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

Another dabble at Ogden

 

                                    Around 30 Chaffinch present

                                    1 of 2 Jays over the water

                                    Usual 3 Cormorant

                                Low count of around 50 gulls

A very dark damp morning at Ogden with full dark clouds and early drizzle on a light SW>3 at 8 degrees.

    The water was quiet this morning with 1 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 3 Cormorant and the usual Mallards whilst gull numbers were down to around 50, though this is usually so in the morning with the best time for gulls at this site is mid afternoon when the pre roost birds arrive.

    The west bank trees made up for it with good numbers of Chaffinch and Goldfinch whilst a mixed flock of Redpoll and Siskin were moving around the Alders but very mobile and keeping high in the plantation canopy.

   A mobile tit flock held several Long Tailed and Coal along with 2 Goldcrests, 1 Nuthatch and a single Treecreeper. A single female Bullfinch showed briefly whilst 2 Jays flew over the water and into the north plantation. A Kingfisher was down in he sluice gate on its usual perch.

    Showing a cloudy sunshiny day tomorrow after a foggy start on a light SW at 8 degrees.

BS

    

Hard work at Ogden.

 

                                    An autumnal west bank.

                                    Gulls on the west shore

                                    1 of 3 Teal

                                    Female Wigeon.

                              Only a portion of the Chaffinch flock present.

A bright sunny morning with a moderate SW>3 at 8 degrees.

   School holidays and sunshine are not a good recipe for Ogden with too much disturbance this morning spooking the gulls to spend most of the time out on the water and small passerines constantly being kept on the move through the waterside trees.

    Only a portion of the Chaffinch flock were showing but soon left after being flushed several times, so no Brambling sightings this morning. A Tit flock was moving through the trees with Coal, Great and Long Tailed Tits as well as 2 Treecreepers and a single Nuthatch, whilst a small flock of Goldfinch were feeding in the beech trees.

     The water is coming up nicely, ready for the winter wildfowl, but this morning just held 2 Cormorant, 3 Teal, 4 Tufted and a single female Wigeon and nothing moving in the sky. Plenty eyes out this morning with Bradshaw John and Pete Grba doing the rounds.

    A wet and windy morning for tomorrow with showers on a moderate to strong sou'westerly at 8 degrees improving as the day goes on.

BS