Another bird able day with the wind still stuck NE>4 at 3 degrees with some drizzle a.m.brightening as the morning went on. By late afternoon the skies were dark with low scud clouds moving through from the north. By 1445 hrs all photographic light is gone on these dull days.
With vis mig at an end its back to being patient at Fly Flatts and accepting that several visits may produce very little , if anything.
The main target birds now are winter wildfowl either appearing on the water or fly overs with Whooper Swans still on the move and Pinkies will soon be on the trans pennine run from the west to the east coast and visa versa.
Hopefully winter ducks will put in a better appearance this year with no Wigeon or Goldeneye on the water last winter . Luckily for me the water is well up now and looking like it will be for some time until they find a way to divert it from refilling ever time it gets low.
Otherwise its a matter of anything interesting that flies over or drops in.
I have the place loaded with Nyjer, Sunflower seed and Wild bird seed now all down the entrance track and around the SE ponds which looks like ideal habitat for Snow Bunts, Twite and Shore Lark.
The last Shore Lark there was tempted with GDs Sunflower seed many moons ago.
I,m a bit snagged up at the moment for access to the west bank where my last year Snow Bunts turned up so I,m hoping the ground freezes up shortly so I can get across there. Its all ankle deep in mud on the south and west shore at the moment and I can,t find any Rigger boots to fit the dogs.
This morning was pretty quiet with 4 Stonechat, 8 Stockdoves, 2 Canadas and a Mallard whilst Fieldfares are starting to show in the fields now with 24 in the Nolstar field.
A Common gull low over the water was unusual , a rare bird for this site.
Late afternoon and the big gulls were moving in but different to yesterday with
87 Herring gulls which circled the water then headed off >SE with no gulls coming onto the water or shoreline.
BS