The first light sky this morning looked like a vis miggers dream but 30 minutes later the fog rolled in up here in the gods remaining until after midday. One bright moment was HC reporting a Snow Bunting and Fieldfares over his Oxenhope watch point.
After lunch a dog walk up Foxhill park proved interesting with the fog just starting to lift. As I got in the park I immediately heard Pinkies but could see nothing in the low cloud base. Out with the bridge camera ready but thinking Id no chance as I suspected them going west. Then it all went wrong.! I have Pippa on a long training lead as she likes to run after a ball. As I was still trying to pick up the geese I kicked the ball and off she sped but I had,nt unravelled all the lead so she ran out of rope which jerked my hands flying the camera up in the air and landing in the long wet grass. Of course you know what happened next, thats right, 44 Pinkies over my head just in the edge of the cloud base. I grabbed the camera, quickly wiped the water off the lens on my sleeve and just managed to get a couple of snaps.
Next off was a shopping trip to Brighouse with an amazing red ball sun burning through the fog eventually turning yellow.
Out with the camera again to get some shots of this unusual sight. This was on the main street in Brighouse so everyone started looking up to see what I was taking and when I looked around about 20 people had their phones out taking the red ball, funny how people dont notice things like this.
How embarrassing Lynda said!.
Late afternoon and up to Fly Flatts with clear skies and a strong SW>6
increasing to near gale force > 7 gusting >8 with very little bird life but fascinating to watch the water and the hardy windsurfers nearly breaking the sound barrier as they sped across the waves and no brakes either.
Several Mipits were along the west banking where I was hoping for a Snow Bunting or Shorelark, both of which I,ve had before here but many years ago.
Otherwise it was just 3 Kestrels, 4 Red Grouse and a single LBB gull over the water which I was,nt happy with as it just did,nt look right somehow with a bright white narrowish face and very dark bill. Probably just me expecting something better in the conditions but something I,ll be looking into.
If you,re still awake thanks for reading this long and odd blog to the end.
BS