As I predicted last night, a morning of dense fog, rain and drizzle with a bit of snow thrown in for good measure. A light >NE>2 at 2 degrees. Ogden was very dark and misty with rain and drizzle throughout.
With hazy visibility over the water, just a few small gulls plus the long staying female Goosander were present along with a building number of Mallard.
The flock of Redpolls is up to around 40 now but very mobile and in the deepest, darkest part of the wood. Too many people around this morning, even at 0830 hrs, which constantly flushed the flock.
The Mealy Redpoll, found by Dan Branch, kept giving quick views and stood out when among the Lessers, showing as a larger, paler, greyer bird with a much more extensive red breast. I took a pile of photos of the birds and hoped to find it when on the computer but in the dark conditions and camera wide open none of the images are worth a carrot. Just need an Arctic Redpoll now, my last, and only one seen was at EGP back in Dec 1995.
Only 3 Siskin found this morning as well as 5 Bullfinch and 3 Treecreepers plus the usual Robins and Blackbirds.
By 0945 hrs it was as busy as Blackpool front on a Wakes weekend so time to head home.
Still a light SE for tomorrow which smells like more fog. If anyone is thinking of going to Leeshaw tomorrow the road from Leeming to Oxenhope is closed for the day.
BS