The road to Fly Flatts
One pocket of water
The frozen north
Solid ice
Siberia
Plenty Curlew established
Greylags settling on the moor
Good move of LBB gulls
Meadow Pipit in the snow
Red Grouse
Fly Flatts 0700-1015hrs, Slight E>3 Sunshine
Set off for Fly Flatts not really expecting to be able to get there but drove to the wind farm then on foot the rest of the way. Fly Flatts area and moor were suprisingly clear of snow , as DCB remarked it will all have been blown across into Lancashire, although the reservoir was 95 % froze over with just one small pocket of water in the SE corner where Canadas were congregating.
The moors were alive with calls from Canada and Greylag geese, Curlew and Golden Plover with several Meadow Pipits in the area.
A full scan round the walls and rocks etc from Withens Gap to Fly failed to turn up any Wheatear.
A good passage of LBB gulls was underway all >NE so at least things seem to be getting into the spring mode at last.
38 LBB gull.............................>NE
9 Red Grouse
2 Greylag
26 Canada..............Many more on moor
16 Curlew
11 Meadow Pipit
Sev Carrion Crow.
BS