Cromwell Walk

            Decided on a walk around Cromwell Bottom today
            with the wife on a gloomy day after Breakfast at the
            Watermill, shame there was no sunshine today.
            Still a lot of work going on at the bridge after the
            flood damage, went past the cabins hoping to see the
            Willow Tit but just Blue Tits on the feeders then on
            up to the weir where another wall as collapsed into
            the river and a mink had just been seen across the river
            by Nigel one of the members, next on up to the ponds
            where 2 Dunnock, 6 Long Tailed Tits, Great & Blue Tits,
            and 2 Wren were seen, we then had half hour at the bird
            feeding area where just the usual birds were seen but a
            Reed Bunting and 3 Jays showed themselves and the Robins
            eating off of our hands, next on to the lagoon hoping for
            Water Rail but only saw 2 Coots and then I nearly fell in the
            Lagoon while trying to make it over the makeshift bridge
            silly old me, nice surprise when we got home though with
            a Sparrowhawk in the garden.

                                          Why did I do it

                                          Squirrel on wife's head
                                     

Todays Walk

             Had a look around the top of Ogden and Soil Hill today
             but very quiet apart from Gulls, Corvids and Wood Pigeons,
             a few Robins, Chaffinches and Blue Tits in the plantation,
             Green Woodpecker calling again and 2 Curlew flew over,
             Little Owl then did a dance from wall to wall but couldn't
             get a focus on it with my old camera,
             
             I then went up to Soil Hill in high hopes but hopes were
             soon dashed but I did see a first for me up there, a Wren,
             about 6 Skylarks and that was it.

            But on my travels I did manage to see a Barn Owl and 6
            Roe Deer.

           

Birthday Treat

            Didn't pop out today as I was busy opening my birthday
            pressie's but I didn't need to as I had some cracking morning
            visitors in 4 Roe Deer 2 male 2 female chewing up the grass
            and leaves in my garden, later on my local Peregrine Falcon
            gave a flypast display.

                                          Spooked by a dog walker

           

What a Day

        Took a walk to Ogden today and bumped in to Dave S just
        as a Curlew flew over singing a first for me this year, we had
        scout around on the tops but just Crows, Maggies and Gulls,
        lots of Wood Pigeons a couple of Mistle Thrush and Green
        Woodpecker heard but not seen, Dave then set off on a hike
        over the moors he's a fit old bird. 2 minutes after he set off
        a Little Owl showed and 3 Fieldfare flew over and a couple
        Robin and Blackbirds were in the car park.
        I then  had a crazy idea to go to Walshaw Moor as I've never
        been before, don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't
        I thought, the place is unbelievably massive I didn't know which way
        to turn I felt like I was in the film American Werewolf in London
        when he's out on the moors and not a lot going on really just 5
        Lapwing, Starlings riding on sheeps backs, and a unidentified bird
        but it flew off before I got my camera ready, built like a thrush but
        it was a lot bigger, and then on my travels looking out of the car
        window I saw a lifer for me a Short Eared Owl which I was well
        chuffed about but my joy didn't last very long as I was photographing
        the Owl my camera went on the blink and just gave black images.
        oh well my birthday tomorrow so will hope for a better day.

        Ogden-:
                    3 Fieldfare
                    2 Mistle Thrush
                    1 Little Owl
                    1 Green Woodpecker ( heard )
                    1 Curlew, 2 Robin, 2 Blackbird
                    1 male Pheasant.
        Wainstalls-;
                    5 Skylark
        Fly Flatts-:
                    2 Curlew
                    8 Canada,s
                    lots of Lapwings at the waters edge
        Walshaw-:
                     5 Lapwing
                     1 un-ID'd
                     lots of Starlings on wires.
        Travels-:
                    Short Eared Owl
                    3 Roe Deer

Little Beauty

             Looked out of the window today and was lucky enough
             to see a Peregrine Falcon flying from Boothtown towards
             Shibden, so feeling lucky I went out looking for a local
             rarity but had no joy, bumped into a nice lad called Muxy
             and his wife who were on the same search but had no joy
             but we did spot a beauty a cracking Little Owl, by now I
            was rained, frozen and peed off so decided to go have a
             look up on Soil Hill for half-hour but nothing but 1 Skylark
             that was trying to avoid the driving rain and wind.

         
           

Garden Watch

        Didn't venture out today with the wild weather
        but the garden had 6 Goldfinch a few Crows being
        blown about in the wind and a surprise of 8 Long
        Tailed Tits visiting.

                                          Pic of the adopted Barnacle Goose with his Canada mates

Skylarks Return

         Morning stroll up to Soil Hill yesterday while it was sunny
         but the wind was bitter and then it even snowed believe it
         or not, anyway it was quiet but busier than last time I was up
         there, then I took a drive up to Fly Flatts after deciding to avoid
         the crowds at Ogden Water but nothing about just 2 Kestrels, then
         went for a look on the moors but nothing showing and then I got
         myself lost but at least I can put places to names now.

                   14 Skylark, 2 Pheasant, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Goldfinch,
                   3 Crows, 2 Kestrel, 8 Canada's, 2 Greylags.