Between the storms, Ogden buzzing.

 

                                Last sunrise of British summertime over't Black Dyke.

                                        4 Teal present

                                    Mistle Thrushes >W

                                    Woodpigeons >SW

                                        2 Wigeon present

                                    Skein of Pinks >SE

                                    Yellow Legged Herring gull, 'michahellis'

                                    Way across on the far shore.

Full very dark cloud this morning at Ogden with fog on the tops. The early sunrise lasted 10 minutes before being snubbed out with cloud on a light W>3 and icy cold at 4 degrees. By 0930 hrs the wind was increasing bringing rain from the west.

     As expected, or hoped, the birds took advantage of a weather window between the two storms with plenty sky movement. Woodpigeons were heading >SW in small groups whilst Mistle Thrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings headed >W along with several finch sp. but too high in the dark clouds to identify bart scope.

    A skein of Pink Footed Geese headed >SE but unsure of the count other than 60 plus as they quickly disappeared over the trees and whilst they were in sight they were too close to get a full photo using my 400mm fixed lens. DJS may come up with a number as he picked them up over Ringby Top after they left my area.

   The water held 4 Teal, 2 Wigeon and 2 Cormorant whilst the east bank trees produced a pair of Bullfinch, several Blackbirds and a Kingfisher flying low below the Willows.

    Looking across to the west bank from the east bank there were 5 Herring gull, 8 LBB and around 30 small gulls whilst the star of the show was a Yellow Legged Herring gull which stood out from the crowd, even at that distance.

   The end of British summertime today so a bit lighter or early morning birding for a while but bad news for any evening birders. Don't forget to put your clocks back, a good way to remember which way the clocks go is the old saying, ' Spring forward, Fall back.'

     Looking like a wet day tomorrow, mainly in the morning at 7 degrees. Some controversy about the wind with the two forecasts I use, one saying W> near gale 7 at 33 m.p.h. and the other saying 

W> strong gale force 9 at 53 m.p.h. though the second forecast gave strong gale from midday today and so far up here on the tops at Queensbury its nobbut been a stiff breeze, or a good drying day as my mother used to say.

BS

    

    

Steady away at Ogden.

 

                                    Early morn fog lifting

                                    From the west bank.

                                    1 female Wigeon present

                                    Very few gulls

                                        Lesser Black Backed.

Dense fog on the tops with a misty start at Ogden but soon clearing to leave near full cloud with patches of sunshine on a very light NW>1 at a mild 7 degrees and remaining dry. On the way home the fog had dropped down into the Aire Valley looking down to the east.

    Just the one female Wigeon on the water with a clear out of Goosander, Teal and Tufted duck leaving just 2 Cormorant. Gull numbers were low with around 80 small gulls along with 4 LBB and 2 Herring gulls.

    Better movement in the sky with probably the last dregs of Woodpigeons >SW whilst several flocks of mixed Redwing and Fieldfare headed >E ahead of the approaching weather front. The waterside trees along passerine alley were alive with continental Blackbird plus a pair of Bullfinch in a birch tree.

     What looks like a dry morning tomorrow on a moderate SW at 5 degrees. The wind builds up to gale force 8 at 40 m.p.h. after midday bringing heavy rain.

BS

Another bright morning, Ogden.

 

                                    Bright autumnal morn

                                Reflections on the water.

                                Woodpigs >SW

                                    6 Distant Teal present.

                                    Single drake Wigeon, far bank.

                                    2 Cormorant on the water

Another bright and sunny morn at Ogden with a very light WNW>2 at a cold 5 degrees.

   The skies looked good for a big Fieldfare blast off today, but that never happened, with just a steady flow of Woodpigs heading >SW, but this dried up by 0830 hrs with very little else overhead.

    The water was very hard to check with strong reflections and low sun with just 6 Teal present as well as 4 Tufted and the drake Wigeon from yesterday but all keeping to the far shore and banking.

    Gull numbers were low with around 50 small gulls and 5 LBBs plus 2 Herring, whilst 2 Cormorant were on the water. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over the promenade along with a few Chaffinch whilst 2 Kingfishers are now present but otherwise a pleasant but quiet morning.

   1300 hrs and a dog walk over Foxhill found that winter thrushes must have taken advantage of a window with Fieldfare and Redwing piling over Foxhill Park, Queensbury all >SW. Flood gates closed by 1430 hrs.

   A foggy start for morning with sunshine and showers and a 50% chance of rain. A light NW wind increasing after mid day to, gale force, peaking at Force 8, 41 m.p.h at 1700 hrs.

BS

    

Beating the weather. Ogden.

 

                                    A bright vis mig sunrise.

                                    Ogden early doors

                                    Mist hanging in the trees.

                                    around 30 Chaffinch.

                                    Herring gull

                                    Pink Footed geese over >W

                                    Taken through gaps in the trees.

                                        100 +

                                        Pair of Wigeon, east bank.

                                    Different drake to previous days bird.

                                        4 Teal present.

A bright clear morning with some mist patches down in the plantation trees with 60% cloud and sunshine on a very light SE>2 at 8 degrees with cloud building from the west by mid watch.

   Some sky movement before the clouds moved in with a steady flow of Woodpigs >SE as well as several Redwing and Blackbirds. A large skein of Pink Footed geese came over, contact calling, heading west, whilst I was in the west bank trees so I could only get a few shots through the gaps in the canopy. A guesstimate of 100+ with a large V formation and a long trailing tail. A group of 4 Heron followed shortly afterwards >W but, once again, soon hidden by the trees.

    The Chaffinch flock still stands at around 30 birds but no Brambling arrival as yet. 

The water held 4 Teal along with a pair of Wigeon, the drake being a different bird to that of previous days but unsure about the female. Otherwise, around 100 gulls, mainly small, and 3 Cormorants on the west bank.

    Cloudy sunshine tomorrow with a chance of rain in the morning on a light SW at 5 degrees, showing a dry afternoon. The calm before the storm when storm Austen is threatening force 9 westerlies, strong gale at 50 M.P.H. over the weekend. Also clocks back one hour this weekend.

BS

    

Dark and wet Ogden.

 

                                3 Teal, 1 Wigeon, out in the darkness.

                                    Drake Wigeon

                                    3 of 4 Teal

                                    Wigeon and Teal

                                    Wigeon harassed by gulls

                                        Teal

                                    Female Bullfinch

Another wet misty morn at Ogden with rain followed by drizzle and mist with fog on the tops. A light ESE >2 at 8 degrees.

   A very dark morning but what I find to be ideal weather for reservoir watching with the full cloud and light drizzle on a light wind of any direction though an easterly tends to bring in the fog. 

     A lively morning both on the water and in the trees with the water holding the drake Wigeon, though no sign of the female, with 4 Teal, 1 female Goosander, 4 Tufted and 2 Cormorant but gull numbers were down to about 50.

    Passerine Alley had several Goldfinch, a pair of Bullfinch and several Long Tailed Tits whilst the west bank plantation tree tops were alive with Blackbirds, Mistle Thrushes, and Redwings but no 

Scandinavian invasion of Fieldfare as yet, but imminent.

    A wet day tomorrow with fog in the morning and light rain on a light SE at 6 degrees. By midday the wind turns round to the NW and strengthens to a moderate to strong bringing heavy rain.

BS