An earlier start today arriving at Fly Flatts at 1400 hrs in a real face biting SE> 5 whipping the water up with white horses lashing over the banking. The temperature was 1 degree but colder in the wind chill with the puddles along the track freezing over. Visibility was good apart from hazy sunshine to the west with some big black clouds overhead.
Very quiet up there today but gave me chance to replenish all the seed at the feeding stations with a variety of different seed hoping to attract something in the cold weather.
The water held 61 Mallard and 5 Teal along with 2 Black Headed gulls whilst 4 Raven kept making sharp appearances over the Nab along with a Short Eared Owl but some distance away.
No moving gulls today and the only passerines were 5 Reed Bunting over in the boatyard whilst at last light 32 Fieldfare headed over the moor towards Castle Carr to roost.
What a poor month December has been bird wise so far with my only highlights being ,
1 Snow Bunting, 8 Shelduck, a few small skeins of Pinkies and a good move of Herring gulls. Hopefully the second half of the month will improve.
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.(2025).