After yet another day of fog it actually started to clear by 1415 hrs so off to Fly Flatts before it changed its mind.
On arrival fog was still over the water but soon lifted slightly giving horizontal vision but anything higher than the east and west ridge were still in the cloud although the heavy drizzle had ceased.
Nothing on the water or along the west bank other than a few noisy Red Grouse on the moor and a couple of Pheasants. Near the NW corner a Great Black Backed gull suddenly appeared out of the fog above me then turned and disappeared back into the cloud on seeing me. I dont know who was most shocked, the gull or me.
Another shock on the south bank with a rare sighting of a winter Merlin that came from the direction of Slade , flew over the track and stooped down into the boat compound before flying alongside the top road.
As I was leaving a single Short Eared Owl was working the Fill Belly Flat moor in the distance and barely visible in the fast fading light. It was interesting to see that it caught 3 voles in one area and each time it landed with them leaving them in a larder before hunting again nearby. It must go back to retrieve them when its finished hunting.
No Pinkies heard in the mist today but a report from PG of a skein west over Ripponden at
1240 hrs.
BS