Another dog grooming day so very limited time once I picked Ollie up so a quick check on Ogden to see if there were any early Common Scoter . The water was quiet but not so the car park and waterside paths so after Id recorded 4 LBB gulls, 2 Black Headed gulls and an Oystercatcher, which is unusual for here, I headed for the quiet of Back Lane.
No crowds at the top of Back Lane but no birds either with just a couple of Curlew, a few Chaffinch over the plantation and the usual Woodpigeons and Magpies up there. The resident Little Owl was missing so still no Little Owl for me this year yet and my warbler species list didnt improve with just 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff this year but thats what you get for being an upland birder. Give me the wide open spaces and water anytime.
Big Bertha remained redundant on my belt with not a shot taken but hopefully I,ll be back at Fly Flatts again tomorrow lapping up the gale force winds forecast, never again to complain about the small amount of public disturbance up there after a visit to Ogden.
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).