Leeshaw Reservoir

 

                                    Leeshaw, early morn.

                                    Kestrel leaving its post

                                    Good count of Lapwing

                                    Plenty small gulls

                                    Cormorant with massive Trout

                                        Swallowed it in one

Dense fog on the tops not clearing until 1400 hrs. Leeshaw was clear with a touch of blue sky on a light W>3 at 4 degrees then mist coming in as I was tackling up at 1000hrs.

       As always at this site, plenty birds but nothing out of the ordinary, the best of the bunch being Stonechat, Teal, Barn Owl and Reed Bunting.

    A good count of Lapwing with two separate groups in the area totalling 80 birds, very mobile, moving around the fields. A flock of 33 Fieldfare were at the far end of the goose field along with a Little Owl and a brief sight of a Barn Owl.

   The water held around 200 Black Headed, 15 Common and 5 Herring gull along with a single Teal, 1 Goosander and the usual Mallard as well as 2 Cormorant, one of which swallowed a massive Trout in one gulp.

   A Stonechat and 2 Reed Bunting were working a distant wall but otherwise down to the usual species.

Another day of fog forecast for tomorrow on a light sou'westerly so looks like I'll be heading for the lowlands.

BS

Christmas Day. Foxhill Park.

 

                                Christmas morn sunrise.

                                    Soon turned to cloud and drizzle.

                                    Gulls in Foxhill Park.

A beautiful red ball sunrise but very short lived to leave full cloud and mist with drizzle continuing throughout the day. Just 3 dog walks today over Foxhill with a good morning count of 42 Common gull and 6 Black Headed plus the usual park species.

    With Christmas over its back to normal services tomorrow, weather permitting.

Looking half decent for morning with a light SW and part cloud at 7 degrees.

BS

Christmas Eve bash. Ever hopeful at Ogden.

 

                                    1 of 2 Nuthatch.

                                        Noisy Raven over.

A very wet drizzly morning at Ogden with early mist soon clearing on a light W>3 at a mild 9 degrees.

     A good supply of birds though all the expected species, the bird of the morning being a noisy Raven being mobbed by Crows over the info centre. The usual Tits on the feeders along with 2 Nuthatch whilst a Bullfinch and Goldfinch were in the area, the latter being unusual at this site.

    The Goosander was back on the water along with 32 Black Headed, 5 Common, 2 Herring and 1 LBB gull. The west bank Alders are suffering their quietest winter record with still no sign of Siskin or Redpoll, my last viewing there being February for both species then just 6 Siskin early November which must have been moving birds.

    A text from birder Richard this morning reporting 6 Shelduck on Ponden Reservoir.

      A cloudy day tomorrow with a light westerly and possible morning .

                      

                        HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS.   BRIAN AND LYNDA.

BS.

    

Bank Top Country Park. p.m.

 

                                    Queensbury, a cracking sunrise

                                        Here comes the sun

                                    Very short lived

                                    Several Black Headed gulls

                                    1 pr Mute Swan

                                    Herring gulls lined up.

                                    Just the one Lesser Black Backed

After a brilliant sunrise it all went downhill with the rest of the day being cloudy and damp on a light

W>3 at 0 degrees.

     The gas man cometh this a.m. for the annual fire/boiler service so it was mid afternoon, with shopping etc done, that I was free for a quick visit to Bank Top Country Park.

    Rather quiet on the water with the Cormorant and Goosanders missing along with a lower count of Coot, Moorhen and Mallard although some Mallard were arriving to roost.

    The 2 Mute Swan were on the water along with several Black Headed gulls whilst 18 Herring gulls, a single Lesser Black Backed and 2 Common were around the banking along with 1 Heron.

    No small passerines found in the trees other than Robin and Great Tits.

A milder morning tomorrow with the traditional Christmas Eve fog and full cloud with drizzle on a moderate westerly.

BS

    

Blizzard conditions, Queensbury.

 

                                    A snowy scene in Queensbury

                                    Foxhill Park

                                        Foxhill School

A real snowy, icy morning up here in the gods with a strong NW>6 at zero degrees. Heavy snow showers but not amounting to much but very icy roads. A vast improvement after midday with the winds starting to ease and plenty sunshine.

       No birding today other than 3 dog walks over Foxhill, the late morning one producing a skein of 75 Pink Footed Geese over very high >NW and to the north of me whilst a few Black Headed and Common gulls were in the park. 

   Very busy on my feeders today with several House Sparrows, Dunnock, Robin, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon and Starlings.

    Looking better for tomorrow with a lighter westerly and dry at 2 degrees.

BS

     

    

Bright and breezy Ogden. p.m. Winter solstice.

                                        Blue Tits enjoying the feeders
 

                                        Coal Tit

                                        Single Canada goose grazing.

A very wet morning on a strong SW>6 gusting 7 so settled for a breezy walk over Foxhill then hit Ogden early afternoon where the wind had turned NW>5 gusting 6 but bright with some sunshine and cloud to the west at a mild 8 degrees.

    The extremely rough water held very few small gulls and even the Mallards were sheltering, scattered around the edges, whilst a single Canada goose was grazing by the valve tower.

    A Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Dipper were down in the sluice gate whilst Great, Blue and Coal Tits were on the feeders with Dunnock and Robin cleaning up below the feeders. A Gt Spotted Woodpecker flew over as well as a distant Buzzard.

  Limited time and a bit risking under the trees to check the Alders so just stuck to the promenade area.

    Another very windy day for tomorrow with a near gale westerly with some rain and possibly a dabble of snow. Next week's looking good so far. At least the shortest day is behind us now so a steady move to longer daylight.

BS