With strong winds, heavy rain and Fly Flatts in the mist I headed for Ogden to check out the passerine flocks now building on the west bank.
On arrival at 1500 hrs it may well have been midnight with dark clouds and heavy rain but sheltered from the strong S>6.
The first group of birds found were in the tall trees in the Lodge garden at the end of the Prom with around 20 Goldfinch and at least 8 Redpoll.
The waterside small trees on the west bank were alive with birds all the way along but all very mobile flitting from one tree to the next. Around 40 Chaffinch were present along with at least 10 Brambling dropping down onto the shoreline to feed on the weeds as they do here every winter if the water remains low enough.
As well as Chaffinch and Brambling the small trees held several
Long Tailed Tits, Blue and Great Tits, Goldcrests and Wrens with at least 2 Treecreepers.
Further along the banking another flock of mixed Goldfinch and Redpolls were up in the usual Alders but way too dark for a decent count, a guesstimate of around 30 mixed with 75% being Goldfinch.
No chance of photos today in ridiculously dark light and even with the camera on its limit of 16000 ISO @ 500 shutter speed the photos were not fit for publication.
Hopefully if the water level keeps below the weeds this flock will grown over the next couple of months.
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).