Ringstone Reservoir (am) / Ogden Golf Course Area (pm)

Ringstone:

We had to visit Soyland this morning and we took the opportunity to call at Ringstone Reservoir 'on our way home'.

Great to chat with Phil D. scoping from his van there.

Gale force winds were making spotting stuff difficult the water looking like the sea, choppy, with a lovely blue colour.

The wind was worst along the east side wall but surprisingly calm(ish) down the south side.

The reservoir remains very full which seems to have had a detrimental effect on the birds seen here (by me anyway).

Birds:

A Great Crested Grebe was on the waves at the north east end bobbing about.

Another Great Crested Grebe was over by the west side.

A pr.Tufted Duck, a few Mallard, a Moorhen and 2 Black Headed Gulls overhead was about all.

Ogden Golf Course Area:

Sue dropped me at Rocks Rd, Ogden on her way out this aft.

Showers were blown along by a strong wind as I walked along the main path by the golf maintenance buildings.

Afterwards I had a look across Ogden Water from the promenade as I was scanning a whacking cloud-buster of a shower said hello, making sure I was properly wet through.

As the rain abated, Sue phoned to see if I want a lift home.

A very welcome phone call.

Birds:

The strong wind would have deterred the 'fence line' birds but I did ok ish.

2 Juv. Stonechat were a pleasing sight, but very flighty.

Meadow Pipit.

Loads of Woodpigeon.

Dunnock.

Lovely to hear and see lots of Linnets calling and dashing about.

A long (distant not time) scan from the promenade revealed:-

c10 Black Headed Gull.

c20 Lesser Black Backed Gull.

1 Herring Gull.

Great Crested Grebe.

Cormorant.

Sun shining again now …. drip....drip...drip.

Still a really enjoyable day today.

Ringstone:

Ogden:

Ogden - another wet outing

Cleaning morning this morning and a good morning to be doing it with heavy rain. mist and wind.

The weather improved slightly after lunch so I took a drive to Ogden Water.

It was busier here than I  though it would be given the weather.

Water was gushing in from the intake streams and pipes.

A good scan of the waters edge as I did the circuit failed to find Wednesdays Redshank or any other Wader.

Not a lot going on but it was good to get some fresh air.

A slight detour on the way home to take a look at the Raggalds to see if this rain had put any water in the field was a waste of effort because of thick fog.

Birds:-

1 Black Headed Gull.

Pr. Tufted Duck plus 1 Drake Tufted Duck.

Cormorant.

1 Mallard duckling* with mum.

* I wonder if the Mallards have moved away from Ogden during the lockdown through lack of bread lobbers and if they will reappear with young in tow later? It would be nice to think so.

11 Canada Geese.

F. Bullfinch.

Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the house at the end of the prom.

1 Lesser Black-backed Gull over.

Song Thrush singing loudly, despite the rain.

Other birds singing in the woods but I did not eyeball anything new.

√New Miller Dam,Wakefield & Ogden

A beautiful sunny day and Sue had to visit to make to the Dewsbury area.

A quick look at the Raggalds Flood on the way revealed the Lapwing Flock with the water disappearing.

Afterwards we had a walk around New Miller Dam after the obligatory cafe stop at the cafe opposite the dam wall.
A real little gem of a place - great bacon sarnies.

There were lots of folk dog walking. We did chat to one birder who had been trying to photograph an elusive Kingfisher for the previous 2 hours.

There were many Black Headed Gulls on and around the water.

Also here:

Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Mute Swan, 2 Great Crested Grebe, c10 Cormorant, Canada Geese, 2 Heron and  F. Goosander.

Sue dropped me at Ogden on the way home.

Ogden 15:10 - 16:30 (dusk).

It's getting dark pretty sharpish now and birds were difficult to come by here this aft.

The 6 or so noisy Chaffinch that were in the trees on Ogden Lane failed to reveal any Brambling.

The usual circuit in the fading light, especially on the west side didn't show much for the effort.

Long Tailed Tit and Goldcrest were calling as they moved niftily through the trees.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker called from far over the north side.

C30 Goldfinch in the big tree by the bread lobbers area was a heartening sight.

2 Mistle Thrush flew overhead as I left for home along Syke Lane.

A Kestrel was at a distance, here , and the Bradshaw Lane's Little Owl was just about recognisably on a field wall.
Although the photo of the Little Owl turned out better than I had expected.

An enjoyable day out.

Robin of the Day

Ogden:

√Ogden Water

14:35 - 15:35

I had an hour at Ogden late afternoon today.

Earlier this morning a couple of Redwing, Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush were in the large Ash tree opposite our house.

The weather at Ogden was very poor with mist and fine, persistent drizzle for the most part.

I was hoping something juicy might have dropped in ,to shelter a while, but there were just the usual small gulls (c120) and Mallards here.

A nice reward, however, was that of Pr. Kingfisher in the usual place below the promenade.
It's the first time I've had 2 together.


After leaving the prom. and walking the west side for 150 yds a Kingfisher landed in the water side bushes.
It could have been a 3rd Kingfisher or one of the earlier two on the move.

The circuit was quiet , damp and dull with just a few Robins and a calling Bullfinch.

I manged to pick out the Bullfinch in a tree top but the light was nearly non-existent and the picture is very poor.

First Kingfisher:-

Second Kingfisher:-

Possible third Kingfisher:-

Bradshaw to Ogden circular

18:15 – 20:30

I had Itchy feet this afternoon and after drying out a bit from my Oxenhope jaunt I donned the waterproofs and took a hike.

Although the sky remained black for a lot of the time the rain never came and my perspiration levels were grim by the time I got back home.

I was determined to fine something at Ogden so I checked out each and every duck so much so that I think I’m suffering from a new disease – Mallard Eye.

A dark green dragonfly was a first for me.

Birds:

50 Black Headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull,3 Common Gull,10 Canada Geese.

Great Spotted Woodpecker calling. Pheasant.

Mallards and Woodpigeons galore – must be a record year for Woodpigeon?

In addition there were lots of Gulls in the fields opposite the Moorlands Pub.

A Green Woodpecker flew high towards Swalesmoor as I headed home.

Better luck next time out

Common Gull

Mallard Hybrid

Juv. Lesser Black-backed Gull

Common Gull

I think this is a Juv. Common Gull (rather than a Juv. Black Headed Gull)

Gulls in the fields opposite the Moorlands Pub:-

Some creepy skies looking towards Ogden from Ingham Lane Top

Ogden Golf Course & Ogden Water

A double dose of birding today with Sue off for meal at her friend Helen’s she dropped me off at Ogden – Union Lane.

Later on near the Moorlands, a text from BS had me scouring the skies for Golden Plover, but I failed to get them so – guess what – I had to drown my sorrows in the Moorlands with a pint of Guinness – thanks for the text Bri.

Union Lane – Golf Course Area 16:40 – 18:00

After a dearth of local Blackcaps for me this year, they seemed to be everywhere this evening – 4 seen and a few others heard.

Other Birds:-

Chiffchaff, Oystercatcher, Long Tailed Tit.

A bird calling nearby took me ages to locate. Then there it was 100 yds right in front of me, a superb Reed Bunting, one of my favourite birds.

18:05  - 19:30 (ish) Ogden Water

I did the usual circuit.

A Pheasant called nearby and there were 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 15 Canada Geese, Mallards, 12 Black Headed Gulls – (no common gull that I could see), Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Jay.

Homeward bound via Boggart Brig, I saw a notice that the café/house has been sold and it looks like the café will close.

A real shame, I’ve enjoyed many a bacon sarnie or salad there – always top class food.

Pipits in trees

(The photos have been lightened in Picasa because they were very dark)

I need a bit more practice with this video malarkey!