Ogden was atrocious with a mix of heavy rain and drizzle throughout, driven by a moderate SW>5 turning S>6 at 8 degrees with skies as dark as night. A move on to Mixenden found the wind had increased and heavy to torrential rain the full watch but always worth getting out there in these sort of conditions that can bring anything in to local reservoirs.
A pair of Goosander on Ogden was a bonus but sticking to the north end along with a single female Goldeneye, probably the Mixenden bird. A single noisy Canada goose was in with the Mallards whilst 1 adult and 1 3cy Herring gull were present as well as around 50 small gulls.
Nearly impossible to use the bins with about a 5 second viewing before the lenses steamed up, and the camera under the coat most of the time as unsuitable for photos in the dark and wet conditions.
Mixenden was about the same but wetter and windier and only around 50 small gulls on the bank and water. A female Goldeneye was on the water as well as an immature , first winter male Goldeneye which has been coming and going for some time now. I firstly suspected it as being a male in eclipse but unlikely to be still showing signs of eclipse at this time of year.
A check on the Ring Necked Parakeet site produced 4 birds sitting out in the rain not seeming too bothered.
Raggalds Flood ,on the way home, found a mix of Common and BH gulls with a count of
around 100 as well as 19 Lapwing and several Starling but no waterfowl present.
Ogden
1 pr Goosander
1 f Goldeneye
1 ad Herring
1 3cy Herring
1 Canada
plus usual sp.
Mixenden
1 f Goldeneye
1 1st winter m Goldeneye
4 RN Parakeets
+ usual sp
Raggalds Flood
c 100 small gulls
19 Lapwing
Sev Starling.
BS