After heavy overnight rain the morning was clear and dry with 80% cloud and some sun on an icy cold NW>3 at 1 degree.
Too icy and windy for the tops as yet plus still on late starts with the lack of daylight so started the year off at Ogden. Gone are the days when I used to shoot around as many local sites as time allowed with an aim of getting at least 75 birds on New Years Day. I think it would take 2 years to get 75 species at Ogden.
Plenty birds to see but nothing other than the usual species with the west bank trees holding Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Tits etc but no Redpoll or Siskin showing. The usual Goosander was present on the water with a few Common and Black Headed gulls as well as 2 Herring gulls and the usual Mallards. Otherwise, down to the usual common species.
By knocking off time at 1000hrs the place was heaving with all the 'once a year walkers' donned in spats with walking poles and OS maps round their neck. The car park was rapidly getting gridlocked.
On the way home, the Perseverance road feeders were busy with Goldfinch and Greenfinch. This has got to be one of the last strongholds for Greenfinch in the area.
Tomorrow is looking bright and clear with a moderate SW at a fresh minus 4 degrees.
BS