Not a good end to the year, Ogden

 

                                    Last sunrise of the year, Queensbury.

A pleasant morning at Ogden once you got sheltered from the icy cold NW>3 at minus 1 degree with sunshine, starting to cloud by 0945 hrs.

     The last chance for Ogden to amend its ways this year unfortunately failed with next to nothing found in the waterside trees after a full circuit round. A few Blue and Great Tits were moving through the trees but nothing else, even though the sun was lighting the tree tops up.

     A Kingfisher was up and down the east bank but eluding the camera each time that it briefly landed.

Otherwise, just a Raven over and a few small gulls on the water.

     A dry morning forecast for tomorrow with cloudy sunshine at 1 degree with a strong WNW wind.

                   HAPPY NEW YEAR AND ALL THE BEST FOR 2026 TO ALL.

BS

Back home to Fly Flatts.

 

                                    Very pale variant Buzzard, white headed.

                                Distant shots in first light.

                                        5 Canadas present

                                    Crow mobbing Kestrel

                            Red Grouse celebrating end of shooting season.

With a calm N>2 and good visibility I headed back to Fly Flatts after a break of nearly 2 month. A cool morning at 1 degree and full cloud cover.

   A low expectancy visit but turned out better than expected with nothing special but enough to keep the interest going.

  On arrival, driving down the entrance track I saw a white looking bird some distance away which looked like a Barn Owl on a post. It was still not fully daylight but a quick stop and a scan through the bins revealed a very pale phase Buzzard with a brilliant white head. A pale Buzzard has been about a couple of years up there but this was a different bird showing the white head. After a couple of quick shots it headed low over the Flat Moor towards Slade.

    Nothing on the water other than 5 Canadas whilst 2 Kestrel were in the area along with a single Raven and 4 Crows. A few Red Grouse were on the Flat Moor, a rare species up there now, with no shoots, that I know of, taking place for the last few years. 

     On the return journey, several Common and Black Headed gulls were around the Nolstar fields along with 3 distant Herring gulls.

    Last chance tomorrow for something special to turn up as 2025 draws to a close. 

Looking brighter for morning with cloudy sunshine on a moderate NW at minus 1 degree.

BS

                            

A bit livelier Ogden

 

                                    1st winter Grey Wagtail

                                    Several Treecreepers

                                    2 Tufted present

Another dark morning at Ogden with full cloud on a light NE>2 at 3 degrees.

      The west bank waterside trees were much more active this morning with a feeding party of several Treecreepers, Goldcrests, Blue and Coal Tits along with at least 3 Siskin but all constantly moving and way too dark for photos anything like.

   The water held 2 Tufted duck along with the usual Mallards and around 30 small gulls whilst a Little Grebe kept showing briefly across in the far NE corner.

   A Raven, 2 Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk gave brief views, whilst this years breeding pair of Grey Wagtail were down in the sluice gate and their 1st winter offspring was in the overflow.

    A cloudy morning tomorrow on a light northerly at 1 degree with possibly a brighter afternoon.

BS

      

Well you can't say I don' try. Ogden.

 

                                Plenty Blackbirds but all British.

                                    Usual Nuthatch at the feeders

                                    2 Dippers again in the sluice gate

                                        along with a Kingfisher.

A pleasant morning at Ogden with full cloud but milder at 4 degrees on a light NE>2.

    Plenty Robins and Blackbirds along the west bank trees as well as a small Tit flock of Blue, Great and Coal and a single Siskin.

   The water held around 40 small gulls along with4 Herring whilst a steardy flow of Herring gull were overhead moving >NE, probably from a Manchester overnight roost.

    Two Dippers were again down in the sluice gate area as well as a Kingfisher and 2 Grey Wagtail, the latter probably being the pair that bred at this site last year.

     The forthcoming disturbance is now looming at Ogden with Christmas trees already starting to build up opposite the info centre ready to be moved and positioned around the bankings.

    Another  cloudy day tomorrow with a light NE at 32 degrees.

BS

Slogging away at Ogden

                                    Several Black Headed gulls
 

                              Return of the drake Tufted on reflective water

                                    2 Dippers down in the sluice gate.

A bright sunny start to the morning but very soon clouded over leaving full cloud with bright silhouetted visibility on a light NE>2 at 3 degrees.

     A little livelier this morning with a Tit flock moving down the west bank comprising of the 4 common Tit species as well as a single Treecreeper and Goldcrest. A group of 4 Redpoll flew overhead quickly disappearing into the plantation but no sound from the Green Woodpecker today.

     The drake Tufted duck was back on the water along with the Goosander and around 40 Black Headed and 2 Herring but no Common or LBBs this morning.

   The pair of Dippers were busy feeding down in the sluice gate area as well as a single Kingfisher.

A cloudy day forecast for tomorrow on a light NE at 3 degrees.

BS.

     

All over bar shouting. Ogden.

 A part sunny morning at Ogden but icy cold at 1 degree on a light NE>3 and mist on the tops.

    With Christmas out of the way its next stop New Year and then we're on our way.

Ogden was at an all time low this morning with the west and north bank completely void of any kind bird life other than a few Crows. 

   The water just held around 30 small gulls, 2 Herring and 4 LBB with no signs of the Tufted or Goosander. The skies remained empty whilst a few Blue Tits were on the feeders.

    The only saving grace of the morning was as I entered the west bank and a Green Woodpecker called nearby in the plantation but kept well hidden. This is a species well in decline in the area after being a common sight and sound a few years ago with daily sightings at Ogden and annual breeding down the daily fields and Queensbury station.

    This is my first Green Woodpecker this year keeping up with previous years where I have only had one sighting a year since 2020 and its 3 years since I've had one at Ogden.

    Showing tomorrow as cloudy with a moderate NE at 2 degrees.

BS

     

Ogden , Christmas morn.

 

                                    1 of 2 Kestrel

                                    Single distant Raven

                                    Several Treecreepers present

                                    as well as Goldcrest.

Twas Christmas morn at Ogden,

A good time of the year,

An angel tapped me on the back,

And said "Tha'll get nowt ere".

An icy cold E>3 at 2 degrees with full cloud and good visibility.

   A clockwise circular of the water this morning once again found empty trees along the west and north bank whilst the east bank faired a little better with several Goldcrest and Treecreepers flitting about as well as a few Robins with continental features. Two of the continental looking Robins were very slim smart looking birds with a very pale breast showing a light orange colour as opposed to our own redbreast.

    A male and female Kestrel were near the Lodge house whilst a Raven flew overhead along with a few Herring gull heading >NE. The water held yesterdays drake Tufted duck as well as a few Black Headed gulls but otherwise quiet.

    A cold but part sunny morning tomorrow at 2 degrees on a moderate north easterly.

              Hoping you've all had a good Christmas Day.

BS

Christmas eve at Ogden

 

                                    Single drake Tufted on the water

                                        1 of 2 Dippers

                                    A familiar well travelled BH Gull

                                    Spends summer in Northern Germany

                                    and winters around Ogden and Wainstalls area.

                                    I've watched this gull every year since 2012

A pleasant sunny start to the morning then clouded over by 0930 hrs on a light E>2 at 3 degrees.

     With a few poor results of late along the west bank I did an anti clockwise circuit of the water starting with the east bank. No improvements here until I got to the Parakeet Pond where 2 Dippers were chasing each other around at the top side of the pond.

   The north and west bank trees were again void of bird life other than a few Robins and Blue Tits whilst the water held a singe drake Tufted duck along with 1 LBB gull, 3 Common and 22 Black Headed gulls.

 A familiar Black Headed gull has returned to the area with a white leg ring VS20 and steel ring 233, a bird I have recorded every winter from 18th November 2012 either at Ogden or the Wainstalls football pitch.

   It originates from Neumunster in Northern Germany where it returns to spend its summer before turning up back here every winter.

   Cloudy sunshine tomorrow on a moderate NE wind at 2 degrees.

    

                   A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY BLOG WATCHERS.

BS