With the mist still hanging around and Fly Flatts still in the clouds I got away from the dreaded western ridge and tried Ringby Top for a change.
Visibility up there was hazy but good enough to keep a 360 degree watch going, the target sky birds being Pink Footed Geese, and ground birds, Snow Bunting and Shore Lark, unfortunately none of which appeared though later in the day reports started coming in , right on the edge of darkness ,of Pinkies on the move both over Norland >W and around 100 over Boothtown with a skein heading >NE after dark. The latter report thanks to Gary of the Angela and Gary team.
The habitat up there is poor now with all the ploughed fields overgrown into grazing land and only the Snow Bunting field remains untouched.All I could muster was 2 Skylark, 2 Reed Bunting, a Stonechat in the quarry plus a single Mistle Thrush.
Otherwise it was down to the usual big numbers of small gulls and corvids although around 10 Herring gulls went over >SW.
Hopefully tomorrow will see a continuation of the Trans Pennine Pinks on the move, that is of course if a miracle happens overnight and the fog has disappeared by morning.
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).