An icy hazardous drive to Fly Flatts first light but beautiful to get up there again after 8 Sundays of waiting due to fog. A cold E>4 came across the water but did,nt cause a problem but by 0930 hrs fog was rolling over the moor and by the time I,d drove on and put seed at the second site and checked for SEO it was shutdown with dense fog.
The water itself held 32 Mallard , 1 female Tufted and a female Goldeneye across under the far banking but the latter soon flew towards Cold Edge meaning it was probably DJSs bird from yesterday.
Walking back up the track a small passerine was flitting about from the track to the thistles followed by a second bird.
Imaging my delight when I raised the bins and got a pair of Stonechat, especially after my last nights blog.
They were very flittery and kept their distance but I managed a few record shots.
On the way back I checked Ingham Lane Alders which were heaving with birds but no Redpolls, just Gt and Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Greenfinch as well as House Sparrows and Dunnocks.
Raggalds flood was now fogged off.
Mixenden late afternoon.
A search of Soil Hill had to be aborted so it was down to Mixenden which was just below the cloud base but dull and miserable with light drizzle.
Around 60 small gulls were on the east banking, 80% being Black Headed along with a few Jackdaws. I started to make my way on to check them out but a dog walker bet me to it making them rise up high and away >E.
Nothing else on the water or in the sky.
Another check of Ingham Lane Alders on the way back found it deserted in the manky conditions whilst Raggalds Flood was once again fogged off but the flock of Lapwing were flying low over the football pitch with a count of around 80.
BS