especially in the heavy drizzle
From first light this morning Fieldfares were piling over Foxhill very low, fast and >S until 0745 hrs when the rains came stopping any movement , or that I could see anyway.
By early afternoon the rain stopped and the sky cleared producing flocks of Fieldfare, some with Redwing in amongst, but this time >SW and the real migrating movers, very high and leisurely increasing and continuing until last light. Two flocks of 100+ came over as well as several 20 and 30 + with one last light flock on a broad front stretching as far as I could see in both directions over the garage. This group must have held as many as 300 birds.
By the time darkness fell I estimated seeing around 800 Fieldfare and 100 Redwing, good job we were quiet at work this afternoon.
Inspired by Bradshaw Johns report yesterday of water in the Raggalds Flood I thought it was worth a dinner time dash to check out the situation.
26 Mallard were present and a careful scan, looking through the drizzle, picked out a female Teal which was a real live wire, darting about the water and splashing under out of site.
15 Lapwing were on the shoreline.
Birders from further afield watching my blog will think, whats so good about a Teal, but believe me, if you bird this area a Teal on the Raggalds Flood is a mega.
Kept in contact with HC at Oxenhope today who was getting the same as me, I was probably getting the birds that had passed him. Thanks for reports Comp.
BS