A glorious day with blue skies and sunshine plus early parole so at 1430 hrs I headed for Fly Flatts after a long absence . Unfortunately my excitement was short lived as when driving past Soil Hill I could see a fog bank over the Withens. Thinking, or rather hoping , that it was a passing low cloud I continued on only to arrive at Fly Flatts in dense fog. To add insult to injury the track down to the reservoir is still covered with thick snow and iced over looking like it will be impassable until about June.
Not to be disheartened I dropped down to Cold Edge Dams where the mist was already creeping down the valley but still workable. A bit of a shock as I climbed the bank to Leadbeater Dam to find it 90 % frozen with just a channel at the western end holding a few Mallards.
Haigh Cote Dam was 40 % frozen but void of birds whilst Spring Mill Dam and Spring Dam were 100 % frozen. With no geese in the fields and the fog getting thicker it was tackle up, load up the dogs and head for home . A 14 mile round trip for 14 Mallard, excellent!
Annoyingly as I drove back through Mixenden the sun was still showing and even Queensbury was clear of fog. I hate December, Bah Humbug.
BS