A Tad Gruesome

A bright calm morning gradually clouded over bringing some 'pingy' rain at teatime.

This morning I enjoyed a short walk along the fields and through the farms to the bottom of Ned Hill Road before retracing my steps.

I had a  quick natter with Farmer Matthew along the way and he said he had seen a huge Raptor a few days ago that landed on his barn roof but soon left going towards Ogden.

He managed a very, very distant photo on his phone and with the distance it is not possible to ID the bird.

 He did say that it was bigger than a Buzzard and not an Owl species, so I hope it returns on day when I'm passing!!

Late morning I decided to have a walk up to Soil Hill to look for a "White Bunting" (again).

On the way there I stopped to look toward Roper Lane,  at a Pylon, beyond the old bus terminus.

A Buzzard was on a fence post before flying onto the pylon and plucking a large bird  - but the view was obscured by the Pylon metal work.

I had a change of plan then, and decided to go up the path to Roper Lane to get a better view.

Not a very enjoyable detour with lots of brambles, barking dogs and some horses in the fields.

One horse approached me (not my idea of fun - soft sod what I am) anyway it left after a 'sniff'. (if horse sniff).

It transpired that the Buzzard was plucking and eating a Barn Owl.

I'll give the Buzzard the benefit of the doubt and say that the Owl had already perished and this was a carrion meal!

I walked along Roper Lane, looked at Raggalds Flood (a good bit of juice - no birds) then up Percy Rd to the 1st bend before contouring around the fields to pass above the quarry.

I stayed on Soil Hill top keeping to the main footpath and came home via Taylor Lane.

An enjoyable outing with a first for me with the quite unsettling sight of the Buzzard and Barn Owl business.

Quiz:

Which singer released the album Teenage Dream in 2010.

Birds:

Local Fields:

Raven, 6 Red Legged Partridge, 2 Pheasant, c20 Common Gull.

3 Bullfinch, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush.

Bradshaw - Soil Hill Circular.

Buzzard, 15 Rook.

c50 Starling, 3 Bullfinch.

Mistle Thrush, ONE Fieldfare.

5 Red Legged Partridge.

c20 Small Gulls.

Common Gulls seem to have replaced Black Headed Gulls in the fields.

[No blue rings discernible on the Barn Owl]

Local Fields:

Bradshaw - Soil Hill Circular.

Quiz Answer:

Katy Perry.