Despite the weather forecast predicting a bright, dry morning, Ogden was very dark and wet with early rain showers and black clouds making it very dark walking around the waterside track. Fog was on the hilltops with a light WNW>2 at 3 degrees.
The area hit an all time low for birds today with 12 BH gulls on the water along with 3 Commons, whilst the whole circumference of trees produced 3 Chaffinch, several Robins and an overhead Kestrel. But for having the dogs with me, enjoying the walk, I'd have been home by 0830hrs.
Its coming to something when a mid afternoon dog walk up Foxhill Park produces more birds than Ogden which happened today with Common and Black Headed gulls on the football pitch along with 2 Pied Wagtail and 4 Jackdaw. The bushes along the bottom border produces, 2 Redwing, 4 Blackbird and 5 Chaffinch along with the usual Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks and House Sparrows.
All I have to do now is try and think of somewhere to go in the morning that has a chance of birds and does'nt have me sat in the morning rush traffic.
Conflicting forecasts for morning with one showing it dry on a light northerly and the other showing it light rain and fog on a light north east. With past experience I'll believe the rain and fog. Both forecasts predict temperatures down to 1 degree.
BS