Queensbury Ogden Mixenden

A good day for the birds, I’m glad to say 😊.

For the past 3 days I’ve had 3 common species in the back yard gobbling up cotoneaster berries. This morning there was a Wren showing well; this was overshadowed by one of the two Blackbirds being a migrant Continental ssp 😁. This afternoon a Grey Wagtail was flitting around the Tesco parking area.

Ogden Water: I surprised a perched Sparrowhawk at close quarters. It shot into the bushes and caused the birds therein to shriek loudly.

c40 Chaffinch were on the W shoreline. A Nuthatch called. c24 Redwing in flight > N. A Jay and a Mistle Thrush present.

Mixenden Res: the long hedge was crippled with birds. Plenty of Redwings, a few Blackbirds and a smidging of Goldfinch. A very croaky staccato Mistle Thrush called loudly. A Raven flew over krokking.

Just the usual gull mix on the W side.

Horton Bank Country Park

After yet another boring walk via the usual route yesterday I ventured down the road apiece today after lunchtime.

It was very bright and sunny and despite this not overloaded with visitors.

1 each Grey Heron & f Goosander. Pr Mute Swan, 2 Coot, 4/5 Moorhen.

Numerous BHG present but no other gull species.

1 Blackbird ditto Robin  & a couple Blue Tit.

Photos may follow if I can be bothered 🙃.

Ogden Water To Mixenden

Water levels noticeably higher now at Ogden but not too much going on e.g I didn’t see any Cormorants. Plenty of mixed Gulls that moved to the E bank from the W bank when I got there. The culprit was a very loud squeaky ball that I found then threw to a Collie 🐕. Once it grabbed it that was the end of a quiet walk 😬.

I did get the Teal and a Wigeon as compensation plus a noisy Nuthatch.

Storm Boelo had a big effect on Mixenden Woods. I counted 7 fallen mature trees in the area I walk in so presumably there could have been more than twice that number. 

7 Goldfinch, 1 Mistle Thrush and a Cormorant on the reservoir plus the gulls.

Ogden Water To Mixenden

A loud noisy Nuthatch at Ogden along with a few cries from a distant Buzzard broke the monotony of silence that abounded.

1 each Teal and Wigeon along with the Gullage on the ullage.

A big shock at Mixenden Res 😳. I copped for a Goldcrest! Twas part of a moving Tit party that included

a few LTT another bird that I’ve not had in some months.

The lack of  birds plus a modicum of old age inspires me

to stop publishing any more on blogger. Time for a change so I’m looking at wing walking on ✈️ s or a spot of 🦈 shark wrestling 🤔.

Ogden Water To Miseryden

Lucky me the downpour stopped as I arrived At Ogden where I saw a flock of Redwing land in the trees. Blackbirds numbered in the mid teens; these spread thinly throughout the area.

The Wigeon swam ashore enabling me to get a mediocre photo. One Teal, 2 Tufted Duck and plenty of mixed Gulls along with a single Cormorant.

A noisy Jay was seen in flight and the only positive thing I can say about Mixenden is I got one there too. Perhaps the same bird being adventurous? 🤔.

Too Cold Edge Dams

A brisk wind from the NW put paid to any birds being on both dams. 3 Greylags seen in the fields along with a Herring Gull and c20 BHG.

A very large flock of Starling were active. A casual estimation puts their number at 850 birds.

5 Continental Blackbirds and a Mistle Thrush seen.

1 Kestrel, 2 Pheasants, plenty of Jackdaws, couple Meadow Pipit ditto Goldfinch.

Ogden Water To Mixendeadend

A fairly good first leg with a falling over a cliff top second leg.

 

3 Teal were kind enough to come into camera range along with a Common Gull.

A drake Tufted Duck and the Little Grebe showed at distance. 1 Mistle Thrush on a pole and the usual gull mix and two Cormorant.

 

JL on the W bank 😊. After I left Ogden the only birds encountered were the expected Caaaawvids, a Meadow Pipit and the Green Woodpecker.