Mixenden Res To Cold Edge

Bumped into DJS at the Iron gate and got a first 2026 annual passerine. Dave spotted a nearby Siskin perched atop a tree and I managed to get 3 seconds on it.

Not much on the reservoir c17 Canada, quite a few Common and a smidgin of Herring gulls.

I elected to climb up Hunter Hill almost guaranteed for the last time 😵. When I recovered I didn’t see many rewards in the shape of avians.

However I was compensated as I started walking on the track towards Haighcote top gate. A loudly calling Redshank flew past at fairly close range 👍.

Cold Edge held the hundred plus Canadas plus the 4 Greylags. A pr of domestic Nene goose were peering at them from a farm field intently.

1 Green Woodpecker ditto Kestrel and Stock Dove. Just a single m Stonechat. A pr Lapwing and a pr Oystercatcher.

2 drake Tufted Duck on Haighcote dam. A handful of calling Curlews.

Cold Edge Dams To Mixenden

Cold Edge a bit quieter than my previous visit. 2 Lapwing ditto Stonechat. 1 Kestrel & Pied Wagtail ditto Stock Dove.

4 Greylag in among a hundred or so Canadas.

5 singing Skylark. Curlews calling throughout.

5 Whooper Swan present on Mixenden Res. Perhaps these were fresh in? Also 7 Canadas and a selection of gulls. A flock of Pink-footed Geese were heard flying over the houses heading N.

Mixenden Res Whooper Swans

Thanks to Messrs Little, Sumner and Sutcliffe for sending me notification of some very welcome visitors to Mixenden this morning. I cancelled the triple heart bypass operation for my pet slug and got down there before 2pm.

Fortunately for me all 13 Whooper Swans were still settled on the reservoir at the far end.

Even better they began to swim closer to me.

Several gulls also present.

Cold Edge Dams

A blustery SW'ly wind wasn’t cold enough to ruin my morning and surprise surprise I got me some birds also 😊.

5 Lapwing, pr Oystercatcher, 1 Cormorant. c20 Common Gull. Several Canadas.

About 7/8 Curlew called throughout. 1 each Kestrel & Sparrowhawk. Pr Stock Dove. 3 Red Grouse calling.

Stonechats gave me the runaround on the track leading to the ruined farmhouse but I definitely got 4, possibly 5.

Ogden To Mixenden Fairly Busy

Birding started very early for me today with a Tawny Owl 🦉hooting from the trees 🌳 behind my back yard.

A mostly dry session with rain not falling until the last few minutes on the usual walking route. At one stage I even got 10 minutes of pleasant sunshine.

Common woodland species in song at Ogden with just a few gulls on the water. A Raven did fly over. A Green Woodpecker called briefly.

4 Curlew near Carrs Beck did an about turn and took off heading NE > Soil Hill. I got my first Jay for quite a while further up the track. A Buzzard called from the top end  of the golf course.

A Red-legged Partridge was at the bottom of Hunter Hill and an Oystercatcher called from the fields near Stod Fold.

A Quiet Trip Ogden To Mixenden

Windy and wet most of the time. Not much on the water at Ogden but a Curlew did fly over on my arrival 😊. A Buzzard flew over > SE 25 minutes later. Only other bird worth a mention was a Nuthatch calling on departure.

I won’t mention Mixe…oh go on then, the Green Woodpecker laffed at me again. 😞

PS Put this down to old age. I forgot about the Dipper showing clearly in Hebble Brook at Stod Fold.

Soil Hell To Mixenden Res

Had a look at the former Raggalds Flood on the way to SH there was more water on the roads.

4 Greenfinch at bottom of Perseverance Rd and a singing Chaffinch. 5 singing Skylark on the hill summit.

A good sighting near the plantation on Back Lane 18 calling Curlew that flew a short distance then dropped down. A pr Grey Partridge flew into the woodland edge.

Ogden water was a disappointment. A Kestrel and a Raven were over the golf course.

The pr Oystercatcher reported by DJS flew across the water at Mixenden but then seemed to move on after a dog showed interest.