and someone keeps moving it from the top
rail to the bottom.!
Yet again Ogden shines with waterfowl producing 4 pr Teal and 4 Pr Wigeon.
As I arrived at 1330 hrs my first scan of the water produced 8 Teal central and towards the north end but as I approached passerine alley they lifted off and headed >NE partly hidden from my view by trees.
Thinking that was it I continued on when 9 ducks were spotted towards the NW corner. My first thoughts were the Teal had returned but a scan revealed Wigeon. I put out 9 on the grapevine later to find one was a female Mallard in with them so there was actually 8 comprising of 4 male and 4 female.
Getting pics was a nightmare with the low sun straight at me so it was a dash around to the west path only to find the group was now down near bread lobbing corner but still well out.
Off again down the west path and across the prom in time to see them heading north under the east banking.
A quick Kingfisher photo down in the sluice gates whilst I got my breath back then off again down the east track towards passerine alley where once again they had gone back into the middle of the water and right in the sun.
A waiting game now for the sun to go below the tree tops and hoping the ducks would move which eventually they did as they drifted towards the promenade end and more out of the sun although still well out.
I fired away with the camera before they turned and again headed to the north end accepting I,d have to make do with record shots as time was running out.
Back on the prom 2 BH gulls were sporting leg rings, possibly NKs birds.
An elderly gentleman with a pair of pre war bins around his neck came up to me to ask if there was anything about so I proudly pointed out the Wigeon which were now well to the northern end. After a squint through his bins he said " I cant see anything" so I quickly told him theres a Kingfisher just down behind us so dashing to the railings he looked and said " I cant see anything ", and of course when I looked it had gone. He wandered off thinking " That nutter is making things up".
Another great visit to Ogden.
Good to see the Ring Necked Parakeet is still around the Corporal Hill area. This bird was reported to me about a month ago and re located today by NK, see his blog for pics.
Footnote :- Congratulations to Dave Sutcliffes Mum whose hit 101 today. Hope we,re still trekking up Soil Hill at that age Dave.
BS