A calm frosty morning with early fine snow and mist in the valleys.
A disappointing morning when I started at Cold Edge Dams only to find the top dam frozen and the lower dam 60% frozen hence only Mallard present but the bonus of a fly over Peregrine.
Hunter Hill was quiet but scoping Mixenden dam I found Goosander, Goldeneye, 2 Cormorants and around 200 small gulls.
Stopping at DJS s reported area at the Delvers the scene was amazing with around 150 finches, Chaffs, Greens and Gold with at least 8 Brambling. The field and wires were full of Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare and Redwing with at least 3 Mipits.
I called at Mixenden res on the way back just in time to see the Cormorants flushed by anglers which then flew off south, the birds that is, not the anglers.
Cold Edge Dams
18 Mallard
4 Red Grouse
1 Peregrine >N
Hunter Hill
16 LBBs >NW
1 Little Owl
2 Meadow Pipit
Delvers
c150 Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch
c8 Brambling
3 Meadow Pipit
c40 Fieldfare
c25 Redwing
c18 Mistlethrush
Mixenden Res
4m Goosander 2f Goosander
1m Goldeneye
2 Cormorant
c200 Common and Bh gulls, mainly BH.
BS
