With a free afternoon from 1300 - 1500 hrs it was off to Ogden to check out the situation.
As per norm, a bright morning at work then black clouds and light rain showers from lunch time but drier than my previous visits and sheltered from the W>4.
I decided on walking the perimeter of the water clockwise as it was a bit early for birds to collect in passerine alley so after a Kingfisher check in the sluice and a scan of the water, both producing nothing , I headed for the west bank Alders.
Plenty Goldcrests along Firecrest alley but a meticulous check of each failed to show me an eye stripe so on to the Dipper Dyke which surprisingly produced me my first Dipper there for quite a while as it flew from the shale, under the bridge and across the water to the east side,
Further round at Parakeet pond several Chaffinch were in the foliage and dropping onto the banking in an unviewable area although I did pick out 1 Brambling. After watching them a while they started to fly across to the east bank just as I had suspected they would. Passerine Alley, here I come.
Walking on the track from the NE corner towards passerine alley birds were moving through the trees ahead of me and I could tell this was going to be the big one.
On entering passerine alley all hell let loose with birds in every tree at both sides of the track. A quick scan through as many as I could found, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Brambling, Siskin, Redpoll, Blackbirds
plus GT, Blue and Long Tailed Tits. Even my first Treecreeper since 2014, an absolute breath taking experience.
After finding the best vantage point for photos, although it was dark skies and drizzle, it was sit and get what shots I could with was difficult with the birds in mobile mode.
Other than getting rarities at Ogden, today has to go down as one of my best ever experiences there even though there was no Yellow Browed to be found but theres still time yet.
20+ Goldcrest
17 Brambling
3 Siskin
4 Redpoll
c 100 Chaffinch
c 40 Goldfinch
1 Treecreeper
19 Blackbirds
1 Dipper
+ usual sp.
A quiet mornings vis mig with very little moving. Several reports of Pink Footed Geese unfortunately by passed our area.
42 Woodpigeon....................>S
3 Meadow Pipits..................>S
19 Redwing........................>SE
BS