Leeshaw Reservoir/ Dog and Gun gull field.

DOG AND GUN FIELD.  Mix of Common, BH, LBB and Herring
 

                                    Nothing of note among them.

Leeshaw early a.m. was bright with 60% cloud and some sun on a SW>4 at 6 degrees. By 0930 hrs

the sky was darkening and rainbows appearing in the distance. As I was tackling up at 1000 hrs the heavens opened with torrential rain and sleet which continued in showers throughout the day.

      Plenty gulls present with around 300 small gulls, 12 Herring and 9 LBB but over on the north shore so all had to be checked by scope and the 200mm lens proving useless for that range, even in good light, whereas I could just get away with the 300mm at that distance before I had to scrap it.

      A single Teal was near the far bank along with a few Mallard and 38 Greylag whilst around 50 Fieldfare were moving around the distant Hawthorn bushes.

    On the return journey the Dog and Gun gull field held a few LBB, Herrings and small gulls but nothing outstanding among them.

    Looking a bit brighter for tomorrow on a light WNW but down to 3 degrees.

BS

     

Another dip out day.

 With heavy rain on a strong SW>5 this morning and poor visibility, the rain and drizzle continuing throughout the day, it was another day of wet dog walks around Foxhill . Withdrawal symptoms are creeping in and the enthusiasm is beginning to fade after another very poor month, marred by bad weather conditions and lack of birds throughout the area. 

      The only highlight of the dog walks today were a group of 8 Siskin over Foxhill heading low and south midday. Otherwise just the usual Common gulls enjoying the boggy ground in the park.

     Looking a little better for morning, then chance of more light rain from midday, but still the moderate sou'westerly blowing.

BS

Birding !!! Forget it.

 

                                    Queensbury this morning

A full mashing of weather this morning with deep overnight snow, thick fog and then the snow turning to rain mid morning with heavy to torrential rain throughout the day on a moderate SW>4 at 7 degrees.

By late afternoon the snow was starting to clear but leaving deep slop everywhere.

   The dogs had to make do with the garden that I'd cleared today with the snow too deep for them to walk in but finally managed one short walk late afternoon but a real sloppy mess with Foxhill Park flooded

     My feeders were packed today with at least 30 House Sparrows at one point. Queensbury has always been a stronghold for House Sparrows which I've searched through for over 50 years in hope of a Tree Sparrow but this has never happened.

  A continuation of rain for morning on a strong sou'westerly with a brighter afternoon. Hopefully the snow will have gone but everywhere will be a real wet mess.

BS

Ogden, little doing and a lens disaster.

 Another bright and sunny morning at Ogden after a thin covering of overnight snow and icy temperatures.

    A light NW>2 at minus 1 degree with perfect visibility.

Birding at the moment is enjoying a good dog walk and, in the unlikely event of coming across a decent bird, that is an added bonus.

      Nothing down the west bank trees, a few Long Tailed Tits at the north end by Skircoat Clough, and a pair of Bullfinch by Passerine Alley plus the usual common species.

    Only around 30 Black Headed gull along with 8 Common and a single adult LBB and that was as good as it got . 

           The first time I got a chance of using the camera this morning, only to take the usual gull shots, I found that the Canon 300mm lens, which I use daily, refused to focus on auto or manual but putting it down to the low temperature I dismissed it with a hope that nothing half rare turned up where a photo was necessary. 

     On inspection of the lens at home I found the internal printed circuit board cracked and the wiring loom parted. This is a mega expensive repair so yet another big lens has bit the dust. I,m down now to my last lens with a Canon 70-200mm 1.28 L zoom which I will have to make do with. This means I've gone from 

600mm to 300mm and now 200mm. This is a decent lens but one of the first series with no image stabilizer and not enough mags to pull anything in at distance.

       Not looking good for morning with a strong to gale force southerly wind and heavy snow turning to rain later, and throughout the day. 

BS

Ever hopeful, Ogden.

 

                                Wintery scenes at Ogden

                                    Passerine Alley

                                    Lower count of gulls this morning.

                                    1 of 4 Herring gull

Another beautiful morning to be walking around Ogden with full sun and blue skies on a cold NW>2 at 1 degree.

   A livelier morning at Ogden in the trees but again all on the east side with the west bank Alders still void of Siskin and Redpoll which have not been present for over a week now.

     Best of the morning was a flock of 6 Bullfinch which flew from the Willows across into the plantation whilst 12 Chaffinch were on the banking weeds. Otherwise it was down to the usual Tits, Wrens and Dunnocks with an unusually high count of Robins and Blackbirds.

     Gulls were on a low with around 50 small, 4 Herring and a single LBB, most of which left the water >S without going onto the banking. The Kingfisher was down in the sluice gate.

        A bright sunny morning promised for tomorrow morning after some overnight snow on a cold WNW.

BS

Chipping away at Ogden.

 

                                    Sunrise in Queensbury

                                    Bright and clear, Ovenden moor

                                    Wintery Ogden

                                    Part frozen waterfall

                                Sev Blackbirds inc some black billed continentals.

                                    Mostly Black Headed present

                                Bath time for Canadas.

                                    Christmas card material.

                                    Common and Black Headed

                                    2 CY Herring

                                     East bank

An excellent morning to be out walking around Ogden with wall to wall sunshine and clear blue skies on an icy NNW> 3 at minus 2 degrees.

      Far less gulls this morning with around 50 small, 1 Herring and 1 LBB and nothing in the way of wildfowl other than 3 Canadas and the usual Mallards. The long staying female Goosander, which I wondered if it had a flight problem, has been missing the last few days, proving my non flying idea as wrong.

    Nothing doing around the waterside trees other than the 4 common Tit species, Robins, Dunnock, Wrens, Bullfinch and Blackbird, some of which were very black billed continentals. The Kingfisher was down in the sluice gate area along with a Dipper and Grey Wagtail.

     A part cloudy morn for tomorrow on a moderate westerly with a risk of snow late evening.

BS

Match abandoned, Snowed off.

 

                                    Snowy scene in Queensbury.

                                    Foxhill Park

                                    Parish church in background

                                    Black Dyke Mill chimney

                                    Carrion Crow seeking food.

As expected, it was a matter of waking up to a good covering of snow this morning which started around 0830 hrs yesterday evening and continued till about midnight. Luckily, by Queensbury standards we only got about a four inch covering but the roads were covered and very icy so thought it best to give it a miss. A bit of a thaw during the day with a bright and sunny afternoon.

      Luckily, with Lynda being so thoughtful and not wanting me getting bored with no birding, as soon as the forecast gave snow for Tuesday she tret me to some wallpaper to keep me happy.

A few Blackbirds in Foxhill Park taking the last few berries whilst a Kestrel hovered overhead.

      Looking bright and sunny for tomorrow and the rest of the week but down to minus 2 degrees on a light NW then another blathering of snow on Saturday.

BS

An icy Ogden

 

                                    Good count of Common gull

                                    Common outnumbering Black Headed

                                    Vocal Herring gull

                                    Herring

A pleasant morning at Ogden with dead calm and full cloud at an icy minus 2 degrees. Plenty fog down in the Aire valley bottom.

     Not as many gulls present this morning with around 50 small gulls, the majority being Commons, along with just 2 Herring and no LBBs. As I was walking through Passerine Alley the adult Med gull flew low over the water towards the duck corner but was lost from sight by the Willows.

     A thorough check through the gulls on the east bank and water failed to produce the Med gull so I can only presume that it must have continued on over the promenade towards Mixenden but good to see that its still in the area.

     The west bank alders once again remained empty with any activity taking place along the east bank waterside trees with several Long Tailed Tits, Chaffinch and Goldcrest, as well as a pair of Bullfinch.

     The Kingfisher is back at its usual winter venue, down in the sluice gate area.

A clear sunny morning tomorrow on a cold NNW at 1 degree depending on what happens with the overnight snow forecast. 

BS