Soil Hill Delivers The Goods

Had me a pleasant surprise on the Hill from Hades this morning. I bumped into DJS & BS who were quick to tell me one or possibly two Black Redstart were in the vicinity. Seen first by Dave they really started moving but I managed to get good views of one bird followed later by both of them together 👍 

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I also managed 3 Goldfinch 1 Common Gull & 4 Grey Partridge.

Ogden Water faded into insignificance after this episode a couple Teal & Wigeon out in the open and the Chaffinch flock at the Skirden channel.

Whooper Swans Back At Mixenden

The 5 Whooper Swans were back on Mixenden Res and still there when I left at 1255 hrs 😊. A Raven called twice.

Prior to this episode I’d been to Ogden (there’s a surprise) where I managed to view the 2 Wigeon one on the W bank t’other on the E. 9 Teal and 2 Tufted Duck showed also.

Soil Hill Ogden and Mixenden

It was worth getting wet and having my toupee blown off today as I had some good bird sightings 😁.

I went along the Ned Hill track and caused a pr of Grey Partridge to take flight - apologies. A Blackbird & Common Gull seen also.

Ogden Plantation provided another 4 Grey Partridge & a Grey Heron in flight.

Ogden Water was vibrant 👍. A flock of Pink-footed Geese around 80 strong flew over heading W. The Teal for some reason were showing well away from the shoreline cover; I managed to count 15 of ‘em. 1 each Goosander & Wigeon plus 4 Tufted Duck.

A single Whooper Swan was on Mixenden Res still in the company of a pr Canadas.

Mixenden Res Whooper Swans

A welcome surprise at the end of today’s trek was to find 5 Whooper Swan emerging from the E shoreline into the centre of the reservoir. 3 Greylag Geese joined them.

As i departed later I noticed them back near the shoreline where numerous BHGs and a couple of Canada Geese were present. 

A single Cormorant was also seen.

Prior to this Ogden Water had performed a bit better in that I got to see 7 Teal away from the shoreline and 3 Tufted Duck. A f Goosander was seen preening itself near  the Skirden channel.

A Cormorant diving in the middle of the water.

The place was full of disturbance: plenty of footfall and loud noise. This was perhaps the reason why the Chaffinch flock had moved on.

Bradshaw Church yard coughed up a mixed party of Chaffinch and Tits including LTT.

FOGden Water

 I met BS in Queensbury on his return from Ogden and he did warn me but I persevered on in the murk to find almost nothing doing. About two thirds of the way round the fog lifted and I managed to see 3 Teal 4 Tufted Duck and remnants of the Chaffinch flock.

Best have a look at Brian’s blog rather than me tell you what I missed.

Soil Hill To Mixenden

I had a cataract operation in my left 👁️ yesterday and my improved vision help me to see birds that weren’t present much better. Soil Hill had c14 Meadow Pipit flying around and a couple of Greenfinch in Coal Lane.

A pr Teal and a couple Tufted Duck were still on Ogden Water. c18 Chaffinch were on the W bank. A fair few mixed sized gulls seen. The woods were throbbing with nowt 🤨

Carrs Beck was kind to me I got my first Sparrowhawk for quite some time flying low.

The fields at Stod Fold were busy with small gulls mainly BHG feeding on whatever the farmers muck spreading produced.

Shall I mention boring Mixenden? Perhaps not.

Soil Hill Ogden Water Mixenden

A cold but dry morning. Soil Hill produced a single male Stonechat.

Ogden coughed up singles of Blackbird GSW Jay & Mistle Thrush.

I stuck to the E bank of the water only. 2 Cormorant 3 Tufted Duck. A fair few Common Gull in with the BHGs.

Another Jay flew over Carrs Beck from the NE.

I should really remove Mixenden from the title.