Ogden Water Success And Embarrassment

Thanks to a txt from BS my intention of going to Ogden was set in stone this am.

I walked over Soil Hill top and got a Curlew before arrival via the plantation end and got another Curlew.

I was in luck the Whooper 🦢 Swans were very settled in a tight knit flock. I counted 45 birds.

Excitement clouded my judgement when it came to a couple of small gulls that appeared to have jet black hoods. Photos showed the heads as black but this was a trick of the strong sunlight. I eventually managed to get good views showing them to be BHGs 😑.

Another Curlew at Stod Fold. The fresh N’ly blow scoured Mixenden Res and there were only a handful of small gulls being blown around.

Mixenden To Cold Edge Dams

Circumstances dictated that I had to climb up Hunter Hill from Mixenden Res this fine sunny morning. Only a few mixed size gulls on the water but hey not to worry there was fathoms deep mud in the woods thanks to the fabulous biker 🚴‍♀️ boys 🤨.

Old age reminded me the hill is a mountain to climb and if common sense prevails I won’t be doing this route ever again.  3 Curlew heard on the way up and about a hundred Jackdaws. 3/4 more Curlew heard throughout the session.

A pr Lapwing & a pr Oystercatcher among the 100 or so Canadas. About a dozen Greylag also plus an overhead Meadow Pipit. A pr Tufted Duck on the smaller dam now becoming obscured by buildings under construction 😏.

Soil Hill Ogden Mixenden

A warm morning with a strong gusting warm wind. I braved the Hill from Hades and was rewarded with a Curlew and a Skylark on the top. Down at the bottom were about a dozen Lapwing and numerous Starling.

Another Curlew at Ogden plantation with a couple of singing Chaffinch. Ogden Water was poor just a few gulls including Herring.

Stod Fold produced a further 6 Curlew. These are the latest I’ve had in the past 4 years. In the previous 3 years I got them returning in the last 7 days of January

A Green Woodpecker was laffing its head off at Hunter Hill..

Mixenden Res had numerous mixed sized gulls on the water only. I chatted to a fisherman who stated that Whooper Swans in small numbers have been present there over the past few days “coming and going “.

Last Push Up In Portugal

The Sun replaced the Rain today Saturday 1st March. I had another long slog until old age took its toll and had a fair bit of satisfaction 😊. 

The 🦩 flock has risen to 36 birds. Oystercatcher numbers have doubled to 2 birds 😆. Spotted Redshank are doing well here and it’s a wader I really like to see. I got lucky photography wise with a feeding Spoonbill followed closely with a wading Whimbrel. 

A Pipit species was new for me here but the view was too brief for identification.. A Chiffchaff sang Swallows & House Martins gathered mud while a Green Sandpiper posed for one badly focussed photo then hid below a ridge of mud.

Rainy Day In Tavira

Rain was forecast for Friday but I still went out towards the far end of Tavira. The wet stuff timed itself to perfection; less than halfway back on the return leg it did a stair rod 💦💦 number on me and I got soaked to the skin 😵‍💫.

I was surprised and pleased to get f Black Redstart again though I am almost certain it was the same bird as previously seen.

Good to see rhat the Flamingos 🦩 have now increased to 19 birds 🙂.

A Quieter Session In Tavira

I started off at what I refer to as the Ogden end of the wetland and accordingly my excitement levels remained manageable.Even then as I exited to visit LBBG City another site tick came up in the form of a calling Hoopoe 🙂.

The move was beneficial as I reacquainted with the Caspian Tern flying across in front of me. 7 Great Flamingo 🦩 were busy feeding here and attracting the attention of passing tourists.

Usual hordes of waders seen again plus another White Stork in flight.

I may as well mention that despite the abundance of mud and sand banks I haven’t had a Sand Martin yet. 

It’s both boring and surprising to find that the only corvid species present is the Magpie. I would have lost moolah had I said Hooded Crow is a knocking bet.

Portuguese Birding In Sunshine

A fresh breeze kept one moving this morning despite the sunshine. But here now on the balcony it’s bright warm and sunny with less wind. Got another 5 to add to the list, surely this can’t go on 🥱.

First up was a real surprise out in the wetlands a f Black Redstart flew up from the track into a close by bush. I think I got another much later  - this was a brief view on a ruined building.

Next was a Ringed Plover then a single Oystercatcher. Another surprise came as I binned a solitary so called “wader” on a large dry patch way from the water. It was a cracking Stone Curlew 😵‍💫 😆.

As I go to the busy river near the hotel my clomping footfall cheesed off a Green Sandpiper that made a helluva racket as it flew away. This probably encouraged a Whimbrel in the vicinity to join in.