Ogden , flying visit.

Very little time today so a quick check on the water , a Kingfisher check down by the sluice gate and a look on passerine alley all of which produced next to nothing.
The water held a good number of gulls with around 100 small gulls, 75 % being Black Headed plus 9 LBB gulls. Passerine alley was as yesterday, deserted, with just a couple of Chaffinch and 3 Jays.
Looks like this high pressure has taken a lot of the migrants away.
Another poor morning on the vis mig scene with just a few Woodpigeons >S. This is another year with very little vis mig over our area apart from 1 half good Mipit day and 1 Redwing day.
Fieldfares should still be to come although its getting late in the season now which leaves us with just Woodpigs and Starlings.
Most of the Pink Footed geese seem to have by passed us this time and are now in their wintering grounds but hopefully by next month we,ll start getting sightings as they follow their trans pennine route from coast to coast.

A sad day today with a member of my team missing when I had to take little Roo on his last visit to the vets late last night when he lost his fight with a brain tumour. He,ll be missed on my birding trips.

                             Rooney.   2004-2016. RIP.
BS

Ogden, what a transformation.

After yesterdays mega session at Ogden and several reports today of Whooper Swans on the move I thought it worth a return visit late afternoon to recheck the passerines and see if any Whoopers had dropped in on the water.
Nothing on the water other than the usual species and a double check of passerine alley found it completely void of birds.
The Willows and Alders that were heaving with migrants yesterday were strangely quiet with not even a sight of a Chaffinch after yesterdays 100 plus. The only birds found were 3 Wrens and 2 Robins with a couple of Blue Tits and Dunnocks around the feeders.
Back on the promenade sky watching, with the hope of Pinkies or Whoopers,  found quiet skies and the star attraction being a single male Goosander >N probably heading for the Oxenhope roost.
No sign of the Kingfisher by the sluice gates although I am getting people telling me daily now that they have seen the bird, also got pics from birder Jack Ibbetson with it perched near the pump house.

Vis Mig was poor this a.m. with very little over the village.

32 Woodpigeons.......................>S
7 Meadow Pipits......................>S
46 Redwing.............................>E
BS

The Magic of Ogden.

                  Alive with Goldcrests

                                       Everyone thoroughly checked

                                            Redpolls starting to show

            Numerous Blackbirds, possible continentals.

                      A good count of Brambling

                                Brambling in the back ground

                      Nearly 2 hours standing to get these pics.

 Believe it or not, my first Treecreeper since 2014.

With a free afternoon from 1300 - 1500 hrs it was off to Ogden to check out the situation.
As per norm, a bright morning at work then black clouds and light rain showers from lunch time but drier than my previous visits and sheltered from the W>4.
I decided on walking the perimeter of the water clockwise as it was a bit early for birds to collect in passerine alley so after a Kingfisher check in the sluice and a scan of the water, both producing nothing , I headed for the west bank Alders.
                                                                      Plenty Goldcrests along Firecrest alley but a meticulous check of each failed to show me an eye stripe so on to the Dipper Dyke which surprisingly produced me my first Dipper there for quite a while as it flew from the shale, under the bridge and across the water to the east side,
Further round at Parakeet pond several Chaffinch were in the foliage and dropping onto the banking in an unviewable area although I did pick out 1 Brambling. After watching them a while they started to fly across to the east bank just as I had suspected they would. Passerine Alley, here I come.
                                                     Walking on the track from the NE corner towards passerine alley birds were moving through the trees ahead of me and I could tell this was going to be the big one.
On entering passerine alley all hell let loose with birds in every tree at both sides of the track. A quick scan through as many as I could found, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Brambling, Siskin, Redpoll, Blackbirds
plus GT, Blue and Long Tailed Tits. Even my first Treecreeper since 2014, an absolute breath taking experience.
After finding the best vantage point for photos, although it was dark skies and drizzle, it was sit and get what shots I could with was difficult with the birds in mobile mode.
                                                        Other than getting rarities at Ogden, today has to go down as one of my best ever experiences there even though there was no Yellow Browed to be found but theres still time yet.

20+ Goldcrest
17 Brambling
3 Siskin
4 Redpoll
c 100 Chaffinch
c 40 Goldfinch
1 Treecreeper
19 Blackbirds
1 Dipper
+ usual sp.

A quiet mornings vis mig with very little moving. Several reports of Pink Footed Geese unfortunately by passed our area.

42 Woodpigeon....................>S
3 Meadow Pipits..................>S
19 Redwing........................>SE
BS

Ogden in the wind and rain

                                 Foam and white horses on the water

                             Passerine Alley on the right.

No repeat of yesterdays Thrush movement this morning with just a few Woodpigeons >S.
A small skein of geese were flying fast and low >E when I walked out into the car park to bring a car in but by the time I saw them they were just disappearing behind the houses heading to go low over the mill and away over Clayton.  A quick call to the Oxenhope lads to scope them crossing the valley got no reply so will have to let them go.
1500 hrs at Ogden found horrendous conditions with a near gale force W>5-6 and heavy rain showers brightening slightly as I was ready for coming home.
                                                         The conditions did,nt deter the Chaffinch flock working their way up the east shoreline through passerine alley but very mobile eventually flying across to the west shoreline with at least 7 Brambling with them whilst 2 Siskin flew over the info centre.
Otherwise , a double circuit of the water provided very little else other than the usual sp.
I check the sluice gate area each time I visit but still no Kingfisher sighting.
BS

In search of the Snow Bunts, Soil Hill

    Ideal vis mig sunrise on the way to work this a.m.

                       Large sun dog to the east 1730 hrs.

A strange day starting with a brilliant sunrise and winter thrushes piling over >S and >SE but just as I was thinking this is the day, the clouds rolled in and all signs of movement had stopped by 0900 hrs.
The first real signs of Woodpigeon movement was also apparent this morning but as with the thrushes, this was short lived.
The rest of the day until mid afternoon was a mix of sunshine and showers, the heaviest of showers being lunch time as I was up in Foxhill park with the dogs, nowt fresh there.
                                                  1530 hrs and off like a man on a mission to Soil Hill to do a thorough search of the summits with Snow Bunting in mind, especially after the report from Calderbirds of a single on the deck near Fly Flatts.
Walking up the track the Jack Snipe flushed about a yard in front of me giving me a cracking view of its brightly coloured patterned back but it was away so fast and low I did,nt even get time to lift the camera up. The bird dropped down at the northern end of the east summit.
A full zig zag search of both summits twice over just provided around 30 Meadow Pipits and strangely no wintering Skylarks as yet.
Once again I came across the Jack Snipe at the top of the east summit which rapidly disappeared over to the west summit not to be see again.
Nothing in the skies other than a few gulls and 2 small flocks of  bounce back Redwings > west and still no geese.
Around 150 Lapwing were down on the Shay along with c 50 Starling and 23 Mallard.

Queensbury vis mig a.m.

c 200 Redwing.........................>S  and >SE
c 40 Fieldfare...........................>S
38 Woodpigs...........................>S
BS

Soil Hill jackpot plus a bonus.

After a day of dense fog up here in the gods until early afternoon it was good to see clear skies again.
A trip out with the grand daughters to Harden garden centre to see the Christmas display, seeing it was too wet for the swing park, produced a Buzzard over the car park then dropping down into St Ives closely pursued by a Sparrowhawk.
1630 hrs and up to Soil Hill with Snow Bunting, Ring Ouzel and Jack Snipe in mind plus a sky watch for Pink Footed Geese and Fieldfare after a call from HC reporting some Fieldfare on the move.
                                                            First bird was a Jack Snipe flushed from the east summit near the Dunlin pond where it flew low for about 30 yards before dropping again and as I neared the position it flew again dropping down into the reeds at the top of the north slope where I left it in peace.
A check of the tree line produced nothing so on to Ring Ouzel clough where, as I was scrambling down the top part of the ravine to a good vantage point ,  what I expected to be Blackbird flew from the direction of the tree line and disappeared into the thick brambles right down at the bottom just giving me time to get it in the bins revealing a female Ring Ouzel. After 15 minutes watch the bird never re appeared but by now the light was fading so probably gone to roost.
                                                         On the plus side, as it flew across the edge of the field it flushed a Wheatear which headed over the bottom track into the large pile of stones.
No geese or Fieldfare but several small flocks of Redwing in various directions , obviously being bounce back birds.
Still a few patches of gravel and short grass on the east summit which may be enough to tempt a Snow Bunting or two down next month.
As predicted by HC watch the skies this coming week for the flood gates opening to let the Fieldfares through, its got to happen this week weather permitting.
BS.
                                                             

Well you can,t have it good every day, Ogden in the fog

Dense fog was the order of the day this morning followed by heavy rain in a cold S>4.
Visibility at Ogden was limited to half way across the water only clearing for about 3 minutes and just enough time for a scan to make sure nothing had dropped in.
Passerine alley just held the usual  in small numbers all skulking low down in the bushes. Back home for 0930 hrs in time to get commissioned into some housework.

1pr Bullfinch
1 Jay
4 Goldcrest
8 Chaffinch
1 Brambling
+ usual sp.
BS

Third time lucky, Fly Flatts Black Redstart.

                   Poor pics at a distance in milky light

Fly Flatts 1500- 1645 hrs
This has got to be the most elusive bird I have ever gone after. DJS has always been good at setting me a challenge but this one wins the prize.
Half way to Fly Flatts with target bird Black Redstart when a text from DJS saying he was already there and had sighted the bird.
When I arrived Dave had scoped the bird about half a mile across the moor on a broken wall, don,t ask me how he saw it because I,m still working that one out.
Anyway, off we trekked over the boggy moor and 3 walls later we came across the Wheatears exactly where Dave had explained.
After a lot of scanning the Black Red appeared on the wall top in amongst the 3 Wheatears and half a dozen Meadow Pipits.
One of the Wheatears stood out as a Greenland being much brighter orange coloured and a larger long legged bird.
                                      Even then it was very elusive flitting from the wall onto the moor with the group slowly working their way back away from Slade farm towards the farm opposite the wind farm car park.
The bird kept its distance and in the milky light from the sun photos were difficult, hopefully DJS will have some better than mine.
The 3 Wheatears, Black Red and a dozen Mipits ended up on the wall opposite the wind farm car park working their way along as far as the mast but with the sun directly behind them viewing was poor.
       A great bird for the area and yet another feather in the cap for eagle eyed Dave Sutcliffe.  Dave said it was down to luck finding the bird and re locating it 3 times to which I have to disagree, it was down to dedication, perseverance and patience. Thanks again Dave.

PS. If it was down to luck Dave you,d better fill the lottery in tonight.
BS

Triple Dip Day.

         As good as it got, Jay

Yet another day of sun and blue skies in the morning whilst I,m working then drizzle and low cloud by lunch time.
With a call from HC early morn reporting the Black Redstart still present at Oxenhope, decent weather a.m. and me with a free afternoon my plan was to go to Oxenhope to get the Black Red and a few photos then on to Fly Flatts and pick up a second Black Red getting me 2 in the day.
                                                         You,d think I,d have learnt not to make birding plans by now as by lunch time the black clouds were moving in and a hint of drizzle was in the air.
I arrived at Sentry Hill at 1315 hrs getting about 30 minutes of dryish weather but no sign of the bird.
After one and a half hour searching and scanning still no sign and by now the wind was blowing, the rain was coming down and the cloud lowering cutting down visibility.
Good to meet 2 B.O.G. members up there searching the area, one being Gordon from Skipton who I used to meet at Barden watch point every Sunday morning some 20 years ago.
                                                         Looking across, Fly Flatts was in the fog so I decided to drop down to Ogden to try save the day but as I neared Ogden the sky brightened and the fog seemed to be lifting off the hills so it was continue on to Fly Flatts. That was until a text from DJS saying
conditions poor and no bird so after a quick phone conversation with him it was a  turn about and back to Ogden.
Amazingly , as I arrived at Ogden so did the rain so it was a quick check of the water and passerine alley them home with a third dip under my belt.
Ironically as I got home a text from DJS saying he had re located the Fly Flatts Black Redstart, oh well, thats birding.
Ogden
3 Jay
13 Chaffinch
18 Goldfinch
+ usual sp.
BS

Black Redstart Hunt. Fly Flatts

A call this morning from HC reporting a Black Redstart at their Oxenhope watch point, then a call from DJS reporting a Black Redstart at Fly Flatts I decided to give Ogden a miss and try to find one of the two.
HCs bird had disappeared into the fog, not to be re located so it sounded like DJSs bird was the best bet but after one and a half hours staring through the bins in frequent torrential showers I just achieved around a 5 second view of a Wheatear and no Black Red.
Luckily I could view most of the time from the shelter of the car apart from when I walked down the moorland track to check down into the area hidden from the road.
The Wheatear appeared very briefly on the nearest pile of stones which gave me some hope but flitted back down never to be seen again.
Nice to meet DJS up there and well spotted to him for picking it up in a none too easy location.
At least it was,nt a wasted trip getting me a nice very late Wheatear. Otherwise it was just down to Red Grouse, Meadow Pipits and Carrion Crows.
BS

Ogden in the news again, Widgeon

              Bramblings still present with the Chaffinches

       5f 1m Wigeon out in the centre of the water

              Single adult Herring gull

A bright sunny morning with blue skies plus a call from firstly DJS and then NK reporting Wigeon on Ogden and me with a free afternoon my plan was once again Ogden but with a hope of some better Brambling photos as well as the Wigeon.
This plan was soon scuppered when, come lunch time, along came the dark skies followed by heavy showers throughout the afternoon, in fact a re run of yesterday with terrible light and another good soaking.
On arrival at 1315 hrs I bumped into NK so together we went on a Brambling hunt soon coming across the Chaffinch flock and picking out a couple of Brambling although the flock was very flighty moving up and down the length of the east bank.
After Nigel left I stuck out the rain another hour in passerine alley counting 5 individual Brambling along with a pair of Bullfinch, around 40 Chaffinch and 3 Goldcrest.
Back on the water 5 female and 1 male Wigeon refused to move from the centre making decent photos impossible whilst a single adult Herring gull was nearer inshore .
Walking back to the car park around 30 Redwing flew over the info centre disappearing over the plantation.
A pleasing afternoon apart from the soaking and having to bath a very muddy Ollie who went along with me.
BS

Ogden. A reet good soaking but the rewards were plenty.

                                          juv f Goosander

            Worst ever Brambling photos. Way too dark and wet.

                       Brambling in torrential rain

Queensbury was shrouded in thick fog throughout the day with continuous rain but with dark skies, low cloud and a mix of rain and drizzle migrants were sure to be busy feeding which a late afternoon trip to Ogden proved to be right.
Passerine Alley was alive with very mobile birds flitting from one end of the area to the other, sometimes in the Willows, sometimes on the shore and sometimes moving across the track into the high Alders.
The main spectacle was a flock of at least 17 Brambling in with around 40 Chaffinch but very busy feeding and flighty.
Out of about 70 photos I got the few poor samples above with very dark skies and rain causing a very slow shutter speed to try get in the light, hence blurred shots.
Every time the rain stopped the fog crept in then another heavy shower moved it on but at least I had Ogden to myself.
The water held 1 Little Grebe over in the far NW corner whilst a juv  female Goosander , going by the face markings, was busy snorkelling.
Apart from a reet soaking and lack of photos an amazing hour in passerine alley.

c 17 Brambling
c 40 Chaffinch
1pr Bullfinch
1 Siskin
1f Blackcap
7 Goldcrest
1 Little Grebe
1f Goosander
1 Jay
+ usual sp.
BS