1500 hrs and a temporary lull in the days rain giving me the last 30 minutes of daylight before a heavy sleet then snow shower passed over just as I was leaving.
I tend to use Ogden at this time of year, partly because of the early loss of light , being only 5 minutes from home, and partly because this is the time of year when Ogden can produce winter wildfowl and gulls on the water as it did this morning with DJSs Great Black Backed Gull.
By the time I arrived most of the gulls had gone off to roost leaving around 30 Black Headed and 15 Commons. One gull was on its own near the far north banking which put Kittiwake in my mind but studying the distant photos back I home I put it to Black Headed with its plumage well puffed up in the cold or possibly an unwell bird but before I left I checked and it had moved on.
The Dipper was down in the sluice gate area with plenty Jackdaws down there but no sign of the speckled bird. The feeders had 8 Robins feeding on the deck along with 5 Dunnock and a few Great Tits whilst around 20 Goldfinch were in the car park trees but no Chaffinch.
A birder I spoke to on the promenade remarked on an area of the west bank where there were lots of broken pieces of pine cones on the track and wondered if they could have been caused with Crossbills which is possible but I think more likely Squirrels.
Todays rain has finally shifted most of the snow up here on the tops so hopefully Fly Flatts will be back in action by Sunday 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).