 1 Lapwing.

Also c30 Large Gulls south-ish over Soil Hill seen from Thornton Road on my way home.

Whiteholme, Blackstone Edge & Ringstone (Today) Sunday Evening Local Fields

Whiteholme, Blackstone Edge and Ringstone Reservoirs.

Sue had a friend visiting today so I had a free afternoon.

I took the opportunity to drive over to Whiteholme reservoir to do 'the long route'.

I parked on the Mytholmroyd road (sign at the top says road closed).

From the car I walked north-ish along the excellent track to the water.

Here I turned east (right) and continued along the wall side until the wall turned north.

This was my turning point and the heavens opened , with a strong NW wind blowing it wasn't long before I was dripping like a drip sandwich.

I retraced my steps to top of the main track and had a slow stumble north along the waters' edge to the 'stone edifice thingy' at the end.

Here I had a breather, a choc biscuit and an apple yummy yum yum.

After the breather I headed off west along the great track that takes you eventually to Blackstone Edge Reservoir.

I was looking forwards to a coffee in The White House pub but it looked closed? So I gave it a miss.

Some road bashing and I was back at the car.

I called at Ringstone Reservoir 'on my way home' (I've just found the ' key - can you tell?).

At Ringstone I sat in the car . as the sun shone brightly , and ate me tea of Ham and Mustard sarnie, a few grapes, a banana and 2 small biscuits - yummy yum yum x2.

After tea I set off through the long wet grass along the reservoir wall to the Bird Hide.

Here again the heavens opened giving me another nice wash.

The moral of this bit of the story is Don't eat your sarnies in the car when the sun shines! 

After a long outing I arrived home ready for tea, then I realised I'd already eaten it!

Birds:

The water levels on these reservoirs is very, very high so the chance of any 'scarce'  

Waders is very slim (just like me after my meagre food today).

Whiteholme:

Carrion Crow, Meadow Pipits.

Wren.

8or so Common Sandpiper sightings (I doubt if there were 8 birds though).

c10 Swift, Skylark. 

A Teal on a small flooded area  of the moor was a pleasing find in a downpour.

2 Swallow.

Pr. Greylag Geese with Goslings.

Canada Geese, Pied Wagtail, Curlew.

4 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Blackstone Edge:

2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Linnet, Canada Geese, 3 Mallard.

Ringstone:

Willow Warbler, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Pheasant.

and one latrge dead thingy.

Birds Today:

Sunday Evening:

Some hefty downpours this afternoon / evening but the timing of my outing, missed them - just the odd bot of drizzle to contend with.

Birds:-

Little Owl. Pheasant. Meadow Pipit.

Elland to Brookfoot via Canal / River

Sue dropped me at Elland bridge, late morning, on her travels, so I could enjoy a relaxed birding walk along the canal and river to Brookfoot.

A 'dodgy' sort of sky with thunderstorms in the forecast.

Some heavy drizzly stuff accompanied me for a short time but I did not get as wet as I expected today - a pleasant change.

The river path was a tad muddy but the tow path did not have too many walkers on it.

An enjoyable outing with lots of birdsong and sightings along the way keeping things ticking along nicely.

No 'ticks' today, my hope of a scarce Warbler species remained unfulfilled!

Birds:-

A Sand Martin seen from Elland Bridge was shooting about like a Kamikaze pilot.

F. Goosander and a Dipper 100 yds further along.

Canada Goose, 2 Mute Swan.

Blackcap & Chiffchaff singing throughout.

2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (both heard just 1 seen).

Green Woodpecker.

3 Swift (at least).

Song Thrush, Peregrine Falcon.

Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher.

Little Grebe singing from the Lagoon.

5 Heron (3,2), 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Reed Bunting - calling for England - took some finding in the reeds.

Moorhen, Stock Dove, Coal Tit.

The Ski-lake is quite awkward to view now - just a Pr. Tufted Duck seen alas.

And a few other species.

Todmorden to Luddenden Foot Along The Canal

On the buses late morning with the 10:30 a.m. Bradshaw bus to Halifax followed by the Burnley bus as far as Todmorden.

Just a small camera with me today.

We enjoyed a walk along the canal after stocking up with few biscuits in B&M.

We called at Hebden Bridge for a loo stop and carried on to the Blue Teapot at Mytholmroyd just making it in time for a Toasted Current Teacake before closing time.

On again to Luddenden Foot where we had  a bit of a wait for the Halifax bus, then after just missing an Illingworth bus in the Halifax Bus Station (being repaired already??) we had another short wait for the next one. 

After a short walk home from Pavement Lane and we were ready for tea!

Birds:-

A bit of excitement (for me) as we passed, along the canal, Mytholmroyd School where a very Yellow, Willow Warbler sized bird flew past into a tree that we never refound.

Only a quick view and I failed to get either bins or camera into the action - so I've no idea what the bird was alas.

A Buzzard called over Bradshaw as we were leaving and a Curlew called near home and a Mistle Thrush sang from Bradshaw School trees as we returned, late afternoon.

2 House Martin were airborne as we left Todmorden.

A Grey Wagtail along the way.

Possible Raven.

Pied Wagtail and Juv. Pied Wagtail with a Dipper were seen at Hebden Bridge.

Just one Heron seen at the Heronry.

3 Sand Martin overhead at the Brearley Ponds.

Local Lanes etc. / Bradshaw Fields

Local Lanes:

A very, very dull day with a few spots of rain this afternoon.

"Unusually" cold for ....approaching  June  .... or maybe not!!!!

I enjoyed a walk up to check on the Raggalds "flood" - some juice just about holding on.

I then went up Percy Rd where it was good to chat with PRK (Percy Rd Ken).

Home was via Taylor Lane and Bradshaw Lane.

Not bad given the weather.

Late evening I had a walk up the local bog,

Birds Local Lanes etc:-

Swift (over the garden).

Buzzard (maybe 2 ).

Oystercatcher , Lapwing.

Pied Wagtail.

Mistle Thrush, 4 Stock Dove.

Loads of Woodpigeon.

Greenfinch plus a few other species.

Birds Bradshaw Fields:-

2 Lesser Black-backed Gull over.

2 Pheasant, Chaffinch.

Little Owl, Meadow Pipit.

2 Red Lagged Partridge.