Redcar Tarn, Keighley.

 

                                        Around 200 small gulls

                                    Around 40 Herring gull

                                    1 of 3 Argentatus Herrings, (centre)

                                    Darker mantle (Scandinavian)

                                        Only 2 adult LBBs

                                    No Med gull to be found.

                                    Several Tufted duck.

                                Usual wintering drake Pintail

                                    as well as drake Wigeon.

A decent morning at Redcar Tarn with full cloud on a moderate W>3 at 5 degrees but staying fine. The water was 80% frozen.

    With the water still being part frozen several species were missing, or on a lower count, with around 20 Tufted duck present along with Mallard, Coot and Moorhen whilst the usual over-wintering drake Wigeon and Pintail were present looking in perfect plumage. Good numbers of Canada and Greylag geese were in the fields as well as on the water but no specials among them.

    At least 200 Black Headed and Common gull were frantically fighting over food being throw in whilst around 40 Herring gull were on the ice, all British Argenteus apart from 3 Scandinavian Argentatus, standing out with their darker mantles. Only 2 adult Lesser Black Backed present. A good check through failed to pick out Med gull or Yellow Legged Herring but its near time for an Iceland to turn up shortly.

     The track side trees held several Blue and Great Tits as well as Chaffinch but no Brambling in the usual areas. A single Buzzard was in the distance.

    A colder, cloudy morning starting off at 0 degree on a light SW with a low chance of rain and snow late afternoon.

BS

Harold Park/Park Dam

 

                                        Kingfisher at Park Dam

                                    Gulls on the ice, Park Dam

                                    Park Dam, 6 Goosander present

                                    Several Common gull

                                    Harold Park, c50 Tufted.

A dull, full cloud morning with the sun trying, but failing, to break through. A light SW>3 at 6 degrees with some light rain showers. 

      Expecting Ogden to be waterlogged after the fast thaw and heavy overnight rain I headed to Harold Park to check out the gull situation.

   The park was disappointing being 80 % frozen over and several species missing, with no gulls at all and no signs of the usual over-wintering Little Grebe and Pochard.

   Around 50 Tufted duck were present along with 10 Mute Swan but otherwise down to the usual Coot, Moorhen and Mallard.

     Park Dam was also still frozen with 70% ice so again several species missing but slightly better than the park with about 30 Herring gull, 3 LBB and just over 40 small gulls on the ice. A Kingfisher was moving around looking for unfrozen water whilst 6 Goosanders and 8 Tufted were on the water as well as Canada geese and Mallards. The surrounding hedges held Long Tailed Tits as well as Great and Blue plus a pair of Bullfinch.

     This will probably be my last visit to Park Dam finding this morning that the top entrance that I use has had all the mature trees and hedges cut down and the access field is now starting to be dug up ready for the building of  an estate of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses. You will still be able to enter the dam from the bottom end but this area is very busy in a morning with off lead dogs so not a nice area to be in with my on lead dogs. Apart from that the disturbance of the building work and then all the extra population in houses right up to the dam is sure to have a big effect on the bird life there.

     Tomorrows weather is showing the same as today with cloud and chance of rain on a moderate SW at 6 degrees.

BS

Sometimes you've just got to say no. Match abandoned.

 

                                    New Park Road

                                    Fleet Lane Top

                                    Foxhill Park

                                    Fleet Lane

                                            Foxhill

                                    Chapel Lane.

With a half decent covering of snow this morning and still coming down I finally had to abandon the job with very icy, ungritted roads. A moderate S>4 was blowing and the snow turning to sleet as I walked the dogs over a very slippery Foxhill where the rain had washed the snow off the ice making it treacherous walking.

  A few House Sparrows and a Blue Tit were on the fat balls in the garden whilst 3 Robins,  2 Dunnocks and 2 Blackbirds squabbled over the meal worms and sunflower seeds on the deck. A Woodpigeon was enjoying a warm bathe in the water I'd just put out in the bird bath, whilst several Common gulls were struggling on the snow covered rugby field.

    A part cloudy morning for tomorrow on a moderate SW at 6 degrees turning wet late morning. Hopefully, with the temperature hitting 8 degrees overnight most of the ice will have gone by morning.

BS

Gulls Galore, Ogden

 

                                    Common gulls piling over >NE

                                    Around 200 gulls on the ice

                                    Just 5 Herring gull

                                    Majority Common Gulls

                                    Back to the original 11 Tufted.

A beautiful bright sunny morning at Ogden with wall to wall blue sky and sunshine on a light N>2 with the temp down at 4 degrees. Around 80% of the water was frozen whilst the waterside track was back to solid ice underfoot.

    Gulls were the feature of the morning with Common gulls piling over >NE throughout estimated at over 500 whilst around 200 Commons were on the ice a well as around 50 Black Headed and 5 Herring.

A good check through failed to turn up a Med or Ring Billed gull. The Tufted group were back to 11 whilst the waterside trees around the full circuit remained quiet other than the usual Tits, Robins, Blackbirds etc. 

   The friendly Robin in the car park came and waited in the back of the car for its crumbled dog treat.

A mix of  overnight rain and snow for tonight continuing through most of the day tomorrow starting at 1 degree on a moderate SE. By Monday the temperature is up to 8 degrees.

                                                Tame Robin.

BS
 

   

The thaw is on, Ogden

 

                                    Early snow storm

                                    Abstract photo, Mallards fighting in the snow.

                                   Way too close for the 300mm lens but interesting pic.

                                    10 Tufted prsent

                                    Several Treecreepers.

The forecast of heavy overnight snow luckily missed us with just a light covering and a steady thaw taking place. Ogden Lane was still shot ice but the promenade and circular track were still icy but becoming more sloppy. A light NE>3 with full cloud at 1 degree. As I arrived a very heavy snow shower came over but, as I was thinking of evacuating, it cleared to leave the rest of the watch pleasant.

     Tufted ducks on the water had risen to 10 along with 15 Common and 6 Blacked gull as well as 2 Herring gull. A full anti clockwise circuit around the water found very little with no sign of the Redpoll flock. At least 12 Robins were counted, as well as 1 in the car park eating crumbled up dog treats out of my hand. Otherwise several Treecreepers, Blackbirds, Dunnocks and Blue Tits.

On the way there a flock of around 40 Fieldfare flew over Keelham heading >E.

    Slight chance of an overnight snow shower then a cloud and sunshine day forecast for tomorrow on a light NNE but back to minus 3 degrees so it will be back to skating rink conditions again. 

BS