1400 hrs and with Fly Flatts in the fog and Ogden under siege from the Boxing Day walkers, strange how these people only walk once a year,,? ) it was down the hill to check Mixenden reservoir which made a pleasing hour spent there. The snow had almost gone and the wind slight SW>4 and 80 % cloud cover.
On arrival there were around 50 small gulls on the water along with 2 LBBs, 75% of these being Black Headeds and the rest Commons. Two Cormorants were fishing well and a pair of Goosander were cruising around the centre of the reservoir.
A walk along the west bank in ankle deep mud flushed a female Goldeneye from under the banking which flew out to the middle of the water. When I got to the north end a drake Goldeneye was near the NE corner before also moving off into the centre.
The Goldeneye were very fidgety flying circuits around the water with their wings whistling loudly before settling back on the water.
By 1500 hrs the gulls had gone off >N to roost and the Cormorants off in their usual roost direction of >NE but I,ve yet to find out where the Cormorants go to.
As I got back to the SW corner the pair of Goldeneye were there along with another female all displaying and diving together before flying back into the centre of the water.
A pleasing hours birding.
BS