1500 hrs and arrived at Fly Flatts in a hail storm which quickly blew over in the near gale W>7 giving me chance to walk the west bank to see if anything had dropped in.
Gulls were the bird of the watch with a count of 28 Herrings and 41 Lesser Black Backed all heading >SW whilst a few Black Headed moved >N.
The Mallard flock of 38 flew down to Dean Head to roost along with 3 Red Grouse trailing behind .
With watching and counting the gulls I failed to keep a check on the weather and suddenly the wind increased to gale force W>8 at 39 m.p.h. with jet black clouds heading over the moor from the west with BS stamped on them. Time to turn tail and head back to the car sharpish getting the dogs on board and tackle away just in time before a massive hailstorm came pounding in covering the area in white hailstones and knocking visibility to 10 yards. Up at the top gate I sat in the car and waited for it to pass before getting out to unlock the gate and within a few minutes blue sky was over the horizon and a bright sunset beyond the west ridge, what a weird mish mash of weather.
Back home on the edge of dark 38 Common gulls were in Foxhill Park whilst a neighbour told me about 12 Waxwings had been seen in the usual Rowan trees in the grounds of Bradford University off Great Horton Road.
I,d better get some more half apples out in the garden Hawthorns which attracted 5 back in 2013.
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.(2024).