Full very dark cloud this morning at Ogden with fog on the tops. The early sunrise lasted 10 minutes before being snubbed out with cloud on a light W>3 and icy cold at 4 degrees. By 0930 hrs the wind was increasing bringing rain from the west.
As expected, or hoped, the birds took advantage of a weather window between the two storms with plenty sky movement. Woodpigeons were heading >SW in small groups whilst Mistle Thrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings headed >W along with several finch sp. but too high in the dark clouds to identify bart scope.
A skein of Pink Footed Geese headed >SE but unsure of the count other than 60 plus as they quickly disappeared over the trees and whilst they were in sight they were too close to get a full photo using my 400mm fixed lens. DJS may come up with a number as he picked them up over Ringby Top after they left my area.
The water held 4 Teal, 2 Wigeon and 2 Cormorant whilst the east bank trees produced a pair of Bullfinch, several Blackbirds and a Kingfisher flying low below the Willows.
Looking across to the west bank from the east bank there were 5 Herring gull, 8 LBB and around 30 small gulls whilst the star of the show was a Yellow Legged Herring gull which stood out from the crowd, even at that distance.
The end of British summertime today so a bit lighter or early morning birding for a while but bad news for any evening birders. Don't forget to put your clocks back, a good way to remember which way the clocks go is the old saying, ' Spring forward, Fall back.'
Looking like a wet day tomorrow, mainly in the morning at 7 degrees. Some controversy about the wind with the two forecasts I use, one saying W> near gale 7 at 33 m.p.h. and the other saying
W> strong gale force 9 at 53 m.p.h. though the second forecast gave strong gale from midday today and so far up here on the tops at Queensbury its nobbut been a stiff breeze, or a good drying day as my mother used to say.
BS