Ever hopeful, Ogden.

 

                                Wintery scenes at Ogden

                                    Passerine Alley

                                    Lower count of gulls this morning.

                                    1 of 4 Herring gull

Another beautiful morning to be walking around Ogden with full sun and blue skies on a cold NW>2 at 1 degree.

   A livelier morning at Ogden in the trees but again all on the east side with the west bank Alders still void of Siskin and Redpoll which have not been present for over a week now.

     Best of the morning was a flock of 6 Bullfinch which flew from the Willows across into the plantation whilst 12 Chaffinch were on the banking weeds. Otherwise it was down to the usual Tits, Wrens and Dunnocks with an unusually high count of Robins and Blackbirds.

     Gulls were on a low with around 50 small, 4 Herring and a single LBB, most of which left the water >S without going onto the banking. The Kingfisher was down in the sluice gate.

        A bright sunny morning promised for tomorrow morning after some overnight snow on a cold WNW.

BS

Chipping away at Ogden.

 

                                    Sunrise in Queensbury

                                    Bright and clear, Ovenden moor

                                    Wintery Ogden

                                    Part frozen waterfall

                                Sev Blackbirds inc some black billed continentals.

                                    Mostly Black Headed present

                                Bath time for Canadas.

                                    Christmas card material.

                                    Common and Black Headed

                                    2 CY Herring

                                     East bank

An excellent morning to be out walking around Ogden with wall to wall sunshine and clear blue skies on an icy NNW> 3 at minus 2 degrees.

      Far less gulls this morning with around 50 small, 1 Herring and 1 LBB and nothing in the way of wildfowl other than 3 Canadas and the usual Mallards. The long staying female Goosander, which I wondered if it had a flight problem, has been missing the last few days, proving my non flying idea as wrong.

    Nothing doing around the waterside trees other than the 4 common Tit species, Robins, Dunnock, Wrens, Bullfinch and Blackbird, some of which were very black billed continentals. The Kingfisher was down in the sluice gate area along with a Dipper and Grey Wagtail.

     A part cloudy morn for tomorrow on a moderate westerly with a risk of snow late evening.

BS

Match abandoned, Snowed off.

 

                                    Snowy scene in Queensbury.

                                    Foxhill Park

                                    Parish church in background

                                    Black Dyke Mill chimney

                                    Carrion Crow seeking food.

As expected, it was a matter of waking up to a good covering of snow this morning which started around 0830 hrs yesterday evening and continued till about midnight. Luckily, by Queensbury standards we only got about a four inch covering but the roads were covered and very icy so thought it best to give it a miss. A bit of a thaw during the day with a bright and sunny afternoon.

      Luckily, with Lynda being so thoughtful and not wanting me getting bored with no birding, as soon as the forecast gave snow for Tuesday she tret me to some wallpaper to keep me happy.

A few Blackbirds in Foxhill Park taking the last few berries whilst a Kestrel hovered overhead.

      Looking bright and sunny for tomorrow and the rest of the week but down to minus 2 degrees on a light NW then another blathering of snow on Saturday.

BS

An icy Ogden

 

                                    Good count of Common gull

                                    Common outnumbering Black Headed

                                    Vocal Herring gull

                                    Herring

A pleasant morning at Ogden with dead calm and full cloud at an icy minus 2 degrees. Plenty fog down in the Aire valley bottom.

     Not as many gulls present this morning with around 50 small gulls, the majority being Commons, along with just 2 Herring and no LBBs. As I was walking through Passerine Alley the adult Med gull flew low over the water towards the duck corner but was lost from sight by the Willows.

     A thorough check through the gulls on the east bank and water failed to produce the Med gull so I can only presume that it must have continued on over the promenade towards Mixenden but good to see that its still in the area.

     The west bank alders once again remained empty with any activity taking place along the east bank waterside trees with several Long Tailed Tits, Chaffinch and Goldcrest, as well as a pair of Bullfinch.

     The Kingfisher is back at its usual winter venue, down in the sluice gate area.

A clear sunny morning tomorrow on a cold NNW at 1 degree depending on what happens with the overnight snow forecast. 

BS