on full zoom.
wind so as sharp as can be expected.
With the ISO limited to 400 and a UV filter it
still tries to pull too much light in.
With Lynda out for the afternoon and me on dog duty it was harness them up and off to Ogden with hopes of the raptor move continuing . On arrival at 1315 hrs it was drizzly on a W>5 but brightened mid visit with even some sunshine.
The water still held the Goosander flock as well as the 2 drake Tufted along with 8 Canada geese and the usual Mallards whilst gulls were down to 5 LBBs and a few Black Headeds. Nothing in the way of fly overs so with Chiffchaffs being reported at several sites in the valley I wandered on through passerine alley but, as expected, nothing doing as up here in the gods we are about 3 weeks behind the lowlands. In our garden the Crocus are only just showing through the soil whereas lower down the flowers are starting to die back. No appearance of the Nuthatches today and Ive yet to get a Song Thrush.
1415 hrs and back home to drop the dogs off then off to Fly Flatts with target birds, Whooper Swan, Osprey and Wheatear, none of which appeared although Ryburn , just over the hill, had 4 Whoopers, Hx grapevine.
The sky was bright but the wind was howling W>6 but a one hour watch provided enough to keep the interest up.
Herring gulls were moving >W low over the water and moor with a count of 47 whilst 2 Kestrels were in the air along with several Carrion Crow. A pair of Stonechat were near the quarry but mobile in the wind whilst 2 Oystercatchers were down by the waters edge.
A check from the top road full length of the reservoir failed to produce any Wheatear but 4 Curlew and several calling Golden Plover were present.
Just a few Meadow Pipits at Withins Gap and a check on Cold Edge and Mixenden for Whoopers proved fruitless.
BS