More fog, more Ogden, more Pinkies.

 

                                    A misty start at Ogden

                                    Down the overflow

                                    Limited visibility

                                    Fog lifting

                                    Cleared briefly

Dense fog as per norm at Queensbury with Ogden partially clearing to leave low cloud and mist on a light ENE>2 at 4 degrees with some light drizzle.

    The west bank trees were lively with the 4 common Tit species as well as 2 Goldcrest, 3 Treecreeper and a single Nuthatch whilst a small flock of around 10 Chaffinch were working their way along the overhanging waterside trees.

    Just 4 Common gulls and 8 Blacked Headed on the water along with a small count of Mallard, which has been much lower than their usual winter count. Several left when the water rose, covering the weeds, and never returned.

    Back at the car park and tackling up I got a skein of Pink Footed Geese over, to the north of me which soon disappeared into the mist. This was minutes after DJS had text me with a skein over Lee Mount but his skein was much larger with my skein comprising of around 50 geese heading >E.

   Possibly a bit drier for morning but cloudy at 5 degrees on a light southerly for a change  with a chance of better visibility but I'll believe that when I see it.

BS

    

Below the snow and fog, Wibsey Park

 

                                    No sign of snow or fog at Wibsey.

                                        Good count of Tufted duck

A better morning than expected with the overnight snow turned to drizzle and a steady thaw going on. Still enough snow to shovel out but then set off to get below the fog and snow line at Wibsey Park. No sign of fog or snow here and the Crocus out in full bloom. A light E>3 at 3 degrees with full cloud and light rain throughout.

    With a low expectancy visit to Wibsey, plus the rain coming down, I left the camera at home and depended on my phone camera which zooms to 10x but I found to be ok on landscapes but useless for close up bird photography.

    A good count of  46 Tufted duck, 14 Herring gull and around 50 Black Headed gulls along with 26 Canada and 8 Greylag geese. Otherwise down to Coot, Moorhen and Mallards as well as 2 Mute Swan.

    The trees held several Woodpigeons and Collared Doves plus a single Mistle Thrush.

                                    Foxhill Park this afternoon

The forecast for tomorrow, for a change is, fog and drizzle on a light easterly at 4 degrees. No surprise there then.

BS

Out in the murk and Pinkie movement. Ogden

 

                                        A misty start

                                    West bank Alders

                                    In comes the fog.

Once again I left Queensbury in the fog and arrived at Ogden to find it misty but workable on a moderate to strong ESE>5 gusting 6 at 2 degrees with light drizzle throughout. By 0930 hrs the fog was rolling in. Although the weather has been foul the snow and heavy rain has kept away so far so I have been able to still get out daily, though Fly Flatts has had to be put on hold until the fog leaves us alone.

Having said that, the snow is piling down this afternoon.

     The best of the morning was when I let the dogs out in the garden at 0645 hrs when a noisy contact calling skein of Pink Footed Geese went overhead in the dark and fog sounding to be heading east.

     Ogden was very quiet with just 1 Herring and a few Black Headed gulls on the water as well as the Mallards. No Tit flock found today with not a bird found along the west bank other than a few Crows and the ever present Raven cronking somewhere up in the plantation.

    The snow is forecast to continue through the night then possible turning to rain Friday morning on a moderate easterly at 2 degrees along with the mandatory fog of course.

                                  Looks like I spoke too soon, Queensbury 1830 hrs.

BS

     

  

Killing time at Ogden.

 

                                    A murky Ogden

                                    Across the promenade

                                    West bank

                                    Goldcrests in the dark

Overnight snow left a light covering in Queensbury but was thawing well at first light. Ogden was still in the fog with very little visibility over the water but bird-able in the trees, though very dark and damp at 2 degrees with  dead calm conditions.

    With visibility down to about 6 feet over the water it was a matter of concentrating on the waterside trees. Just as I was thinking all was lost I stumbled on a decent sized Tit flock slowly working their way through the trees with around 30 birds comprising of Blue, Great, Coal and Long Tailed Tits as well as Goldcrests, Treecreepers and at least 2 Redpoll. The birds were very actively feeding and in the darkest area of the trees.

    With these easterlies, and these weather conditions set to continue for another week at least, its just a matter of killing time until the wind turns and we can get out of this rut, by which time the waders should be arriving at the reservoirs.

     More fog forecast for morning with a high risk of rain, sleet and snow on a moderate easterly at 2 degrees.

BS

       

Another dabble at Ogden

 

                                            West Bank

                                    Usual black Headed gulls present

                                            Single Cormorant

                                    3m 2f  Tufted

Usual fog on the tops but Ogden was below the cloud base with light mist and drizzle on an icy cold ESE>4 at 0 degrees.

     My intentions were to try for Leeshaw, even though Long Causeway is closed till the end of the month. I soon regretted it with standing traffic at Denholme Gate for temporary lights down by the salt pile. I sat it out but as I got into Denholme there was more standing traffic with a mile long queue for some reason so enough was enough, a quick turn around and back to Ogden. That's my last attempt to Leeshaw this month.

    The Tufted ducks had returned with 5 present along with a Cormorant and the usual Mallards whilst 22 Black Headed gulls were on the water.

    The west back trees just produced a few Great and Blue Tits but otherwise a very quiet morning.

After a chance of overnight snow tomorrow is showing cloudy on a light easterly at 1 degree. Raining ice at the moment up here in the gods with everything encrusted in ice and still foggy.

BS

    

    

Ogden Reservoir

 

                                    A fog free start

                                    0915, fog creeping in.

                                Single Herring and LBB on water.

Dense fog in Queensbury but luckily Ogden was reasonably clear with the mist coming and going but by the time I'd spent 1 hour there at 0930hrs it was lights out with thick fog. Pleasant enough conditions with a light E>2 at 5 degrees and remaining dry. 

   Just stuck to the prom and west bank this morning with just 12 Black Headed gulls on the water along with 1 Herring and 1 LBB. The Little Grebe was still over in the NE corner as well as 2 Tufted duck whilst a noisy Raven was overhead being mobbed by Crow.

    The west bank trees were quiet other than a flock of Great and Blue Tits working their way along the tree line along with the usual common woodland species.

   The Alders this winter have had the best fruit on for several years but a real washout for winter visitors. They started off well at the back end of last year with regular Bullfinch, plus a low count of Redpoll and even lower count of Siskin, but this year the Alders, so far, have remained empty.

     A temperature drop for morning down to 1 degree with a cloudy day and low chance of rain and snow on a moderate easterly plus of course, the fog.

BS

     

A foggy Fly Flatts

 

Mixenden, Ring Necked Parakeet                                                     

                                    Back at this site after 2 years.

                                    Fog at Fly Flatts

                                        A break in the sky

                                    Fog Lifting 0930hrs

                                    Here comes the sun.

                                    Mallards in the murk.

                            1 of the Greylag that was raised here last year.

A clear morning below but as I got to Fly Flatts the fog was cutting visibility down but looking ready for clearing which it did about one hour later . By 0930hrs it was misty on a light SW>2 at 3 degrees with the sun trying to break through.

    As yesterday, just Canada and Greylag geese with 12 Mallard keeping near to the floating jetty. Just 3 Red Grouse present but otherwise nothing, mostly due to the lack of visibility.

    Despite a poor morning at Fly Flatts the trip was worthwhile on the route there. As I drove through Mixenden a tree full of Starling caught my eye so, just by chance, I stopped to check them out. To my surprise, a Ring Necked Parakeet was in the tree with them. Up until 2 years ago this species was a regular sight here around the same tree with 6 birds present. 

    Suddenly they disappeared and, although I have looked every time I pass here, I have had no sightings for the last 2 years. Hopefully this marks a return for them to the area.

    A cloudy day tomorrow with a light chance of rain and a big chance of fog with a light easterly at 4 degrees.

BS