With the weather conditions as they were and 8 Goosander on Ogden this morning I thought some sky watching was in order with a weather window open from the continent it was even possible for an early Osprey.
My intentions were to head for Fly Flatts but seeing the dark drizzle clouds already knocking on the door there I diverted to Ringby where I would still get a good view to the west.
1500 hrs and the sun now clouded over and a W>5 on top of Ringby I estimated that the approaching drizzle would reach me within an hour which turned out about right.
A quick check around the area for Bunts and Larks just produced 12 Meadow Pipits and 2 singing skylarks so it was settle down for some serious sky watching.
The first 15 minutes produced 37 Herring gulls >SW plus the usual resident gulls and corvids until 2 LBB gulls came over with a piercing alarm call which got me looking for a raptor which soon appeared in the form of a Buzzard with a very raggy right wing from either moult or damage.
As the tussle went on a second Buzzard appeared and further to the north towards Queensbury a scan found another 5 in the air together circling over the Catherine Slack area.
A quick call to DJS hoping he was at home where he would have seen them, and then a grapevine text out. As I was talking to Dave 3 Buzzards came overhead mobbed by gulls and corvids where even a Raven joined in briefly before heading across the valley so unfortunately I had to cut Dave off to get the camera going. Sorry Dave .
The on trial Nikon P900 got thrown to one side and Big Bertha dived into action , this was no place for a learner, as by now everything was in the air with around 100 corvids 12 LBB and 20ish Common gulls, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Kestrels , 1 Raven and 7 Buzzard.
Once everything settled down the Buzzards re assembled well to the north in a group of 4 and 3 soaring very high and off >N between Queensbury church and Mountain which probably took them over my house. This flight path would take them into the Aire Valley and up over the Dales.
What an amazing afternoons movement.
BS