Buzzard hung around.
Ogden a.m. 0800-1030 hrs.
Seeing the fog once more on the tops it was another vis mig watch from Ogden which once again proved to be the better site of the two for vis migging with several more active birds to the east of the Nab.
The start off was grim as I drove there through heavy rain but surprisingly it brightened for the first hour with a light WSW>3 with plenty movement.
By 0930 hrs the heavens opened and from then on it was shower after shower throughout with some short periods of blue skies in between.
Mipits were moving throughout but in small groups with 8 being the largest group with many singles. A good variety of species with Snipe and Jay moving high in migration mode.
No big sky high Redwing flocks so again probably post roost birds with some dropping down into berry trees. One berry tree held 18 Blackbirds which were probably continentals.
Fly Flatts p.m.1430-1600 hrs.
With a strong W>6 lifting to a near gale force W>7 touching 34 m.p.h at one point when an extremely heavy shower came through which is no good for vig migging but the kind of weather that makes Fly Flatts exciting and interesting. Those sort of conditions when anything can come through or drop out of the sky. Between the torrential showers blue skies appeared
for a short time which was just enough to walk the dogs and check the shorelines and water before scurrying back to stand behind the tailgate until the next shower had gone by.
As always at this site the strong westerly brought the gulls through with 4 Herrings and 2 LBBs on the shore and a steady flow of Herring, LBB and Black Headeds all >SW.
The water just held 2 Tufted and 2 Mallard whilst a Peregrine was jostling with one of 3 Buzzards over the water. A single Stonechat was very flighty by the lagoon and disappeared for shelter behind a dry stone wall.
Sounds like we had better get used to this weather as its forecast to be the same for at least the next 4 days.
Ogden Vis Mig
4 Jay..........................>W
138 Redwing...........>S and >SW
4 Mistle Thrush.......>SW
16 Chaffinch...........>W
113 Woodpigs........>S
218 Mipits.............>S
5 House Martins...>S
2 Swallow.............>S
27 Starling............>NW
6 Snipe.................>NW
Present
Loads of Blackbirds in area with 18 in 1 berry tree, probably continentals.
+ usual sp.
Fly Flatts
1 Stonechat
1 Peregrine
3 Buzzard
3 Meadow Pipits on deck
4 Herring gull on deck
2 LBB gulls on deck
Continuous move >SW of Herrings and LBBs with a few BH gulls.
2 Tufted
2 Mallard.
BS