With another day of strong winds and heavy showers and darkness in extra early there was just time for a last light check of Ogden .
1500 hrs and the sky was black as night with a heavy rain, sleet and snow shower but cleared enough for me to get the last half hour of light in before the next torrential downpour.The wind was blowing W>5 and feeling icy cold.
Around 100 small gulls were on the water, 75% Black headed and 25% Common with 3 Lesser Black Backed and 1 third winter Herring. Small gulls kept pouring in from the south throughout doubling the numbers on the water before they slowly started leaving to roost at Oxenhope.
Several tits were active around the feeders including at least 5 Coal tits but no sign of the Nuthatches, whilst Goldfinches started pouring in from all directions as the light faded, some landing in the tops of the high trees behind the info centre whilst others dropped straight down into the Rhododendrons, a nice dry area to roost in.
On the way home in three parts darkness Lapwings were just leaving the Raggalds Flood and Pit Lane areas which they use for their daytime roosts and heading >SW to their feeding grounds, being nocturnal feeders, but where the overnight feeding grounds are Ive yet to find out. I,ve tracked them from Roper Lane way out to the SW and out of sight towards the Stoodley Pike area so possible some birder over that area has seem them leave first light in a morning.
BS
WEST YORKSHIRE BIRDING. BRIAN SUMNER. I am based at Queensbury and bird a patch within a 10 mile range of home incorporating 16 stretches of water, several plantations, a belt of woodland, stretches of river and canal and good areas of moorland. I specialize in upland birds, reservoir and sky watching. My local patch is Fly Flatts reservoir. Any reports can be sent by text or call to 07771 705024 or see profile for e mail address. All images on this blog are copyright.(2024).