This has got to be the worst autumn for fog on record with another day of dense fog on the tops which lasted from dawn to dusk. Four venues today and not enough material to make a blog with more rain and fog forecast throughout the weekend.
This morning Leeshaw reservoir was just below the cloud base with light rain but 30 minutes into the watch the rain stopped and the fog came down. Around 200 BH gulls were on and around the reservoir along with 5 Herrings and 6 LBBs but otherwise all was quiet apart from 21 Greylag geese , a Dipper in the beck and 3 Mipits in the overflow.
Late afternoon and the fog was still thick at Fly Flatts so a trip to Cold Edge Dams which was another mistake. All parking has been stopped near the dams now after a stretch of over 50 years so I parked lower down the road by the wide T junction and walked up towards the dams. As I got near, a farmer in a pick up stopped and told me I shouldnt park there as a tractor could hit it as it passed, a very wide tractor! so I walked back down and parked on the wide bit of Lumb Lane where I was told by a passing resident that it was unwise to park there as several dog walkers cars had been damaged recently, possibly by the very wide tractor?
It seems to me that the Cold Edge community have got fed up of visitors with cars invading their privacy and are trying to get them out. Perhaps the area was getting a bit like Ogden at the weekends, anyway, I took the hint and headed back to Mixenden reservoir.
A scan over the water in very dark skies just produced the usual small gulls, 1 Cormorant, 2 Herring gulls and a single female Goldeneye.
Last stop on the way home was the Ned Hill track to check the Thrush roost that usually starts building at this time of year with just 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Blackbirds and about 12 Redwing though by now it was 1515 hrs and almost dark.
Roll on some cold icy weather so we can see the sky again.
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).