The wind and rain continued to increase this afternoon with some of the heaviest rain I,ve seen in a long time and the wind, even down in Halifax reaching storm force 10 possible gusting near severe storm force 11, thats just 1 off hurricane . Luckily this passed over and the wind decreased slightly but still some torrential rain showers. There was some panic in Dunhelm Mills when they thought the roof was going to lift off, at last, a bit of excitement in the shop.
1430 hrs and back home, on with the still wet birding gear and off to complete this mornings mission.
Mixenden was the first stop and what looked to be brighter skies rapidly changed to heavy horizontal rain with large waves and white horses rolling across the water.
Around 50 small gulls were out in the middle but that was it with nothing on the wildfowl scene.
Back up the hill to the Raggalds Flood which looked like the North sea but held nothing so onwards and upwards to Roper Lane.
Plenty gulls were spread around several fields but no sign of this mornings Lapwing flock.
I,d noticed plenty gulls on the Pit Lane football ground so thought that worth a try which paid off.
A flock of 83 Lapwing were present along with c100 small gulls and c150 Starling, the Lapwings being their usual mobile selves.
A scan through found no Golden Plover.
So at the end of the day,after a full tour round the local reservoirs, all the bird activity was just 5 minutes away from home but if the reservoirs don,t get checked we don,t get the birds.
Well done to DJS for getting out this afternoon following me at Mixenden.
The Swivel Chair Saga, a true story!
We came out of Dunhelm Mills in blasting wind and rain and drove on the one way road towards Gibbet Street when suddenly a swivel chair came hurtling out of a side road on our right doing about 30 mph and heading straight towards side swiping us. I tried to accelerate to get past so luckily it missed stuffing the door in but hit us with a bang on the back rear wheel arch with an almighty thud.
Lynda never saw it coming and when she asked me what had hit us I replied, a swivel chair, which made her give me a strange look.
I got out expecting major damage but luckily it was,nt as bad as it sounded and something I can sort myself.
I don,t think the insurance would have been amused if I said I had been hit by an unmanned, uninsured swivel chair in the middle of Halifax.
BS