horizontal lashing rain in the lens.
A text from DJS early morning, whilst most people were still in bed and I was at work, reporting 1 or possibly 2 Kittiwakes at Fly Flatts in prime weather conditions for this species.
With an afternoon free apart from Ollie in tow my idea was to head to Leeshaw to check the water there for Kittiwakes and then do Fly Flatts on the way back to see if Daves bird was still present but as I set off I could see the weather closing in over the wind farm so a quick change of plan to do Fly Flatts first.
As I pulled up on the top road the wind had increased to near gale force W>6-7 with rain just starting so I knew I had nt much time. A scan of the water seemed an impossible task with large waves and white horses breaking but after a few minutes a solitary gull was spotted, its brilliant white head bobbing above the waves but way out in the centre of the water.
Out with the scope using the car as cover and there it was, an adult Kittiwake.
Photos were a near impossibility but with the camera resting on the scope I shot away using firstly Big Bertha then I thought its time to put the new Nikon super zoom to the test.I found it very difficult to find the bird with the Nikon, even harder to hold it in position and when I got home there was,nt one showable picture from the Nikon out of 32 taken . All the above shots , which are record only and way out of range, are from the SLR.
By now the rain was lashing and blowing straight at me so it was camera away and drop down to Leeshaw to check for more Kittiwakes. The wind there was slightly less but the rain was just as heavy but at least Ollie finally got his walk as I checked the reservoir and fields. The water was void of birds but one field had around 80 Canadas and 40 Greylags in which I took photos of and checked through later as MC checked there about an hour later to find a Barnacle in with them, possibly the Cold Edge bird but there was nothing on my pics so it was either hiding in the grass or came in later.
I returned home via Fly Flatts again and the Kit was still present at 1515 hrs but with the weather now horrendous I called it a day and left.
Well done yet again to top man Dave Sutcliffe for getting out there early doors and finding us yet another superb species for the area.
With the weather set to continue over the weekend it sounds like reservoir watch time.
A report from DS today of c30 Fieldfare and around 50 Starling in fields off Taylor Lane , Bradshaw.
BS