Ogden Area Improves Somewhat

Today was my second trip to Ogden in 3 days. The first wasn’t worth reporting as a Nuthatch was the only worthwhile bird seen. I saw it again this morning.

6 Tufted Duck were near the Skirden Clough area as was a Kingfisher. The f Goosander was near the promenade.

Rocks Lane coughed up a mixed party of Tits including 2 LTT. Also Chaffinch Greenfinch and Blackbird.

An unexpected bonus occurred at Hunter Hill bottom. 3 Grey Partridge took flight when I passed them and showed rather well before dropping down.

Mixenden Res was brimful of nothing again.

Queensbury South To Horton Bank CP

I’ve not been down south in about 11 months and how things have changed. More houses have been built but of greater interest the boggy fields at Cross Lane corner have been expanded fourfold. Not much doing there apart from c45 Starling but there is some potential I hope.

The surrounding fields produced 3 continental Blackbird & a Mistle Thrush. Numerous small gulls including a BHG with a 80% Summer head! 3 Herring Gull among a large bunch of Common. 4 Rook several Crows & Jackdaws.

Horton Bank had the usual residents plus a Grey Heron. A Cormorant appeared to look at me and decided to get the hell out as I did when the deluge commenced 💦.

Ogden Water Hardly Worth It

A struggle to report anything really so I’ll just mention that the warden CS confirmed what I was told by another walker an Otter was photographed taking a Carp from a local pond a couple of months ago. CS later found the Otter dead and sent the body away for examination.

Carrs Beck was interesting: I saw c14 Blackbirds. 9/10 of them were identified as having all black beaks- the continental subspecies. So I presume they all were.

On the way through Bradshaw I saw 3 Herring Gull.

Yet again Mixenden was dreadful.

Ogden Water To Mixenden

Another riveting session at Ogden - f Goosander.

I fared better at Rocks Lane where there was a busy movement of passerines. The Sun was pointing directly at me so I only managed to  identify about a third of the crowd.

1 Treecreeper ditto Mistle Thrush. Blue Coal & Great Tits. 2 each of Blackbird Redwing & Greenfinch.

Best to forget Mixenden 🥴.

Soil Hill Ogden Water Mixenden

Today was my 3rd outing in 6 days to Ogden which was so grim on the previous two I saw no point is posting 🥴. There was slight improvement this morning: although the water held just small and large Gulls I did get arboreal avians at the Ogden Clough end.

3 each Redpoll and Chaffinch 1 GSW 2 Robin 1 Blackbird.

The plantation coughed up a couple Pheasant.

Soil Hill was poor: just 1 Kestrel. 8 Goldfinch on feeders at Perseverance Rd bottom.

Mixenden equally poor. A mix of Gulls on the water. A small party of Blue & Great Tits in the trees.

Horton Bank Country Park

I was so surprised to find this place passable and not flooded. 2 f Goosander, pr Mute Swan, 1 Grey Heron ditto Coot. Numerous BHG, 3/4 Herring Gull, similar Commons. 7/8 Moorhen. Not a single passerine seen nor heard 🤨.

Sunny Low Moor Dams

A cold bright day with a distinct difference of species on Harold Park Lake and Park Dam. Harold Park was teeming with birdlife whereas PD was limited.

HPL 4 Cormorant 10 Mute Swan 1 Goosander 7 Tufted Duck. Numerous BHGs 9/10 Herring Gulls. A swarm of Coot & Moorhen.

Park Dam 11 Tufted Duck 1 each Cormorant & GCG. 4 Coot a few BHGs.