Another wintry start to the morning with heavy overnight snow and freezing so yet another trip to Ogden which is beginning to get boring now.
Just about the same birds as the last few days with the Canadas up to 10 but no sign of the Goosanders. Again the Tit flock had the 3 species of tit but no Goldcrests or Treecreepers and still no sign of Redpoll or Siskin. A few small gulls on the water and just the one 2nd winter Herring.
Leeshaw reservoir late afternoon was buzzing in decent conditions with clear blue skies and sunshine and some very heavy snow showers but only in short bursts. The wind was W>5 at a temp of 2 degrees.
The place was absolutely alive with the call of Curlew, Lapwing and Oystercatcher with good numbers of all 3 species along with a decent flock of Golden Plover but keeping to distant fields and only showing as they moved around.
The stubble field held the Greylag flock, less the Pink Footed, as well as a building flock of Canadas whilst a mass of Starling, Fieldfare and Redwings moved around the fields.
Just a pair of Teal were the only wildfowl newcomers dropping straight down into the conduit and out of sight.
The birding there today was mind blowing and at several points got overwhelming not knowing what to count and photograph next and not being able to set the camera quick enough with birds everywhere, some in dark sky, some in bright sky whilst others had the fields for a background and others the water though I still came away with over 200 images, most being very distant.
Ogden
10 Canada
11 Common gull
23 Black Headed gull
1 2nd winter Herring gull
Tit flock
+ usual sp.
Leeshaw
276 Greylag
113 Canada
84 Golden Plover
33 Curlew
15 Oystercatcher
sev Lapwing
c 300 Starling
c 100 Fieldfare and Redwing
1 pr Teal
1 pr Goosander
3 Herring gull
sev small gulls
+ usual sp.
BS