A winters scene, Ogden.

 

                Foxhill pre-sunset sky, yesterday

                                Ogden early morn.

                                Flock of 7 Bullfinch present.

                                Plenty gulls on the water

                            Early fog clearing from Fly Flatts.

                                    Gt Spotted Woodpecker

                                    A snowy track

                                    West bank

Overnight snow and freezing fog on the tops put paid to upland birding this morning so a trip to Ogden where it was bright and clear on a cold NE>2 at minus 1 degree.

        A good show of gulls on the water with around 100 small gulls, 8 Herring and 2 LBBs along with

2 Canadas and the usual Mallards.

     The west bank was reasonably quiet with all the trees snow covered and frozen although a nice group of 7 Bullfinch were feeding in the Alders. Otherwise the usual expected woodland species with Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Wren and Gt Spotted Woodpecker with no sign of the Tit flock, although I did,nt do a full circuit.

     A single Dipper and the usual Kingfisher were down in the sluice gate area whilst a Raven cronked overhead.

  Supposedly dry and sunny tomorrow at minus 2 degrees first thing on a light northerly although the frozen snow will still be on the top roads and track to Fly Flatts.

BS

Fly Flatts p.m. Just one of those days.

 

                                    Low over the water.

                                    Nearly took mi cap off.

                    Co pilot wondering who the nugget with the camera was.

A bright and sunny mid afternoon visit to Fly Flatts with clear blue skies on a cold NNW>3 at minus 1 degree. Fringes of the water and the lagoon frozen.

     A chain of events played havoc with the routine today when an 0730 hrs start found the garage door frozen solid at minus 3 degrees. After 15 minutes struggling with the usual heavy breathing etc it would,nt budge. 

    After giving up all hopes of Fly Flatts I walked the dogs and then, in my infinite wisdom I got the hair dryer and heater up the lock. Unfortunately, the yale lock had plastic lever spacers which melted and finished the lock off altogether. The next hour was spent with drill and angle grinder blitzing the lock.

   Mid afternoon and a couple of hour spare saw me back up to Fly Flatts to see if the Goldeneye was still on the water and hopefully a few Whoopers. This idea was soon dashed with canoes on the water so settled for a long walk along the west bank after a struggle opening the YW frozen padlock.

    As always on an afternoon, it was very quiet with just a few Red Grouse, Mallard and Kestrel plus 12 Fieldfare over the moor.

   The highlight was an Airbus A400 aircraft low over the water and banking right above me, an amazing sight to be able to see right in the cockpit as it passed. Thanks to Andrew Kitts for the I.D. when I thought it was an Hercules.

     Another bright day promised for tomorrow at minus 1 which is 2 degrees warmer than this morning and at least it won,t matter if the garage lock is frozen as its in the bin.

BS

A special visitor for Fly Flatts.

 

                                Rare species for Fly Flatts, female Goldeneye.

                                Raven negotiating the turbines

                                    4 Reed Bunting present

As forecast, a bright and sunny morning at Fly Flatts with 30% cloud on a cold NW>2 at minus 1 degree but feeling milder with the lack of wind and plenty sun.

      The skies looked good for some trans Pennine movement but nothing above other than a single Raven and a party of  9 very high Carrion Crows >NW.

      A small duck flew low over the water to the NE end making me think Tufted as it was constantly diving but once in the scope I was surprised to find a female Goldeneye. This is a very rare find for Fly Flatts, in the very peaty acidic water, and only my third ever sighting here. My other 2 sightings being

1 m Jan 2016 and 3 f  Oct 2017 so a pleasing find and just what I needed to regain my diminishing faith in Fly Flatts in winter.

     Otherwise it was down to 4 Reed Bunting in the compound and 43 Canadas in the top field.

Another day the same forecast for tomorrow but an icy minus 3 degrees early morn. Time for the thermals.

BS

Abandoned morning/ Pleasing afternoon, Ogden.

 

                                Kingfisher in usual spot

                            Special... 2 Little Egret in from the south

                                    In the trees , west bank

                                How do birds this size get into deep trees ?

                                Nuthatch on feeders.

The morning watch had to be abandoned due to thick fog with very heavy rain followed by sleet and snow. Early afternoon was brighter with some light drizzle on a cool N>2.

     A low expectation visit to Ogden this afternoon turned out to be a good decision, which is usually the case when you are expecting nothing. Very quiet on arrival with 2 Herring, 3 Common and 6 BH gulls on the water whilst the Kingfisher was down in the sluice gate area. I was just going to head back to he car park when the dogs started sniffing around, which luckily stopped me, and as I turned round 2 Little Egret were overhead coming in high from the south. They dropped down half way on the west back out of sight, so thinking they must be on the waters edge near the Alder trees, I headed on the west bank track. To my surprise, as I got near the Alders, both birds were up in the trees, one at each side of the track. I just got some distant photos in time before 2 joggers ran below the trees and flushed them.

     They flew low over the water where I lost them, as I was still in the trees, but when I got to a clearing I could see them, again in trees above the north bank. I walked back to the promenade where I could still see them settled near together where they remained as I left.

    A single Nuthatch was on the info centre feeders which just rounded the watch off nicely.

     Wall to wall sunshine promised for tomorrow on a light N turning NW then W at 0 degrees early morn.

BS

      

Another freezer, Leeshaw reservoir

 

                                Good count of Herring gulls

                                    1cy Herring

                                    Drake Goosander

                                    Plenty Commons

                                    and Black Headed

                                Greylags heading for the fields.

                                    End of another day

                                Foxhill football going into extra time.

Another bitterly cold morning at Leeshaw with a temp of minus one again, but luckily the light wind had stuck in the SW, at SW>3, cancelling the fog and leaving the morning bright and clear with 60% cloud and bursts of sunshine.

      A pair of Goosanders were new on the water but keeping near to the far shore which is usual for this species at Leeshaw, whilst 3 Teal and a Cormorant were also present on the water along with the usual Mallards.

   A Snipe, high over the moor was a bit of a rarity this year with very few recorded at this site as well as Fly Flatts. Gulls were in good form again with around 200 small and at least 40 Herring with nothing special other than a slightly darker mantled adult Herring but not enough noted to make anything of it as it stayed out on the water.

   Not a good forecast for tomorrow with a threat of heavy rain.

BS