Search This Blog

Saturday, 15 August 2026

Breezy Cold Edge Dams

Some evidence of movement due to the NW blow. I got a Whitethroat in the same hedge as a Reed Bunting 3 Stonechat and a Dunnock.

A Lapwing flew across Leadbeater Dam which had 5 BHG on it and nothing else. Haigh Cote was also grim just 3 Canadas ditto Dullards.

7 Swallow, 3 Meadow Pipit, c22 Goldfinch 1 each Kestrel & Blackbird. Also my first Brown Hare in a couple of years.

Friday, 14 August 2026

More About The Ogden Route


Another warm morning session that had a couple of reasonable sightings to savour 😊.



13 Lapwing on Ogden Water. 2 each Grey Heron & Cormorant.
Loads of usual Gull species.Several Canadas. 2 Nuthatch ditto Swallows.

Carrs Beck had at least 6 Stonechat busily flying all over the shop. 
A Green Woodpecker and a Blackbird at Mixenden along with a smattering of Gulls.

Wednesday, 12 August 2026

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.

Monday, 10 August 2026

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.

Saturday, 8 August 2026

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.

Friday, 7 August 2026

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.

Wednesday, 5 August 2026

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.