1500 hrs, after a day of strong winds and heavy showers when I arrived at Ogden to a blasting
NW >5 and heavy to torrential showers of rain, hail, sleet and snow.
The reservoir was rough with white horses blasting across from the north west corner and lashing over the east banking which did,nt seem to bother the 150 or so small gulls out in the centre with once again no big gulls present.
Just a single Grey Wagtail down in the sluice gate area whilst several Jackdaws were lined around the railings there.
A scan through the Mallards failed to turn anything special up and by now the hailstones were coming down like garden peas so it was head for the car.
A nice charm of Goldfinch were mobile around the car park tree tops with a count of about 40 but little chance of Brambling this year with no Chaffinch present due to the height of the water covering their favourite weeds on the east banking.
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.(2025).