A mid afternoon to last light visit to Fly Flatts in glorious conditions with wall to wall sunshine on a light N>3 breeze. Lots of disturbance today as expected in the weather conditions and being New Years Day all the one day a year walkers were out in force.
A pair of Teal were by the east banking mixed in with the Mallards whilst a single Raven flew >N over the water.
For the last 30 minutes I parked half way up the track to scan the moor and horizon which proved a good move. Way over the western ridge there was a continuous flow >N of gulls all heading to a roost whilst 5 Herring gulls headed >W. Further back still and barely visible was a skein of Pinkies heading >NW high up probably over the Widdop/Walshaw area.
A single Short Eared Owl was quartering the moor but was right in front of the setting sun before moving further out beyond Slade whilst this mornings flock of Golden Plovers came in to roost dropping down on the flat moor.
A good start to the year with good birding on both visits although I,m not getting excited, I,ve got the bad visits to face next.
Good to see some more birders out at Fly today with DP strolling around the water this morning and Angela and Gary up on the top road this pm as well as another birder on the top road with tripod and scope but don,t know who that was.
BS