1530 hours at Fly Flatts with just over half an hour of decent light left in an icy cold NW>4 and
70 % cloud cover with rain near the end of the watch.
Much livelier than yesterdays disaster with 17 Mallard and 4 Canada geese on the edge of the east shoreline whilst a few blogging or over wintering Meadow Pipits were present. A Kestrel was hovering low over the west banking and as I was ready to get a shot of it the bird steamed off at full speed over the moor joining in with 2 Raven mobbing a large raptor flying south very low and almost skimming the heather. The birds were in the full hazy beams of light from the sun and very difficult to see but going by odd markings that I managed to pick out on the raptor I should say it was a Buzzard.A female Teal shot out from under the west banking at the side of me whilst I was watching the raptor giving me seconds to fire a few shots at it as it dropped down to Dean Head reservoir.
Otherwise it was down to small gulls and Jackdaws heading to roost with no signs of this mornings Whoopers once again reported to me by HC with thanks.
Hope no Redwings get shot out of the sky with tonight's blitz of fireworks going on out there. I,m doing this blog with 2 nervy dogs under my desk, the third dog, the pup doesnt seem bothered. Weve got the Bee Gees playing to try cut out the noise but after a while that does your head in worse than the fireworks. Its sounds more like we,re living in Iraq rather than Queensbury, why do all fireworks have to bang so much, thats probably just an age thing, bring back the penny bangers and jumping jacks.
Roll on the piece of Fly Flatts in the morning.
BS