Soil Hill To Mixenden Res

I’m quite aware that I’m certifiable and it was an act of lunacy going up the hill from hades this morning. Given all the liquid falling out of the sky this past 8/9 days I thought it prudent to check out the field referred to as Raggalds Flood. This is a misnomer, there wasn’t even a small puddle to be seen.

On then to the hill. It was wierd to discover that Pheasants appear to like wet windy weather. I got 7 of them on the top and another 3 a bit further on. Nothing else other than a Magpie and 2 BHG flying over.

Ogden Water 💦 is now reversing the trend and starting to fill up slowly from the H2O pouring in from the moors. 

c15 Common Gull were on the lower promenade end of the E bank. A pair of f/eclipsed Tufted Duck plus a Cormorant were present along with the usual ullage Gullage.

The woods were alive with total silence. A couple of Swallow flew over en route to Mixenden where another 6/7 were seen. 8 Canada and 11/12 distant BHG were spotted.

Windy Whiteholme Res

I reluctantly paid a visit, the weather ensuring it wasn’t a long one. An excited walker showed me a photo on his mobile bone of an Osprey he saw. Of course it had departed when I arrived at the waterside.

I suppose I was lucky in getting distant views of a Curlew Sandpiper and 5 Ringed Plover. There were c10 Meadow Pipit being blown about and a Kestrel hovering.

Cold Edge Dams To Mixenden

Not much to report, no change there then. Both dams at Cold Edge were almost barren. Leadbeater did have a Cormorant & 6 BHG. No Geese present anywhere. 

On the track above Haigh Cote I was charmed with a flock of c35 Goldfinch intermingling with c20 Meadow Pipit.

The only other bird here was a Stonechat. A Kestrel hovered just below the former Withens pub.

Ogden Water was…forget it. The woods were absolutely throbbing with nothing.

Carrs Beck produced a Stonechat Swallow Robin & Meadow Pipit.

I won’t bore you with Mixe…oops, almost did.

Update Carrs Beck Birds

My excuse for not immediately recognising the warbler mentioned yesterday is old age. I spent some time thinking about it, listening to Xeno Canto and scouring books and internet photos.

I can only conclude it was in fact a ‘Throat, Lesser, ‘White for the amazement and delectation thereof 😍🤣👍

Carrs Beck Delivereth

Had a not unexpected rotten start at Soil Hell after spotting a pr Swallow at Mountain on the way there. One Skylark on the rugged top and a Raven krokking overhead.

Ogden Water is even lower than ever with more islets showing. Same old same old species showing plus a f Tufted Duck.

At Carrs Beck I had to let a small warbler type pass; a call I cannot recognise and very brief views of a white breast and belly!  

However I got my first Jay in quite some time then a Stonechat followed soon by a Buzzard. The crowning glory came after I climbed the stile to investigate a bird on a fence top that flitted to the deck then flew past me. It was a female Whinchat 😁👍 my first of the year.

A single Swallow flow low toward Mixenden Res which had a pr Pied Wagtail a Common Gull a pr BHG.

Ogden Water To Mixenden

DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF ITS BIRDS YOU ARE AFTER 😭

Looking good for Stand Pipes innit?

On arrival at Mixenden I was horrified to find there was actually a Pied Wagtail and 11 Canada Geese there 😳.

Harold Park And Park Dam

Got a bit of a soaking this am which makes a refreshing change. Water levels at Harold Park almost at subterranean levels 🤓. 8 Mute Swan, 3 Tufted Duck, Coots Moorhens small no. BHG & large gulls.

Park Dam still got fairly good levels of H20. 1 Grey Heron, 9 Tufted Duck similar number of Swallows. 6 GCG, c10 LBBG, 7/8 BHG Cs & Ms. 2 Blackbirds 🐦‍⬛.