On a hiding to nothing. Ogden.

    Birding was at its worst this morning with nothing on the water other than a few gulls and Mallards whilst around 50 gulls were on the shore. A few small break away flocks of Chaffinch were flitting about as well as Goldfinch whilst 2 Bullfinch were in a Beech tree.

    A Raven flew overhead but otherwise empty skies although HC was getting a massive Fieldfare movement over Haworth but they all managed to avoid local air space.

       A probable foggy start for morning with light drizzle on a very light NE at 5 degrees. Chance of light showers after midday.

                                    Sun setting over Foxhill park yesterday.

BS.

Plot Neet morn at Ogden

 

                                Ogden early morn looking south.

                                    Looking north.

                                    Around 80 gulls present

                                        Usual Wigeon

                                    Several Chaffinch

A pleasant enough morning at Ogden with broken cloud on a light SE>2 at 5 degrees.

   Nothing unusual this morning with a good sized Tit flock including 2 Nuthatch and around 30 Chaffinch but no sign of Brambling today though a load of disturbance along the west track preventing them from feeding on the track. Several were in the open on the banking weeds which would have been ideal for a Brambling photo but not to be.

     A few Redwing and Mistle Thrush over >SW with around 80 gulls present but nothing on the water other than the long staying Wigeon, 2 Cormorant and the usual Mallards.

    A dry day given for tomorrow with cloud and some sunshine on a light ENE at 5 degrees. Rain due by early evening.

BS

   

    

   

Another murky morning, Ogden.

 

                                Early morn, low cloud base

                                    Brighter on the west bank.

                                    Low count of gulls, east bank

                                    1 of 2 Cormorant.

                                    Common and Black Headed gulls.

 

Thick fog on the tops again this morning with Ogden just below the cloud base and keeping dry on a light ESE>2 at 5 degrees.

    The west bank was very lively but all very flighty with a continuous flow of public walking and running around the track spooking the Chaffinch/Brambling flock every time they dropped onto the track to feed. At least 4 female and 1 cracking male in with the flock but no chance of getting them in the camera.

     A decent tit flock with the 4 common tit species as well as Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Bullfinch and 2 Siskin whilst a Jay was enjoying the beech nuts. 

    Around 50 gulls on the shoreline along with 2 Cormorant but only wildfowl showing was the usual Mallards.

    Showing dry tomorrow with cloudy sunshine on a light to moderate easterly at 6 degrees. With the wind still from the east, a good chance of morning fog.

BS

     

   

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