Soil Hill and Ogden Water

Not good at all; down and all the way back up that hill hole for a few Meadow Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting ditto Wren and several Canadas.

Ogden continues to become a puddle. I spoke to a former YWA employee who confirmed the water is being drawn out by them at a certain low percentage daily.

2 GSW heard. 1 Kestrel. Some of the Canadas had dropped in from SH.

1 rather brown  Cormorant ditto Tufted Duck. A GC Grebe and the usual gulls. 

Surely the Phoenix is telling me to pack this mind bending pastime in before insanity takes over completely.

Ogden Mixenden Rubbish

As expected the misery of local birding hit me hard today, what hit even harder is the knowledge it will only get worse.

The levels of water on both stretches are even lower than in August. Several gulls were attracted to Mixenden as a result as were a pr Pied Wagtail.

In the trees 🌲 Blackcap, WW & Chiffchaff were heard calling with the latter also 🎵 🎶 briefly.

A fair number of LBBG and a couple or three Herring were in the field by Taylor Lane bottom.

Not much to say about Ogden so I won’t. Oh Alright if you insist: 3 Mistle Thrush & a GSW 😵‍💫.

Final Day: Good Birding

Being old and faculty diminished is probably why I failed to inspect the lake and marshland at the back of LIDL some 650 metres away from my hotel, until my last morning here 😔.

It was dirty filthy rotten with Kentish, Little Ringed & Ringed Plover 😁. A pr Green Sandpiper were here but more skittish than the former. 3 Little Egret were doing the rounds and a Glossy Ibis flew around before settling behind tall vegetation.

1 Shelduck ditto Coot with a broken left wing. 4 Moorhen, 3/4 Spotted Flycatcher similar Sardinians & Cettis Warbler.

Another phenomenal thunderstorm early this am may have been the cause of a large raptor flying over. It remains unidentified and in the gloom bins wouldn’t have helped.

A Quiet Lakeside Walk

Thought I’d do the local Ogden Water x 3 this am. I did and now know it’s a lot nearer x 4 😵‍💫. It has a lot in common with OW in another sense; apart from the Sardine Warblers it’s chronically quiet for arboreal avian activity.

We had a heavy storm overnight and first thing I noticed was a pr large dark mantled gulls in flight. I checked the local gullage on the ullage but just the Audouins, BHG & 3/4 Yeller legged were present. The voice of the former has just got to be heard to be believed. Any one of them could get to be lead vocals with any Death 💀 or Thrash metal band going.

A Common Sandpiper gave me the runaround. A Grey Heron was to be frank, franking loudly 😄. 2 Little Egret, 1 Stonechat heard. 3 Spotted Flycatcher tested my patience with the camera, one finally succumbing albeit reluctantly.

Just one Swallow seen as was a Marbled Duck. 

Albufera Finale

I won’t be coming here again so I give it some 🔨 today with mixed fortunes. A few Passerines turned up including a brief view of a shrike I have to pursue further. 

3 Northern Wheatear, a striking male Stonechat & a Zitting Cisticola minus the zits. Sardinian and Cettis throughout.

3 Avocet, 1 Wood & 2 Green Sandpiper. 8/9 BW Stilt incl juveniles. Couple Ringed Plover.

Apart from the Teal, Shoveler & Shelduck a single Red-crested Pochard flew in.

Flamingo still in good numbers plus the egrets. 2 Purple Gallinule ditto Glossy Ibis but only a single Cormorant. 

I couldn’t say if the Kestrel that showed for 3 seconds was Lesser or Big Un. I finally got a couple of shots of the Red-Knobbed Coot that is a lot more secretive than the Commons.

A Lakeside Walk

Porto Alcudia's lake is roughly Ogden water x 3. Seeing as my legs threatened legal action this morning, I elected to do this short walk. On the touristic side, the area is pristine and painted white on walls etc. However on the semi rural side tis a totally different story. Rearrange these two words for an idea of what it’s like: Heap Rubbish 🥸. Good to know people are the same worldwide irrespective of mother tongue 👅.

Among the several Audouins Gulls were a few BHG so I now have no need to fret over Slender Billed being present. A couple of YLG were seen, one on a platform opposite a Grey Heron. Spotted Flycatcher gave me a break; just the one.

Got me a raptor, a Lesser Kestrel. 3 Little Egret & a Marbled Teal or Duck if you’re not posh 🤣🤓. Pr Kingfisher, pr Common Sandpaper (really abrasive birds) and at distance a possible pr Green Sands but I wouldn’t push this. Failed to Identify a calling wagtail but did manage 4 Sardine Warblers 🥹.

Albufera Busy

First I have to say I am not in the least way bothered about missing Bonellis 🦅 Eagle yesterday at Cap S Vincenc. This is my bogie bird, my nemesis and shall ever be so! 😢🤬👺.

The marsh was hectic today with some good birds. 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 4/5 Wood 🪵 Sandpiper a pr of them allowing photos (later). Kentish & Ringed Plover plus one of the family that has me stumped. This really is annoying because the photo I got ain’t exactly poor. I could recognise the Snipe 👏. 1 Red-Knobbed Coot

Osprey, Marsh Harrier. Gadwall, Pochard & scores of Shelduck plus Teal.  Glossy Ibis, couple Grey Heron. A Purple Heron in flight. c56 Mannfreds (Pretty Flamingo 🤠). Many Little Egret, 1 each Greenshank & Black-winged Stilt. A solitary Stonechat ditto Serin.

A Mountain To Climb

Went to Porto Pollensa this am to access the Bocquer Valley known for its Raptors 🦅. 

Two factors were responsible for this being a failure; the place has expanded exponentially and my memory has deserted me 🤨. I couldn’t find the entrance area so I returned back to the hotel and embraced my 😢 weeping pillow.

I stumbled across a departure point for hirundines; multitudes of Swallows on wires. Also a 🤚 full of Goldfinch.

The journey back went through an agricultural area. Sure enough in among around 20 Cattle Egret were, oddly enough several 🐄 🐮.

Good Job I Ain’t Superstitious

Even if a Black Cat 🐈‍⬛ did cross my trail for today an event unfolded that would have my Great Aunt Grimble spinning.

The number 13 is on my record sheet pertinent to Spotted Flycatcher 😂🤪.

4 Sardinian Warbler. A pr Kingfisher, 1 Common Sandpiper. A pr Cattle Egret & a Great White Shar Egret

plus 2/3 Little. 1 Grey Heron.

The heat haze caused me problems with distant Gull Id 🤨. I suspect a couple of Slender-billed were present among the usual suspects but there is a real danger of BHG confusion. Still, who said birding was ever easy?

You Wouldn’t Hoopoe For This

Hard to know how to begin but my leg muscles want all my perambulation to take a year off!

About 8 small white and grey waders headed toward me at break neck speed and zoomed past. They called for a few seconds but try splitting Sanderling from Little Stint when you’re seeing them two or three times a year at the very most.

I got 3 Hoopoe today and went into meltdown when a pr kept on feeding at my feet for around 15 minutes. I could even photo them from the mobile bone!

Also 3 Spotted Flycatcher.

6 Marbled Duck. A quinquireme of Teal, an Ark of Shoveler wouldn’t you Noah. 1 Avocet and a pair of juvenile Godwit I still have to work on. 12 🦩. A Great White Egret in flight  as was a single Swallow.

A couple Purple Swamphen ditto Common Sandpiper & Glossy Ibis. A bird I don’t recollect having here before - Kingfisher.

You two who read this please forgive me, I need to go right now!

Alcudia Mallorca Day 1

Helluva grind this, thank beezlebub 😈 I didn’t put any hill work in. A good portion of the slog was working out direction but eventually all worked out to my satisfaction 😁. 

I was amazed not a single hirundine was seen, this also applies to  apodiddlydidoforum Swifts 🧐 too.

2 Hoopoe ditto Sardinian Warbler. 1 each Little Egret & Grey Heron. In among a distant flock of large gulls were a few YLG and Audouins.

7 Blackbird similar Cettis Warbler.  c18 Common Coot.

The spine tingler of the session was when I unexpectedly came across 20 Greater Flamingo feeding in the Albufera shallows just a couple of Ks away. A Marsh Harrier flew over them as if to set the scene.

Spotted Flycatcher still continue feasting on their chosen snacks, 5 of them being counted in suburban areas.

Hope to publish some of several photos - November looks about right.

Ogden To Mixenden Again

On the whole very quiet. Gull numbers well down on Ogden Water, perhaps some had stayed at Green Lane where many were seen en route again.

2  Cormorant, 1 each GC Grebe & Tufted Duck.

The Dipper at Brookhouse was showing well. A pr Grey Wagtail were in the vicinity.  Up at Carrs Beck 7 Pied Wagtail dropped in as did a couple of Meadow Pipit. A Kestrel was perched up.

3/4 noisy Jay were screeching at Hunter Hill bottom.

5 BHG were on Mixenden Res which had a single House Martin calling faintly.

Ogden Water to Mixenden

Interesting if not spectacular. Common Gull numbers into mid/high teens now which mirrors the good count of those seen at Taylor Lane bottom en route.

GC Grebe has doubled up to a pair. The Tufted Duck appeared to have no crest; perhaps 🤔 I should have Scauped it  🔭  😂.

The Curlew was noisy, it called 🎼 Ker win. Kerr Winn thrice 🤣🤓. 

A Raven flew over calling twice. 2 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel ditto Pied Wagtail & Nuthatch.

The Brookhouse Dipper was kinder to me today.

Just a few Meadow Pipit and a couple Swallow at Stod Fold. A Moorhen at Mixenden Res which shows still decreasing water levels despite the recent heavy rainfalls.

D Shields Buzzard

 Hi Nigel,

Long time with nothing of interest from me but I stopped off at Ned Hill this morning to find that a Buzzard had dropped in, perhaps in the fog. It stood on a wall until some of the local crows decided to escort it off >S.

Denise

Amazing shots Denise, thanks very much. Good to hear from you again NK

Usual Local Route

Ogden Water was more or less the same as the previous visit. The Curlew certainly likes it here; I’m hard pushed to remember one being present on this date.

Usual Gulls incl. a fair few Common and a couple of Herring.

3 Cormorant, 1 GC Grebe ditto Tufted Duck. 20 Canada plus a couple of hybrids. 

1 each Jay & GSW. The Brookhouse Dipper was too distant for photos. Several Swallow at Carrs Beck & couple Meadow Pipit.

Mixenden Res wallowed in an abundance of nowt 💀.

Ogden Water to Mixenden

c50 Goldfinch at Bradshaw.

Ogden was busier than expected. 1 each Common Sandpiper, Curlew & Grey Heron. 2 Cormorant, 1 Tufted Duck & the Gulls.

.

Also 1 Grey Wagtail ditto WW.

Nothing at Carrs Beck but c40 Swallow around Stod Fold.

A LBBG & a Moorhen on Mixenden Res, which was Security guard and dog free.

Whiteholme Reservoir Walk

Couldn't have timed it better; heavy rain and mist, just the right conditions for the identification of distant waders 🤣. It did clear up a bit and the wind helped me dry out somewhat.

Whiteholme: 6 Snipe, 7 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Sanderling. A feeding Ruff decided to take flight, heading down in the direction of Withens Clough reservoir. Also 4 Wheatear & a couple Stonechat.

This appalling photo is indicative of how difficult it was viewing the waders.

Blackstone Edge: 1 Snipe ditto Wheatear, Pied Wagtail and a pr Teal. Several Meadow Pipit throughout the walk and a Skylark.

I don’t wish to discuss the thrush sized bird I flushed from moorland grass and failed to identify 🤔😢.

Cold Edge Ogden and Mixenden

Helluva slog this with patchy birding but a rewarding final sighting 😄.

Cold Edge Dams: c19 Lapwing, 1 LBBG on Leadbeater. A Little Grebe on the small dam. 3 Tufted Duck on Haigh Cote. BHG were widespread in good numbers.

c27 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 3 Linnet & numerous Goldfinch. A Chiffchaff gave a short burst 🎵. Meadow Pipit spread thinly throughout. A Stonechat on the edge of the golf course.

Ogden Water was a low key affair and similar to the most recent visit minus Curlew and the Tufted. A GSW heard. A Kestrel was seen to take unknown prey near the club house.

Low spirits after a birdless Carrs Beck trek were lifted by the value akin to 3 Rum and Cokes at Hunter Hill bottom. A bird showing a dark dodgy Meadow Pipit like back 🤔 turned then flew a few yards. The camera 📷 proved it’s worth, I’d got me a Whinchat, my first of the year 👍. I believe this to be a juvenile.

Mixenden Res: 4 BHG, Jay, GSW.

Black Dyke Mills prior to all this, a pr noisy Grey Wagtail.

Ogden Watering 🌧

Just a slight topping up from the Ogden Clough inlet noticed this lunchtime. It will take another two months worth of vigorous downpours to get the levels up adequately I reckon.

Meanwhile the low shorelines attracted another Curlew that remained motionless during my Stint (no pun intended 😆).

Common Gull numbers up to 13 amongst their larger cogeners.

4 Cormorant, 1 each GC Grebe & Tufted Duck. 1 GSW. A Buzzard perhaps the Buzzard had a Sparrowhawk for company over Carrs Beck.

Prior to this sighting I’d had my first Dipper for quite a while down the track at Hebble Brook.

Just a couple of  House Martin over Mixenden Res.

Blackstone Edge Whiteholme Reservoir Trip

Hard work in yet another E'ly blow this time with a SE bias. Only 1 wader seen: a very distant feeder at Whiteholme showing Dunlin like behaviour 🤔. A most unexpected migrant here flew right past me to land in what was a small bush less than 4 feet high. I got good if brief views of a Willow Warbler. 

6 Wheatear, 1 Grey & 3 Pied Wagtail. c30 Meadow Pipit. Snipe in a ditch (sounds like a Bistro snack that one) & 2/3 Goldfinch.

More Nothing Doing 😢

Today was even more tear jerking 💦 than Tuesdays affair. 1 Cormorant and the even more depleted Gull gathering at Ogden Water. A couple of Pied Wagtail also.

Out of desperation I walked the golf course long route, best I could do was return a lost ball to the 🏌️‍♂️ s. My sanity was saved to some degree by a Buzzard over Carrs Beck, the only bird recorded there.

A single Herring Gull was on Mixenden Res, it left after a brief float.

Elsewhere 1 Barn 🦉.