With severe overnight gales and torrential rain lasting on through the morning I hung fire until the afternoon session when the wind had dropped very slightly and the rain was now coming as showers.
Reservoirs were the places to check today with perfect weather conditions for an off course diver or Kittiwake so off to Fly Flatts where the wind was still blasting over the water showing near gale W>7 at 34 m.p.h. with some very heavy showers mostly when I was half way along the west bank, no change there. The last 30 minutes was a little kinder with the wind dropping to strong breeze W>6 , starting to veer SW, with the rain showers gone and some blue sky starting to show.
Just 1 pair of Mallard braving the rough water whilst the resident 2 Carrion Crow and a few Red Grouse were present in the area. A walk, or a blow, along the west track failed to find anything apart from rain piling down with one extra heavy shower finding us dashing down the west bank to shelter from the horizontal rain behind the round tower.
Back behind the shelter of the car tailgate 30 minutes sky watching produced 9 Herring gulls and 11 LBBs all >NE and 1 Common gull which got the adrenaline going a bit hoping for a Kittiwake.
A touch of calm in the morning before the wind increases again so if the skies are clear we may get a move from Whoopers or Pinkies although I suspect most of the geese have gone through by now.
Just the usual pair of Goldeneye and 1 female Goosander on Mixenden after a quick check as I passed.
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).