Ogden Reservoir

 

                                    Few Herring and LBB

                                     2 Tufted 

A part decent morning with sunshine and part cloud on a moderate WSW>3 at 7 degrees.

   With the water well up now and most of the shoreline weeds under water the majority of ducks have moved on with just 2 Teal and 2 Tufted found as well as a much lower count of Mallard. A small group of 10 Canadas were at the north end whilst around 40 small gulls, 6 Herring and 4 LBB were present.

    I caught up with a decent sized Tit flock with the 4 common Tit species as well as Goldcrest and Treecreeper but a constant procession of  public walking round kept moving them on, until finally they disappeared, not to be found again.

     Nothing in the Alders, which should be producing Siskin and Redpoll by now, plus the Chaffinch flock seem to have gone also.

    Looking grim for tomorrow with a day of heavy rain forecast on a strong north easterly wind at 6 degrees.

BS

   

Back to Leeshaw reservoir

 

                                    Muddy fields attracting geese

                                    Mallards

                                    Gulls

                                    Meadow Pipits

                                    and Pied Wagtails

                                    Plenty gulls

                                    53 Herring on the water

                                        Herrings on the gantry.

Another very dark full cloud morning but remaining dry on a light SSW>3 at a mild 10 degrees.

    A lively morning both on the water and in the flooded fields. The top field held 68 Canada geese, several Mallard, 14 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail and a single Chaffinch, as well as the usual Pheasants and Grey Partridge etc.

   A good count of gulls this morning with around 100 small gulls along with 53 Herring and 14 LBB gull. Only 1 Greylag on the water as well as a single Cormorant.

   Several large squadrons of migrating Starlings heading in their usual migration direction of >NW.

First Waxwings have now arrived in the country.

    Another cloudy morning forecast with breaks of sunshine on a moderate westerly at 10 degrees, with light rain and fog arriving around midday.

BS

A very dark, very wet Leeshaw Reservoir

 

                                    Plenty gulls to scope through

A very wet morning at Leeshaw with dark clouds and early heavy rain easing off as the morning went on, with a light SSW>3 at 7 degrees.

    Despite the weather, there was plenty to keep the interest flowing, though not camera weather.

Gulls kept the job going with around 200 small gulls to sift through in hopes of a Med gull, but only 6 Herring and 3 LBB. 

    Nothing on the water other than 17 Mallard, 2 Teal, 1 Greylag and a single Cormorant whilst a Buzzard landed briefly on a telegraph pole but was immediately seen off by BH gulls. A Stonechat was on a distant wall along with 3 Meadow Pipits, and around 30 Goldfinch were working their way through the thistle tops.

     No sign of the Red Necked Grebe that has kept being reported around the area since late October. Possibly the same bird that was present earlier this year through January and February.

     Showing another cloudy morning on a light SW at 10 degrees with chance of rain after midday.

BS

    

   

A wasted morning, Fly Flatts/ Mixenden.

 

                                    Only thing in the air at Fly Flatts

                                Distant Whooper with Canadas, Mixenden

A moderate SW>3 with early low cloud followed by broken cloud and sunshine at 9 degrees.

   A make or break visit to Fly Flatts was as expected, completely dead, with just 2 Crows and a helicopter in 1 hours trekking about. Fly Flatts used to be a decent autumn/winter venue but over the last few years has only shone between the end of February to the end of August, mainly with waders .

    By 0900 hrs it was apparent than I was going to draw a blank so a stop off at Mixenden on the way back. No access with the dogs here as the skummies have not got to knocking the walls down again yet so just a scan from the south gate.

    Around 40 small gulls on the water along with 20 Canadas and the long staying juv Whooper Swan but otherwise quiet.

    Showing some heavy rain for morning on a moderate southerly at 7 degrees.

BS

Chipping away at Ogden.

 

                                    1 of 3 Cormorant

                                        Down to 6 Teal

                                    A sickly Red Legged Partridge?

                                    Several Bullfinch

A bright and dry morning at Ogden with sunshine and 40% cloud on a light SW>2 at 9 degrees.

     Woodpigeons were the attraction of the morning with a constant move >SW with flocks of over 200 plus. The birds kept piling over from first light till 0915 hrs with an estimated guess of over 3000.

     Much quieter on the water after a full circuit with just 6 Teal found and no Tufted. The usual Goosander was still present along with 3 Cormorants plus the Mallards.

    The west bank trees did better with Treecreeper, Goldcrest and the 4 common tit species. Bullfinch were feeding in the Alders with 7 present plus around another 6 in the car park area. The Red Legged Partridge was still in the weeds and looking like it has a health problem, possibly a shotgun wound from the nearby shoot, or it would have been away by now ?

     Looking like cloudy sunshine for morning on a light SW at 8 degrees, deteriorating after midday with chance of rain.

BS

    

A misty wet Ogden

 

                                   5 minute sunrise over t'mill

                                Black Dyke chimney in sun and cloud.

                                    1 of 5 Tufted

                                    8 Teal present, female

                                        male

A real manky morning with the sunrise lasting 5 minutes before being blanked out in fog. Ogden was misty and drizzle throughout on a light W>2 at 10 degrees. The skies cleared by 0945hrs, just in time for knocking off time.

     No sign of the 3 Wigeon from yesterday with just 8 Teal showing along with 5 Tufted and the usual Mallards although I only did the east bank this morning.

   Another good count of around 150 small gulls on the water as well as 3 Herring and 4 LBB. Just 6 Chaffinch in 'passerine alley' along with the usual common species. The last sighting of the morning, as I was at the car tackling up, was a large flock of around 100 Woodpigs very high and >SW.

   A cloudy morning tomorrow on a light SW>3 at 7 degrees, deteriorating to chance of rain after midday.

BS

Another pleasing morning at Ogden

 

                                    Around 150 gulls on the water

                                    Usual Goosander    

                                    1 of 4 Tufted

                                3 Wigeon, new in this morning.

                                    2 male 1 female

                                    Autumn leaves reflecting on the water

                                    1 of 9 Teal

                                    1 of 2 Nuthatch

A brilliant morning, weather wise, at Ogden with bright sunshine  on a light SE>1 at 9 degrees with a light haze over the water. Luckily the overnight fog was trapped down in the Aire Valley and failed to get up to this level until midday when dense fog appeared.

    Visibility was poor this morning, but not through fog, but instead sunshine, with a bright, low sun

reflecting the bright orange leaves onto the water. Around 9 Teal and 4 Tufted present as well as the usual Goosander and Mallards. 

    At about 0900 hrs 2 male and 1 female Wigeon dropped in from the >SE but kept well out in the centre of the water. As expected, yesterdays 3 Mandarin duck had moved on.

   Just a few Blue and Great Tits in the waterside trees as well as 4 Chaffinch whilst 2 Nuthatch were in the wood below the car park.

     Up to 150 small gulls out on the water with just a few Herring and LBBs.

Cloudy sunshine for morning on a light WSW at 9 degrees with promise of a brighter afternoon.

BS