A good count of Lt Tit
Odd weather conditions this morning with fog on the tops then heavy cloud all around the horizon, east and west. Ogden was part cloud with some blue sky and the sun showing through. A cold WNW>4 at 10 degrees but feeling much colder with the wind chill factor.
Very little in the sky with just a handful of Redwing and Fieldfare going in no specified direction which is normal now this time of year making it difficult to tell the 'new in' birds from earlier arrivals moving around the area. Because of this we always used to finish our vis mig count by the first weekend in November.
The waterside trees were very active with 2 good flocks of Long Tailed Tits, one on the east bank and one on the west bank but no sign of Redpoll or Siskin.
Chaffinch numbers are slowly building and their favourite weed is still well above water level so hopefully the flock will grow and be joined by Brambling. The last time the water was down for winter exposing the weeds was February 2017 which produce a flock of around 70 Chaffinch and 30 Brambling. My last Brambling at this site was November 2022 when a few of the weeds were exposed and a small group of Chaffinch but only the one Brambling.
Several Goldcrests were around passerine alley along with the usual Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens and Dunnocks along with 2 Treecreepers.
All quiet on the water with around 50 small gulls, 2 Herring and a single LBB plus the long staying female Goosander which I'm wondering is a non flier as its unusual for them to linger at one site for so long.
A light wind for morning back to the dreaded SE with full cloud , and most likely, fog on the tops.
Probably the same conditions until Friday next week.
BS