cloudbase. Emley Moor mast on the horizon.
First light with clear skies and rising sun over Queensbury so off to Fly Flatts to see what Christmas presents I could find. On arrival it was dull and misty at 4 degrees C on a cool WNW>4 but workable below the cloud base.
First bird as I drove down the track had me looking twice as I just saw a light rump disappear over the fence and drop into the grass. I jumped out of the car thinking " that can,t be a Wheatear" then I located it finding it to be a single Fieldfare which looked out of place for that location.
Nothing on the water but plenty activity until 0945 hrs when my Christmas present arrived in the form of a massive fog bank putting the lights out and calling end of play.
On the way home the Delvers winter flock of Collared Doves stood at 21 birds.
Late afternoon and back to Fly Flatts for the last hour with clear skies and the wind decreased to W>3 although there was a large bank of cloud high up waiting in the wings to drop as fog tonight.
A steady passage of Herring gulls headed high and >SW with at least 2 Great Black Backed in with them. A 3 species raptor count with Merlin, Buzzard and Kestrel along with a very noisy Raven. A walk on the cobbled bank to the NE corner failed to find anything on the shore with Snow Bunting, Shorelark, Rock Pipit and an early wader in mind.
Hope you,ve all had a good Christmas and it was good to see several birders out today going by the grapevine reports, keep up the good work.
Its all o'ver naw bart shouting so back to normal tomorrow.
BS