A good start to the afternoon at 1315 hrs when Lynda and me were on our way to Halifax when 3 Whooper Swans flew high above the car at Crow Point flying in line with Ringby Top heading >N. As we arrived at town a text from Steve, a resident at Cold Edge Dams and reporter of the leg ringed Barnacle, informing me of a single Whooper in the Barnacle field at Cold Edge.
By 1500 hrs I was stood by the field snapping away at the Whooper which was in amongst the Canadas. A bit of a wait to get any photos as it was curled up asleep so just looked like a ball of fluff in the middle of the field. Eventually it kept lifting its head before finally getting up to graze.
The 2 Barnacle were on the mill dam with several more Canadas and Greylags. Otherwise it was down to 4 Curlew and a Redshank in the field.
Many thanks yet again to Steve for the call, its great to have a look out living on site.
Up the hill to Fly Flatts where the wind was now near to gale force with nothing on the water. Several Curlews, Lapwings and Golden Plovers were calling from the moor but keeping their heads down in the wind. A steady check along the top road for Wheatears failed to produce but at least once again I managed to drive the full length without going over the edge. Its not easy driving slowly on there watching for Wheatear instead of the road which has given me one or two scares.
A check of the usual fields along Cold Edge Road found plenty Curlew and Lapwing holding territory but no Goldies.
Another sudden change in the weather whilst I,m typing this with a heavy snow shower with thunder and lightening moving over sending poor Ollie under the desk shivering.
BS