Ogden 1500 - 1630 hrs.
After yet another day of deteriorating weather with late afternoon showers it luckily cleared up as I arrived at Ogden along with the crowds although once parked up they did,nt interfere with the birding much as I concentrated on the sluice gate area and the water for this mornings Goldeneye.
1st prize from the promenade where the Kingfisher was deep down in the dark corner of the sluice gate area only allowing record shots but nice to see it has returned after its absence during the breeding season. Hopefully it will over-winter here along with the second bird.
Passerine alley was a little livelier with a small mobile flock of around 20 Chaffinch with at least 2 Brambling in with them but I did,nt spend much time with them due to a steady flow of noisy public. Four Goldcrests were also spotted.
After a lot of scanning around the water I was ready for saying this mornings Goldeneye had gone until I suddenly spied it diving over in the NW corner but after a quick dash round there it had once again vanished.
Walking back towards passerine alley the bird appeared again but well out on the wqater and diving frequently. This was the bird I saw at distance this morning and could now be identified as a 1st year male with the amount of white on it and the 4 white wing markings.
A nice early returner, it was 26th of December when I got my first returning Goldeneye last year.
BS