Some early sun which was soon extinguished by cloud on a cold W>4 but good visibility.
A first light visit to Fly Flatts was disappointing to find all the tracks thick in mud and unworkable. Far too muddy to walk the dogs and even bad for just driving down the entrance track. A quick check of the north shore from the far end of the boatyard, which is the only area accessible now, then up stumps and away.
The disadvantages now outweigh the advantages so its time to put it on a back burner and visits will have to be limited to times when the ground is frozen.
Next stop was a walk down the Withins track towards Ogden to check the top end of the golf course but that had to be aborted 100 yds down where the whole of the track was boggy and covered in black oil and impassable.
Plan C went ok with a walk down the track across the road from the Withins to Cold Edge but with time running out I just did the top end down to the Black Redstart area.
Birds at last here with several Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Redwings in the fields but very flighty whilst 4 Dunnock, 1 Robin and 3 Reed Bunting were around the old farm building. A flock of 48 Lapwings were over the west moor and around 100 Starling moving field to field.
Late afternoon and a visit to Leeshaw reservoir ,still with the cold W>4 and poor light. A single Herring gull was on the water with around 100 Black Headed gulls and 1 Cormorant whilst 4 Meadow Pipits were in the stubble field along with 5 Stock Dove.
The Kingfisher was again on the conduit but at distance so given that and the poor light pics were poor having to have the iso up at 4000 and the exposure down at 800 so again I missed my flight shots but one day I,ll get it in the sun, if it hangs around long enough.
BS