drain valve open.
With overnight snow and poor road conditions early morning I had another dabble at Ogden where I could take the dogs half way round with snow and ice on the track. A bright sunny morning with sunshine and clear blue skies on a cold NW>4 at 2 degrees.
Not much chance to check through the tit flock with plenty disturbance due to the sun bringing the public out as well as a school trip and Christmas tree moving going on along the west bank but mainly tits today, the majority being Coals.
At least 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming very near by but no way could I spot them whilst 2 Mistle Thrush were on the south banking.
Unusual to find 9 Canadas on the water along with the long staying Goosander pair, 8 Common gull, 11 Black Headed and a single Herring. A couple of noisy Raven flew over towards Fly Flatts mobbed by Crows.
A dog less visit to Fly Flatts late afternoon in cracking conditions despite the cold WNW>5 still at 2 degrees with a few light snow showers but blue skies and sunshine in between. The plan today was to do a full check of the banking and conduits for Buntings and Pipits, neither of which turned up but a pleasant walk along a very muddy South bank and an even muddier West bank which I checked end to end right on to the NW corner to check the inlet and conduit in that area with no disturbance today as work seems to be on hold due to the high water level.
The water held a few mallard and the single Canada goose pair which look ready for mating.
A pair of Stonechat were down near the feeding station but very flighty in and out of the heather, soon I,ll be getting Wheatear in that area.
Overhead , the sky held 2 Kestrel and 3 Raven whilst 4 Golden Plover made a quick, low flight across the Flat Moor. Gull wise, 6 Herring went >SW and 8 LBBs headed >E , again towards the Eccup roost. The weather has delayed any returning moorland birds with still no sign of Lapwing, Curlew and Oystercatcher which are usually back at this site by now.
Ogden
9 Canada
1pr Goosander
3 Gt Spotted Wdpeckers drumming
Tit flock
2 Mistle Thrush
11 BH gull
8 Common gull
1 Herring
+ usual sp.
Fly Flatts
1pr Canada
few Mallard
2 Kestrel
1pr Stonechat
4 Golden Plover
3 Raven
6 Herring gull.....>SW
8 LBB gull.........>E
BS