Thrush moving morn, Ogden

 

                                    Woodpigeons >W

                   Several continental Blackbirds or 1st winter males.

                                    West bank

                                    East bank

A misty drizzly start to the morning then dry with full cloud on a light NE>3 at 5 degrees with fog on the tops.

    Mission impossible this morning along the west bank waterside trees with a working party on there along with 3 groups of walkers so the Chaffinch/Brambling flock were unable to feed on their favourite section of Beech nut covered track. The Chaffinch were spread separately in the trees with at least 3 female and one male Brambling but all very mobile and hidden in the thick foliage. A small tit flock had 3 Goldcrest and a Nuthatch mixed in with them.

     The majority of action was in the air with a heavy move >W of Redwing, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrushes, Blackbirds and Woodpigeons, the majority being Fieldfares. Several Blackbirds were in the berry bushes which, going by the numbers and black bills were continentals, though these are hard to split from 1st year male residents once their speckled breasts have moulted. A surprise to see a Song Thrush in a berry tree at this time of year.

      Around 100 mixed gulls and 2 Cormorant but no wildfowl present other than the usual Wigeon and  Mallards, though I didn't do a full circuit.

      

    

                              Invasion of Starlings on my garden feeders.

                                    From Fly Flatts, Sunday. The leading bird on the flock of Wigeon

has been confirmed by MC as a drake Pintail with a female Pintail behind it. I kept looking at the front 

bird for Pintail but with the poor photo I could'nt be sure so didn't stick my neck out. Thanks again Mick, better get my eye cataracts done like you just have!

   Another day of the same with a foggy/misty start and drizzle, courtesy of the north easterly bringing the murk over from the North sea. Otherwise, cloudy sunshine with a low risk of showers on a light NE at 6 degrees.

BS

      

A drizzly Ogden.

 

                                    Very few gulls

                                        Jay

                                    Nuthatch

                                    1 Wigeon still present.

A cloudy morning at Ogden with near full cloud and odd breaks of sunshine on a cold NE>3 at 5 degrees. Drizzle by 0930 hrs.

   Not much use for the camera this morning with birds very mobile and plenty disturbance around the track where the Chaffinch/ Brambling flock were trying to feed so just giving quick bursts of views. This flock will be easier to get onto when the leaves are down.

    Whilst waiting for the Bramblings to appear briefly, I picked up 2 Siskin, 1 Nuthatch and a Jay, as well as the usual Tit species.

   Several Fieldfare and Redwing were moving around overhead in no certain direction, whilst Herring gulls were moving >SW and a Sparrowhawk flew over the top of the plantation.

    The water was disappointing with no continuation of yesterdays big Wigeon day with just the single long staying Wigeon as well as 2 Teal. Gull numbers were down to around 50 and all on the north banking out of the NE wind. 

     Showing cloudy with breaks of sunshine for tomorrow with a low risk of showers on a light to moderate NE at 6 degrees.

BS

     

Fly Flatts buzzing.

 

                                Early morn, water still well down.

                                    1 of 2 Pied Wagtails

                                Herring gulls >NE

                                Good move of Wigeon

                                    Wigeon in the distant NW corner

                                Single Stonechat

A  very dark cloudy morning at Fly Flatts with mist patches moving through on a light NW>2 at 8 degrees.

   Wigeons were the highlight of the morning with firstly a group of 10 heading >SW and then 18 came in from the east, dropping onto the water, but way over in the NW corner, and still remaining there as I left. although boats were preparing to launch.

    A steady flow of Herring gulls headed >NE, 12 Fieldfare headed >W, and several tightly bunched squadrons of Starlings headed in their usual vis mig direction of >NW.

     The water held, other than the Wigeon, 22 Canada geese and 2 Teal whilst 12 LBB gulls were on the north shore and 3 Meadow Pipits and 2 Pied Wagtail were in the SE corner.

   On the way out, by the top gate, a Stonechat was working the fence line as the fog was rolling in.

A cloudy/sunshine day given for tomorrow on a light >NE increasing by midday with a chance of fog banks moving through at 6 degrees.

    BS

Another pea souper at Ogden.

 

                                    Lights out for a second morning

                                    As good as it got

                                    Feeders through the fog.  Nuthatch

                                    Several Coal Tits.

                                    Hungry Squirrel.

Yet another morning of dense fog at Ogden with very low visibility on a light SE>2 at 5 degrees.

    Too much disturbance for the Chaffinch/ Brambling flock this morning with several joggers running around the track and no visibility of the water so just a dog walk and a few murky photos of the feeders.

   Several Coal Tits using the feeders as well as Great and Blue Tits along with a single Nuthatch, otherwise just a couple of Black Headed gulls and the usual Mallards.

     More fog forecast for tomorrow then a cloudy day with a chance of showers on a light NW at 6 degrees.

BS

     

Lights out at Ogden

 

                                    No visibility over the water

                                    Sun failing to break through

                                    A dark east bank

Dense fog on the tops this morning and still very foggy down at Ogden with no visibility over the water. Fortunately it happened on a morning when I was doing a flying 30 minute visit due to a mid morning vet appointment so just time to walk the east bank to see if the Chaffinch/Brambling flock was anywhere on the weeds but nothing found.

    Nothing bird wise other than a few Robins, Blackbirds and a single Black Headed gull. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.

     More fog forecast for morning then a bright sunny day on a very light  southerly at 5 degrees.

BS

    

Man on a mission, Ogden.

 

                                    Around 200 gulls present

                                    Usual 3 Cormorants

                                    2 Teal

                                Single skein of 95 Pink Footed Gese

A part cloudy but bright morning with the overnight fog clearing by 0600 hrs but sticking on the tops. Plenty sunshine on a light SW>2 at 8 degrees.

   The mission this morning was to photograph the Brambling which are still in with the Chaffinch flock but once again mission impossible. I picked out at least 4 female and 1 male Brambling but again very flighty through the waterside trees. The nearest I got to a shot was as they were dropping down onto the track among the Beechnuts but in a very dark area and soon flushed with a nugget running round the track which flushed them across to the east side. No Siskin or Redpoll today.

    Around 150 gulls this morning on the west bank spit area but nothing outstanding, even though there were several Herrings but no Yellow Legged.

   The water just held the usual 3 Cormorant, 2 Teal, 1 Wigeon and 4 Tufted whilst in the sky several Redwing were heading >SW as well as a busy flow of Woodpigeons. The highlight being, as I was coming out of the trees I heard the distant contact calls of Pink Footed Geese. A quick dash onto the promenade in time to get a skein of 95 Pinks over the water >W.

    By the time I got back to the car park at 1000 hrs it was like Blackpool front on a Wakes weekend with cars queueing to get into and out of the car park.

    Another foggy start for morning then plenty sunshine on a light SE at 8 degrees.

BS