An Ogden Water Non Event

A dry bright calm day that didn’t produce much. Plenty of Gullage on the ullage but I couldn’t pick up anything other than the usual suspects.

A Raven flew over and was seen later near Hunter Hill. 2/3 Blackbirds. About 9 Chaffinch and a Tit flock that held 4/5 Long Tails.

How very dare you mention Mixenden! 🤮

Combing Through The Ogden Gulls

Took some effort this morning but just as I was going to throw the towel in, my last scan caught the bird I was searching for 😁.

The Mediterranean Gull was in with the crowd on the spit over on the W shore. 

It did fly over to the E shore but was above Ducky Corner and too far away to obtain more photographs of.

Despite me having been to southern Europe thrice this year, the bird is actually an annual tick.

The only other bird worth a mention was a GSW calling twice.

Ogden Water

CRAP

I Fieldfared OK at Ogden

On arrival at Ogden a single Fieldfare flew N calling twice. A Nuthatch also got vocal. Not much else really a couple or three Chaffinch ditto Blackbird.

A single Cormorant seen and a good presence of mixed Gullage.

As I got approx 400 yards from the promenade towards Carrs Beck the skies almost turned dark grey as a big flock of Fieldfare took of from the trees heading N towards Ogden. A few minutes later some changed their minds and circled around. 3 Mistle Thrush also seen.

I thought I heard an Arial  Motorbike starting up at Mixenden Res but it was the Raven clearing it’s throat very loudly.

Queensbury Ogden Mixenden

A good day for the birds, I’m glad to say 😊.

For the past 3 days I’ve had 3 common species in the back yard gobbling up cotoneaster berries. This morning there was a Wren showing well; this was overshadowed by one of the two Blackbirds being a migrant Continental ssp 😁. This afternoon a Grey Wagtail was flitting around the Tesco parking area.

Ogden Water: I surprised a perched Sparrowhawk at close quarters. It shot into the bushes and caused the birds therein to shriek loudly.

c40 Chaffinch were on the W shoreline. A Nuthatch called. c24 Redwing in flight > N. A Jay and a Mistle Thrush present.

Mixenden Res: the long hedge was crippled with birds. Plenty of Redwings, a few Blackbirds and a smidging of Goldfinch. A very croaky staccato Mistle Thrush called loudly. A Raven flew over krokking.

Just the usual gull mix on the W side.

Horton Bank Country Park

After yet another boring walk via the usual route yesterday I ventured down the road apiece today after lunchtime.

It was very bright and sunny and despite this not overloaded with visitors.

1 each Grey Heron & f Goosander. Pr Mute Swan, 2 Coot, 4/5 Moorhen.

Numerous BHG present but no other gull species.

1 Blackbird ditto Robin  & a couple Blue Tit.

Photos may follow if I can be bothered 🙃.

Ogden Water To Mixenden

Water levels noticeably higher now at Ogden but not too much going on e.g I didn’t see any Cormorants. Plenty of mixed Gulls that moved to the E bank from the W bank when I got there. The culprit was a very loud squeaky ball that I found then threw to a Collie 🐕. Once it grabbed it that was the end of a quiet walk 😬.

I did get the Teal and a Wigeon as compensation plus a noisy Nuthatch.

Storm Boelo had a big effect on Mixenden Woods. I counted 7 fallen mature trees in the area I walk in so presumably there could have been more than twice that number. 

7 Goldfinch, 1 Mistle Thrush and a Cormorant on the reservoir plus the gulls.