Ogden Water

An interesting mid afternoon circuit of the reservoir favouring the west bank for starters in the shelter from the gusting wind. The water levels slightly up from our walk around there last week.

Around 25 B H Gulls were on a spit along with 2 Common Gulls when a 'white winged' gull dropped out of the sky landing alongside them. An adult Mediterranean Gull, always a pleasure to see. It stayed with the group for several minutes bathing and preening so we were afforded reasonably close views with not a sign of any black feathers on the wing tip, a black smudgy mask just above and behind the eye and blood red legs and bill. A classic winter adult. No camera !!! After a while it flew off towards another group of gulls on the east side but we failed to locate again.

Also present - 3 Lapwings, 3 Teal, 5 Tufted Duck and c60 Mallard along with 2 Herring Gulls and 2 L B -b Gulls. A limited number of passerines - 1 Goldcrest, 4 Blue Tits, 1 Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch and a small flock of Redwings dropped into the plantation.