Ideal weather conditions this morn at Ogden for waders with full cloud and heavy rain throughout
on a light NW>3 at 13 degrees.
With thoughts of the heavy overnight rain, and continuing this morning, the hard baked shore around the water would be soft and muddy making it ideal for waders, that were brought down overnight, to stay and feed.
Very few gulls present with around 40 LBB, 5 Herring, 8 Common and several Black Headed which all stuck mainly on the east shore. The Gt Crested Grebe was on the water along with 3 Cormorant and 4 Tufted duck. Lots of Swallows over the water but all sticking i the air and none landing on the railings as my last visit.
After a full circuit of the water I caught up with the long staying Common Sandpiper on the west bank and by this time the gulls were back on the east bank so a final check of them before I left. After I'd looked through the gulls I turned to walk back up to the car park when I heard a wader call that I wasn't familiar with. A quick turn around and back to the gulls where a scan through caught site of a tallish wader which my first thoughts were Redshank. After wiping the steam and rain from my bins I caught up with the bird further along the shore, Ruff, a first for me at Ogden.
A dry part sunny day tomorrow on a light NW with a starting temp of 9 degrees peaking at 13 degrees.
BS