A much livelier Ogden.

 

                                    East bank, a better count of gulls

                                    West bank

                                   Double figure Herring gulls

                                    A hungry juv LBB gull

                                    9 Cormorants >SW

                                    27 Pink Footed Geese >NW

                                    Very high Sparrowhawk.

A cool but dry and windy morning at Ogden with full cloud cover on a W>3 at 10 degrees.

   Much livelier this morning with a much healthier gull count of around 250 mixed gulls, and Herring gulls in double figures, though nothing special among them after a thorough search through.

     Some aerial movement this morning with a skein of 27 Pink Footed Geese which could be heard well before being seen high above the water >NW. Swallows were also overhead >S plus Meadow Pipits but this dried up by 0845 hrs. Also overhead  9 Cormorant, 3, 4, 2, headed >SW, one of which was another orange leg ringed bird but too high to read the number, whilst the original ringed bird was on the west shore. A Sparrowhawk glided high above the water.

     A nice group of birds were working their way through the west bank waterside trees but very mobile and well hidden in the foliage. The birds comprised of Coal and Long Tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper,

Goldcrest, Goldfinch and Chaffinch.

      Not the best of forecasts for tomorrow with a showery morning clearing by midday on a strong to near gale SW turning W but slightly warmer starting at 14 degrees.

BS

    

Migrants 1 Gulls 0. Ogden. Ogden.

 

                                    Around 50 Goldfinch

                                    Several Swallows

                                    Leg ringed Cormorant

                                    Low count of gulls, West bank

                                    Several Herring gull.

A bright sunny morning on a moderate W>4 at 12 degrees. Dark clouds over by 0945 hrs.

    Once again, all the activity was around the Lodge House trees and the bottom end of the Withins track with a flock of around 50 Goldfinch moving around the tree tops with at least 3 Siskin, 2 Bullfinch and a few Chaffinch. Swallows were feeding on midges overhead as they slowly drifted >S. 

    Gulls were on a downer with around 100 mixed but just the usual crew as well as Cormorant, Heron and Little Grebe. other than Swallows the skies were empty.

    A dry morning for tomorrow with a light W turning SW and increasing moderate to strong after midday bringing rain p.m. Temp starting off at 10 degrees.

BS

   

     

All quiet at Ogden.

 

                                    6 Mistle Thrush present

                                Very few gulls, east bank only.

                                    Juv LBB wanting feeding.

A bright sunny morning at Ogden with just 20% cloud and sunshine on a cool WNW>4 at 10 degrees. Full cloud cover by 1000 hrs.

     One of the none eventful days at Ogden  with around 50 mixed gulls on the east bank and an empty west bank. Some Common gulls still in full summer plumage with bright yellow legs and bill whilst the majority are now starting to get head streaking and several Black Headed have now lost their dark summer hoods.

    Usual 3 Cormorant on the banking whilst the Kingfisher is back at its winter venue, down in the sluice gate, along with a Heron competing for the same area of water.

     A flock of around 10 Long Tailed Tits were working their way through the waterside trees whilst 6 Mistle Thrush were present by the Lodge House. Quiet overhead other than Swallows >SW.

    A moderate to strong westerly wind tomorrow bringing rain showers, mainly after midday at 10 degrees early morn.

BS

    

A lively Ogden

 

                                                    42 Mistle Thrush >SW

                                    Heron down in the sluice gate

                                        2 of 4 Cormorant.

                                    No shortage of Common gull now

                                    East shore

                                    West bank

                                    

After a wet and windy start at Ogden the wind turned from the SW to W>4 taking the rain away and leaving a mix of cloud and sunshine at 12 degrees.

    An amazing kick off to the morning when, as soon as the rain stopped the flood gates opened, with scores of Mipits moving >S with one flock like a black cloud of over 100 birds. Unfortunately it disappeared over the tree tops before I could get the camera on it. A count of 42 Mistle Thrush headed >SW whilst Chaffinch and Linnets headed >S in small groups, as well as Swallows, with a Sparrowhawk on a higher level but not bothering with the exodus of birds. By 0830 hrs the skies had gone quiet.

     A single Teal was asleep out in the centre of the water and remained so throughout, whilst 4 Cormorant were present on the west banking, along with a Heron down in the dark sluice gate area.

      Around 150 gulls spread between the West and East shores with 8 Herring gulls present.  Skies looked good for Pinkies over but not to be this morning.

    A light chance of scattered showers tomorrow, mainly in the afternoon, on a moderate NW at 12 degrees.

BS

    

    

Its raining Pinkies, Fly Flatts.

 

                                    Waders-less wasted shore

                                    Early morning Buzzard

                                    1 of 8 Wheatear

                                    2 Ravens over

                                    4 Stonechat present

                                    Swarms of Meadow Pipits

                                    The predator, Stoat.

                                Pink Footed Geese falling from the sky

                                    75 dropping out of the fog.

                                    Onto the Flat Moor.

                                    Away >E as the mist cleared.

A foggy start at Fly Flatts with very low cloud and horizontal visibility only but clearing after 0900 hrs on a light WSW>3 at 10 degrees.

    On arrival the fog covering the tops of the turbines but the water and shoreline were visible. A good start with a Buzzard moving down the fence posts as I drove down the track and then, as I was getting tackled up, I heard Pink Footed Geese up in the fog. Just as I'd given up on seeing them they appeared to the south of me dropping down below the fog and surprisingly landing in the deep grass on the Flat Moor where they remained noisy but out of sight, A few Greylags were also mixed in with them. By 0900 hrs, as soon as the low cloud cleared, the whole skein lifted off and headed >E.

    The area was awash with Meadow Pipits with over 100 on the south shore as well as several ground hopping slowly >S whilst a steady flow was moving >S overhead before drying up at 0930 hrs. By this time several ha left the shore.

   The migration bushes held 4 Stonechat, 3 Wrens, 5 Reed Bunting and 6 juv Pied Wagtail as well as more Mipits. At least 2 Wheatear were present as well as another 6 around Withens Head farm.

    Nothing on the water other than a single drake Tufted, 4 Mallard and 3 Canada geese with 28 LBB gulls on the north shore. A couple of Ravens were over the quarry.

    Looking like a wet start to the morning then chance of sunshine and showers throughout the day on a moderate SW turning W starting off at 12 degrees.

BS