With an access problem at Fly Flatts until the weekend when YW should have it sorted I checked my Nov 2016 records for Ogden last night and glad I did.
The highlights for last November at Ogden were :-
9 Whoopers 6th
3 Goldeneye 6th
21 Teal 10th
1pr Pintail 13th, 14th
Little Grebe, several dates
Wigeon on several dates building to 4 pr 25th
Goldfinch c 100 Chaffinch c 80 Siskin 30 Brambling 20 all 29th onward.
So the scene was set to attack Ogden late afternoon.
As I was tackling up ready a text from fireman Craig reporting a female Goosander on Mixenden followed by a phone call from dog walker Sue that does Ogden daily and keeps an eye on it for me. Sue reported at least 20 very small ducks out in the middle of the water and flying round, Teal, bang on cue. This was confirmed shortly afterwards by a text from JL reporting 25 Teal.
On arrival at 1500 hrs the sun was annoyingly low reflecting on the water with a stiff NW>5 blowing. I could see the Teal from the promenade which were spread out smack bang in the middle of the water as always and with gunshots sounding off regular over the east moor the birds were very flighty doing several low circuits of the water.
Once round on the west bank with the sun behind me I was able to get some distant shots of the main group of 25 plus 3 that arrived from the south and stayed at the north end.
3 Tufted were also sticking to the north end and a scan of the northern waterline revealed 3 female Wigeon resting under the over hanging trees and refusing to move.
So history repeated itself again and Ogden will be worth keeping an eye on from now and throughout the winter.
Also present were
4 LBB gulls
c 150 BH gulls
21 Common gulls
c 30 Chaffinch
c 40 Goldfinch all in to roost.
Thanks to all for the calls.
BS