Bradshaw - Ogden Water (Monday)

 10:00 - 14:0

A misty murky day today with the mist clearing and reforming as the day progressed never getting very bright.

I enjoyed a stroll across the fields to Ogden Water, a coffee and a Twix , then a circuit of the water.

I made a second visit to the visitors centre for a cuppa.

Terry M. arrived here just as I was about to leave, so we had a quick natter.

I was going to return home via Soil Hill but when I got to Syke Lane end, Soil Hill was shrouded in thick mist , so I returned the way I came.

I had an interesting chat with the farmer  and his missus, from Soil Hill End farm who I met near Syke Lane.

He was saying that in 1956 or thereabouts his father had received a frightening letter from The National Coal Board.

They were going to compulsory purchase his farm and fields.

They told him that there was a large seam of good coal that ran from Syke Lane , north-ish, through his farm and beyond.

They said that the coal would be removed by open cast mining.

However - no further correspondence was received on the matter - strange that - and nothing materialised!

40  species today.

Birds:-

Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch.

3 Pheasant, Blue Tit, 4 Curlew.

Pied Wagtail, Little Owl, Woodpigeon.

Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw,

Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird,

Robin, 4 Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush.

Meadow Pipit, Bullfinch, 2 Buzzard.

4 Black Headed Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 4 Stock dove.

3 Common Gull, Mallard,2 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Chaffinch.

Great Tit, 2 Canada Geese, Great Spotted Woodpecker - drumming.

Tawny Owl Called, Long Tailed Tit, Reed Bunting.

Heron, Rook, Greenfinch. Feral Pigeon.