With dense fog on the tops this morning I decided to head south to Elland Gravel Pits to see if the Shovelers were still present and check out the warblers . Last year, believe it or not, I had 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Willow Warbler and no other warblers throughout the year. Thats the price you pay for being an upland birder.
A queue of traffic started the job off getting through the lights at Queensbury, then a queue for Shelf roundabout and finally a complete hold up from Coley church as far as the eye could see. I don,t know if the queue went right to Hipperholme or it was road works but after moving 20 yds in 15 minutes I swung round and headed back to queue at Queensbury lights.
I,d now been on the road nearly 45 minutes and was back in Queensbury so with the neck throbbing and dogs moaning I stopped at Ogden and walked once around the water.
The icy cold wind was still blowing and visibility was hazy but bird able with just 6 Herring gulls on the water and the usual Mallards.
Nothing in the sluice gate area and just 1 Grey Wagtail by the overflow. Passerines were quiet with a few Coal and Great Tits plus the usual Robins, Wrens and Dunnocks but no warblers present. Even passerine alley was bird less other than a few Blue Tits.
Good to bump into Nick Small, Country File director , and have a few words, Nick kindly keeps me informed of unusual comings and goings at Ogden.
Back home by 0945 hrs to find Queensbury still in the fog.
BS