Where Else But Ogden?

As predicted there was plenty of heat around this morning so I had to take it easy and stick to the safest routine.

This paid off as I finally discovered the Common Sandpiper reported by BS a few days back.

Another bonus was the sight of 8 Lapwing on a stretch of shoreline not blanked out by the vegetation.

What I found interesting was the sight of a Lapwing flying low down over a large number of gulls. They all immediately took flight to the middle of the water. I presume the shadow of the Lapwings broad wings triggered an instinctive raptor alert.

1 Cormorant present. 2 Stonechat at Carrs Beck.

Queensbury Tesco Raven Flyover

After a dull spell at Ogden and Mixenden my depression was eradicated at 1450 hrs by the welcome sound

and sight of a Raven flying above the Tesco supermarket heading NW.

GCG at Ogden plus the mass of Gulls. A Buzzard called briefly again. 1 Cormorant. 3 Chaffinch & 1 WW.

A Stonechat at Carrs Beck.

The scorch marks of the considerable burned area of Ned/Soil Hill can be seen at quite a distance away.

A Warm Morning At Cold Edge

The first leg of the session was a bit of a damp squib thanks mainly I suspect to the SW’ly blow. Just a Grey Heron a few Meadow Pipit and a BHG.

However on turning round at the ruined building things picked up reasonably well 😊.

A total of 8 Stonechat including 3 recently fledged.

c26 Goldfinch, 5/6 Linnet, 1 each WW & Pied Wagtail, 3 Swallow.

Also more Meadow Pipit, c50 Canadas a Robin and a 🐦‍⬛ Blackbird.

Usual Route Brings No Surprises

A dull session this morning at Ogden Water. Couple Cormorant, usual Gulls but the GCG appears to have gone. A short call from a Buzzard.

3 WW, a Robin & a couple Blackbirds.

3 golf course Meadow Pipits & a couple Goldfinch. All those others previously seen now gone.

A Cormorant was on Mixenden Res along with a few LBBG, couple Herrings, 3 Common & a few BHG.

A Windy Walk At Ogden Water

A few drops of rain too, I’d almost forgotten what it was.

Not much to get the blood pumping. The GCG still present. A squeaky Buzzard call lasted just over a minute.

An Oystercatcher was standing still on the E shore.

Gull numbers notably down.

Carrs Beck still held 2 Stonechat. Other species probably blown away by the wind.

A Grey Wagtail was calling loudly as it flew onto a Black Dyke Mills roof on my return home.

Routine Ogden Mixenden Walk

A warm sunny session without the fuss of any special birds to trouble me 😁.

A couple of very noisy Buzzard were creating for about 8 minutes. The pitch of their calls indicated they are annual offspring’s.

Close to 200 LBBG were present as were 6/7 Common Gull a Herring or two and the BHGs. A single Cormorant seen as was a Grey Wagtail.

It’s worth mentioning that Mark a regular walker at Ogden, accurately described a Common Scoter he saw last night 2nd August.

Carrs Beck was busy with several Linnet, a couple of Goldfinch ditto Stonechat & a Dunnock.

A Green Woodpecker at Mixenden along with 6 BHG & a bunch of Canadas.

Confused At Ogden Happy At Carrs Beck

Convinced I’d got a YLG at Ogden until both JL and I viewed and photographed its legs. Pinkish wins the vote and I’ve decided to never get involved with gulls again

😠.

Plenty LBBG and a couple of Commons.The GCG came ashore for a short spell near the Ogden Clough channel.

2 Grey Heron. 

Shame about the Skirden Clough area being overwhelmed by undergrowth reaching up to the tree branches and minimising views potentially of the thousands of waders that turn up at this time of year 🤣.

A noisy Nuthatch heard but not seen in the trees.

Carrs Beck proved satisfactory; a Whinchat perched for about 40 seconds on a fence post and 4 Stonechat were flitting around.

2 Greenfinch also seen along with 7 House Martin and 15 Swallow. A WW heard.