Just when you thought it was all over, Ogden Siskin and Redpoll.

 

                                    2m 1f Tufted duck

                                        7 LBB gulls on the water

                                    Alive with Redpoll

                                        Siskin

                                    Coal Tits

                                    and Treecreepers

A dark cloudy morning at Ogden with full cloud on a moderate SW>4 at 7 degrees and drizzle turning to rain by 0930 hrs.

    The water held an usual number of 7 Lesser Black Backed gulls along with 3 Herring and about  30 small gulls. Two drake and a female Tufted were present as well as the usual Mallards whilst a Song Thrush sang from a tree in the Lodge House garden.

     A walk on the west bank produced 3 Redpoll in the Alders but otherwise quiet as far as I walked to the NW corner. On the way back the west bank Alders were now buzzing with a flock of around 40 mixed Redpoll and Siskin as well as several Treecreepers and Coal Tits. I'd just given up on getting Siskin and Redpoll at this site this winter so they came as a bit of a surprise. Hopefully they'll hang around a while rather than just passing through.

    Another cloudy wet day for tomorrow on a light north westerly at 7 degrees.

BS

Below the fog, Ogden

 

                                    Ogden, below the cloud base

                                    Brightness to the south

                                    West bank

                                        Several Goldfinch in the car park trees

                                    1 pair of Tufted present

                                    Song Thrush up singing.

With Fly Flatts fog bound this morning it was down to Ogden where conditions were pleasant with near full cloud cover on a light SW>3 at 6 degrees.

    Tufted duck were back down to 1 pair, obviously alternating between here and another water, whilst a low count of small gulls along with 2 Herrings were on the water. The car park trees were the liveliest with around 30 Goldfinch and a singing Song Thrush plus a few Blackbirds whilst the west bank trees were quiet with just the usual common woodland species.

    A report early morn of Pink Footed geese moving >W over Oakworth. Thanks for the report go to Oakworth birder Andrew Kitts.

    A cloudy morning given for tomorrow on a moderate sou'wester at 7 degrees and rain from 1000 hrs on throughout the afternoon with probable hill fog.

BS.

Fly Flatts, steady morning, good finish.

 

                                    Clear at last, Fly Flatts, across to the Nab.

                                    Lagoon

                                    North along the west bank.

                                    6 Oystercatchers present

                                    2 white Greylags raised here last year.

                                    Finishing touch over Foxhill Queensbury.

                                    127 Pink Footed Geese >W

At last, a clear, dry morning with a moderate SW>4-5 at a mild 7 degrees with full cloud and good visibility.

   Fly Flatts not yet fired up with several Canada and Greylags, including the 2  first winter Greylags which were born and raised at this site last year. Plenty Mallard on site as well as 6 Oystercatchers.

   A few noisy Red Grouse were over on the moor but no small passerines other than a Robin, Pied Wagtail and Wren in the compound and no sign of Curlew as yet.

    Just as I thought it was all over, I was passing Foxhill school on the way home when a large skein of Pink Footed Geese were overhead moving >W. A quick divert into Fleet Lane and out of the car to get a few photos but could only get part of the skein in with the 300mm fixed lens on. I got a count of  127 birds and after I alerted DJS, as they were going in his direction, he got a skein of 60, so either a different skein or my skein that had separated. A pleasing end to the morning.

    Same forecast for tomorrow as today with cloudy sunshine on a moderate SW at 7 degrees.

BS

  

A breezy Ogden.

 

                                    Ogden, early morn

                                    All small gulls on the water.

                                    3 Tufted present

                                    as well as 2 Canadas

                                    Several Treecreepers

                                    6 Curlew >E

A pleasant enough morning at Ogden with part cloud and sunshine at 6 degrees. The wind was a strong 

W>5 gusting 6 but the wind is rarely a problem at Ogden as it's sheltered in the Causeway Foot Col with only the promenade exposed to the wind.

    The highlight of the morning was a group of 6 Curlew high over the water struggling to head >W before having a change of plan by swinging round and away >E towards Soil Hill.

    There are now 2m 1f Tufted duck on the water as well as 2 Canada geese and around 75 mixed Common and Black Headed gulls but no big gulls present.

  The west bank trees held several of the 4 common Tit species as well as several Treecreepers but a very poor winter for Goldcrest, eliminating any chance of a Firecrest , plus I think the checking of the Alders for Siskin and Redpoll at this site has now come to an end.

    A part cloudy day tomorrow but showing dry and a moderate, but lighter wind from today, blowing from the SW.

BS