Mixenden Reservoir

           Great Northern Diver still hanging on in there.

                   Snorkeling.  

                                     

                           A calm Mixenden Res.

                                       Grey Wagtail

              Large female type Sparrowhawk over

                     Silhouetted at last light .

A late afternoon check of Mixenden reservoir 1500 - 1600 hrs found it pleasingly calm with a clear frosty sky.
The Gt Nth Diver took some finding tonight and I almost put the message out to say it had gone when it appeared up near the inlet staging but very mobile, possibly due to the time of day or it,s ready to move on.
A single m Goldeneye was present and 1 elusive Little Grebe.
Several Goldcrests were on the edge of the water on the west shoreline along with Long Tailed Tits whilst a Grey Wagtail landed near the staging.
Good to bump into DJS, especially when he turned up a Nuthatch in the long hedge which was soon joined by a second bird. The hedge also held several tits, Chaffinch and Blackbirds.
The local Sparrowhawk flew over disappearing over the wood after spooking all the gulls and a single Greylag went over at last light.
BS

A wintery scene at Ogden

             Good to see Goldeneye staying but very mobile

                                      First light on calm water

                                   Take off

                                              Moving to the other end

                         1 m of 8 Bullfinch

                  Cheating, an easy target

            Winter wonderland., Passerine Alley

A calm bright morning at Ogden and relatively quiet from the public but getting busy as I left with ski stick walkers.
The water was alive with small gulls but a good sift through found no white wings.
2 m and 1 f Goldeneye were present along with 1 pr Goosander and 2 Little Grebe, otherwise it was the usual Mallards and Canadas.
Several tit flocks were around the fringes as well as 8 Bullfinch and around 9 Goldcrest
Ogden
2m 1 f Goldeneye
2 Little Grebe
1pr Goosander
1 Cormorant
13 Canadas
5m 3f Bullfinch
Sev Gt, Blue, Coal and Long Tailed Tits
c9 Goldcrest
7 Chaffinch
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Herring gull >W
usual small gulls and Mallards
Dipped on Kingfisher and Dipper

Raggalds Flood, frozen and deserted

Trailer Park fields, deserted.
BS

Mixenden Reservoir revisited.

            The Great Northern Diver nearly 2 weeks on

       Might even get it on the 2015 list.

    Results of laying belly down in the snow
      for 30 mins despite funny looks.

         1 Pair of Goosanders trying to settle

           Canada geese checking it out

   The ring of water on the right is where the Diver went down
coming up between the Goosanders flushing them.

             Distant male Goosander.

A 1430 hrs trip to Mixenden after deciding Ogden would be packed with people that only walk twice a year, Christmas and New Year.
At last I,ve seen Mixenden without drizzle though the sun was behind clouds but the snow provided the lighting.
The Gt Nth Diver was busy fishing throughout bringing fish to the surface regular. With a lot of dashing around the banking and watching the pattern it was moving around the water in I got to the best spot and lay in wait, literally.
Got a few funny looks as I lay in the snow down the edge of the banking but it paid off getting the bird a bit nearer than on full zoom and in decent light thanks to the snow.

A pair of Goosanders flew in but each time they settled the Diver headed towards them then chased them till they flew, this happening several times and once to a Little Grebe. Its obviously got territorial over the area now.
Also present was :-

1pr Goosander
1f Goldeneye
3 Little Grebe
1f Tufted
5 Canada Geese
Several small gulls but no white wings.

On the way back called at Shelf Moor after a good Snipe report from NK but not a bird of any description in any of the fields, probably settled to roost ready for the cold night ahead.
BS

Eck , where did this lot come from, Queensbury snow

                               Blizzard conditions, Foxhill

     Took about 30 minutes for this lot to come

   Good job they got the gritters away before
         this bad weather came.None out tonight

 

Back to work in the morning for half a day and no excuse for not getting there seeing as I walk but unlikely any customers will turn up if this continues. Eck, a grit wagon just went down the road, must be getting near election time.
Bet our house holds the record for ending Christmas, Christmas tree,s down and packed away with all the trimmings like it never happened. We tend to do that every year get rid and move on.

Bit of luck this weather will shuffle wildfowl about a bit.
BS

Boxing Day bash, part 2. Mixenden

           2 Female Goldeneye

    GND still giving me the run around

 Raggalds Flood, amazing how they all face the same way exactly.

An afternoon dash to Mixenden knowing full well that the Shelduck would have gone by now, very short stayers in past experience but worth a try.
As usual I arrived to grey cloud and drizzle but only lightly and calm.
No Shelduck but 2 female Goldeneye still present but left >W shortly after I arrived.
The Gt Nth Diver was doing its dodge the camera bit even though at one point I was laid on the soggy wet banking and each time it dived I got a bit closer but it was always one move ahead of me obviously hearing me moving along the banking the same as fish do picking up the vibrations.
I think one couple with a dog thought I,d been washed up or blind drunk!

Raggalds Flood just held 59 Lapwing with the water receding fast now.
BS

Boxing Day Bash, Ogden

                                Plenty Black Headed gulls

  Best I could do in the mist and drizzle
3m Goldeneye sticking to the middle of the res.

                 Continuous flow of Herring Gulls

  The gang, back by popular request.

               Buddy, Oliver ( Ollie )   Rooney.

The weather must have thought it was Sunday when it saw me going out so it sent me the usual grey dark mist and drizzle.  Thought it must be going to come mild when the grit wagons were out last night, they don,t grit in winter weather.

Ogden proved acceptable in the conditions with firstly a fly over Gt Spotted Woodpecker followed shortly after by a Green Woodpecker, 2 rare birds for Ogden lately. Herring gulls were going over >W all the time I was there along with a few LBBs.
The water held 3 Cormorant and the welcome visit of 3 drake Goldeneye with all kept together in the centre of the water making hard work for pics in the mist.
Otherwise it was just small gulls and Mallards with the Kingfisher refusing to show.

Raggalds Flood held 52 Lapwing.
BS