Yet another day expected to be written off which turned out to be decent birding conditions.
A white covering in Queensbury with some blustery showers of hail and snow on a W>7 near gale but bright sunny periods in amongst the showers.
With roads a bit on the hazardous side and threats of snow I thought it wise to stick near home so settled for an early morning visit to Ogden with the dogs and a late afternoon visit on my own so I could walk round the track in search of passerines.
Conditions were good with it being mostly sheltered from the worst of the wind and although there were several heavy hail storms they quickly passed over leaving it bright again. The water is still a dark brown muddy colour.
Just the one pair of Goosanders on the water today along with the usual Mallards and a few small gulls whilst a female Goldeneye stuck to the north of the water and was gone by the afternoon.
A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the wood from the lodge house area and was later heard drumming in the edge of the plantation. Passerines were quiet due to the wind with the tit flock comprising of Blue,Great and Coal but still no sign of any Long Tailed.
A quick sighting of 2 Goldcrest and 4 Siskin was as near as I got plus a Treecreeper which was quickly moved on by 2 Squirrels.
Back by the info centre Robins and Blackbirds were cleaning up the remains of the duck seed along with the rare sight of 9 Dunnocks happily feeding together. No Chaffinch roost by the car park this winter due to the high water level covering their favourite weeds and just 6 Goldfinch into the usual roost tree. Last bird over as I was getting in the car was a Cormorant very high and >NE.
Ogden
1pr Goosander
1f Goldeneye
1 Gt Spotted Wdpecker
4 Siskin
2 Goldcrest
Tit flock
6 Goldfinch
9 Dunnock
sev Robin and Blackbird
1 Cormorant......................>NE
few small gulls.
BS