A lively morning at Fly Flatts despite the strong and bitter cold NW>5 with 30% cloud cover giving blue skies and sunshine.
A walk on the west bank in search of Wheatear and Ring Ouzel failed on both counts but a selection of birds down by the feeding area with 2 Fieldfare on fence posts ,before moving off across the moor, 1 Skylark, Several Mipits and 2m with 4f Pied Wagtails which is not a common bird at this site. Back at the south shore, skywatching, another 9 single alba Wagtails came over >E but none that could be identified as whites.
The Golden Plover flock is now breaking up with small pockets of around 15 to 20 birds mobile and several singles getting established on the moor and fields.
This afternoons visit found conditions the same though slightly warmer and the wind down to NW>4.
Very little happening this afternoon other than the usual species but scoping 360 degrees at distance found 6 seperate Buzzards and 4 Curlew plus a few big gulls.
As I was setting off for this afternoons watch a grapevine text reporting 21 Whooper swans on Mixenden reservoir which I was about to pass so managed a few distant record shots from the top of Whitegate which is about half a mile away. I had the dogs with me so had to make do with that. The swans were,nt present when I passed in the morning so must have just come in. I was watching from Fly Flatts this afternoon hoping for a fly over as they left but nothing and as I checked , again from Whitegate , on my way home the sun was bright on the water so could,nt see if they were there or not. Will check again in the morning.
BS