Gale force winds throughout the night with a W>8 driving heavy lashing rain and sleet which soon cleared during the morning but remaining windy until early afternoon.
A dinner time dash to Raggalds Flood after a report of Wigeon there, see NKs blog, produced no wildfowl at all but a good count of 85 Lapwing and 67 Common gulls. The surrounding fields held several small gulls with around 50 on the football pitches.
12 Common gulls in Foxhill park midday but otherwise quiet skies.
A customer today who lives at Cold Edge Dams asked me to put the word out that a 4 month old American Rhea, dont know if thats spelt right but its 4 ft tall and looks like a small Ostrich, has escaped from its field near the dams and disappeared . If seen by any birder please ring me or text the grapevine so I can pass it on ta.
BS