With little time late afternoon before early dark I took the 300mm lens round my neck plus 2x convertor in my pocket and the scope up to Ringby Top with some sky watching in mind plus a low expectancy hope of a Snow Bunting up there.
The sky was bright with full sun which did,nt help and the cold N>4-5 still blew . A search for Snow Bunt and Wheatear just produced 23 Pied Wagtails in the usual field and 2 Grey Wagtails in the manured field opposite the quarry.
With that out of the way I set up the scope scanning to the west where all the action was. It was a good decision to take the scope instead of Big Bertha as most of the birds were well to the west of my position along the distant ridge.
Gulls were the main movers with around 20 Herring , 2 Great Black Backed and many LBBs along with small gulls.
Scanning towards Stoodley Pike 2 Whooper Swans followed the ridge up and soon disappeared out of sight >W whilst 4 Buzzard in close proximity tailed each other >S.
The usual gulls and corvids were present but otherwise that was it. By 1600 hrs the sun was going down and by 1700 hrs it was dark, YUK.
BS.
WEST YORKSHIRE BIRDING. BRIAN SUMNER. I am based at Queensbury and bird a patch within a 10 mile range of home incorporating 16 stretches of water, several plantations, a belt of woodland, stretches of river and canal and good areas of moorland. I specialize in upland birds, reservoir and sky watching. My local patch is Fly Flatts reservoir. Any reports can be sent by text or call to 07771 705024 or see profile for e mail address. All images on this blog are copyright.(2024).