Getting a liking for Ogden.

 

                                    Mallard and Teal

                                    2 Wigeon present

                                            Teal

                                           Wigeon

                                    Several Blackbirds on berries.

A real mish mash of weather this morning at Ogden with sunshine and showers, one minute sunny the next, heavy drizzle on a moderate and cold W>4 at  6 degrees. Visibility was good.

     Once again the Teal count was up, now reaching at least 38, both on the water and around the weed beds on the shore. The 2 Wigeon were still present along with the 6 Tufted and a single Goosander, whilst 12 Black Headed, 2 LBB and 4 Herring were present. The long staying Red Lagged Partridge was still in the waterside weeds.

    Very little in the waterside trees other than several Blackbirds taking the berries but no sign of the Chaffinch flock and I,ve yet to see my first autumn Redwing and Fieldfare.

    A big move of Woodpigs >S this morning between 0700-0830 hrs.

Forecasting strong NW winds tomorrow at 4 degrees but bright and sunny.

BS

Redcar Tarn, Keighley.

 

                                    Single Little Grebe

                                Not many big gulls, mainly LBB

                                    Herring

                                    1 of 8 Tufted

                                    Plenty to search through

                                Drake Goosander in moult

                                    5 Shoveler present

                                        Single Pintail

A very dark wet morning with heavy rain on a moderate NW>3 at 7 degrees. On arrival at the tarn the rain stopped but very dark for the first hour with everything in silhouette. 

      The water was heaving with Canada geese before they moved off to a distant field leaving several small gulls with a low count of LBBs and half a dozen Herring, with the majority of the big gulls being 1CYs. A good search through failed to find a Med gull in among the Black Headed. A flock of around 50 Lapwing were in the pond field though the pond has dried up. This is the first time I,ve ever seen it dry which is a shame as it attracted plenty wildfowl at close quarters making it ideal for photos.

     The water held 8 Tufted duck but no sign of MCs recent Scaup, whilst the highlight was 5 Shoveler and a single Pintail along with a Little Grebe and a drake Goosander.

   Otherwise it was down to the usual Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Cormorant and Heron. I had hoped to walk on to the Brambling trees but the road was closed and fenced off for repairs.

Looking like sunshine and showers tomorrow on a moderate westerly.

BS

    

    

Back to Duckland, Ogden.

 

                                    Unusual sighting, Jay.

                                        Usual Teals

                                    1 of 2 Wigeon

                                    1 of 2 Goosander

A beautiful bright sunny morning with clear blue skies and sunshine on a light SW>1 at 10 degrees. By 0930 hrs cloud was taking over from the west and rain by 1000 hrs.

     Another busy morning at Ogden with around the same number Teal as yesterday along with the 6 Tufted duck and a high count of Mallard, but in addition today, a second female Goosander had arrived as well as 2 Wigeon.

    Around 50 small gulls were on the water as well as 15 Canada geese, whilst a Heron was on the banking along with a Pied Wagtail.

    The car park trees held around 12 Long Tailed Tits whilst a Jay was in the west bank trees, a not so common bird around this area now.

   The Chaffinch flock, and hopes of a better shot of Brambling was disappointing, with just around 20 Chaffinch, which was well down on yesterdays count, and no Brambling. Next target wildfowl at Ogden being Goldeneye and Shoveler. 

    A grey wet day for tomorrow with showers and a moderate NW increasing as the day goes on, starting at 6 degrees.

BS

    

   

Ogden, Plenty wildfowl and a special treat, Brambling.

 

                                    Cloudy short sunrise over Queensbury.

                                    6 Grey Partridge, Ned Hill

                                    Teal up to 21

                                    23 Canada Geese present

                                    6 Tufted

                                    Tufted

                                    Teal

                                1 of 3 Brambling. Leaves took the focus.

Another murky wet morning at Ogden with more fog on the tops and low cloud over the reservoir. A moderate SW>3 at 10 degrees and constant light drizzle until 0930 hrs when the fog rolled in and the heavens opened with heavy rain.

   The Teal count had risen to 21, which is still below my record there of 34, whilst 6 Tufted were present as well as the usual Mallards and the female Goosander. Unusual to have 23 Canadas on the water feeding on the weeds whilst 2 Cormorant were busy diving.

    After being sure I'd missed no different wildfowl I walked around the water to the west back to check for Siskin and Redpoll in the Alders, but no luck there, so on to check the Chaffinch flock which is now at around 40 birds but very mobile between the leaf covered waterside trees and dropping down into the dense weeds on the shore.

    Although I was checking through for Brambling, it still came as a surprise to pick up at least 3 but very hard to keep tabs on. I shot off several photos but only the above two where you can actually see the plumage and bright orange wing bar although the leaves picked up the focus instead of the bird.

    With 30 minutes to spare I planned on staying put, in hopes of a half decent pic, but at that point the fog rolled in bringing heavy rain so up stumps and home. Half a dozen Grey Partridge were in a Ned Hill field.

    Looking better for morning with cloudy sunshine on a light sou'westerly at 8 degrees.

BS