1445 hrs and a flying visit to Ogden to check the water.
Queensbury had a near gale force wind blowing but mainly dry, but as I passed Soil Hill the skies darkened and the rain increased and it was obvious that I was driving towards something nasty.
As I arrived at Ogden the wind had increased to gale force W>7 gusting W>8 with driving horizontal rain coming straight across the water, lovely !
Seeking some shelter between the mens toilets and activity centre I managed to scan the water where I picked out 4 Teal in the centre along with around 80 small gulls and the usual Mallards.
5 gulls were on the promenade railings, one being the Black leg ringed X2T6 Baltic sea, NE Germany Black Headed gull which has been around a couple of weeks now and its origin traced by NK.
As the weather was worsening by the minute I headed home and as I got it the house the full force of the storm hit with winds at strong gale W>9 and torrential rain cutting visibility across the garden to near nil, just a white blanket of water. My thoughts went to those poor Reed Buntings up on Soil Hill where it must have been horrendous.
Another 30 minutes on and the rain had almost cleared and the wind back down to W>7 so it was off out again walking the dogs over Foxhill.
Could be interesting over Christmas to see what the storm has shuffled about.
BS