A treacherous drive on icy roads up to Fly Flatts this morning was all in vain with another near bird less session. Conditions were perfect for fly overs with clear bright skies and sunshine on a light NW>3. The temperature was reading 1 degree with shot ice on the top road and all the puddles around the reservoir frozen over.
A 2 hour session, including walking the west bank to the NW corner, scanning the water and moor plus sky watching produced 3 Canada geese, 1 Red grouse and a Kestrel by 0930 hrs. At 1000 hrs full excitement when a LBB gull flew over, bird of the morning and with that it was tackle up and forget it.
Ironically, as I arrived home there were 32 Common gull and 16 BH gulls in Foxhill park where I should have stayed and saved my time and petrol.
Meanwhile late afternoon, 2 miles over the ridge from Fly Flatts, Oxenhope reservoir had around 10,000 gulls on the water and still piling in as I left in flocks of 50 to 100. What an amazing sight the winter gull roost is with a continuous stream of gulls coming in from the fields to the NE,E and SE all settling on the water looking like a covering of snow.
No chance of a careful check through of the birds on the water with the bright sky to the west throwing everything into silhouette but standing on Windy Corner the gulls were flying in overhead becoming overpowering trying to keep up with them.
A pair of Goldeneye were on the water as well as 3 Teal and a few Mallard whilst 2 Raven cronked past in the distance to the north of me.
A flock of Lapwings flew a circuit before landing on the Shay below Soil Hill.
Oxenhope Reservoir
1 pr Goldeneye
3 Teal
17 Mallard
78 Lapwing
2 Raven
c 1500 Herring gull
c 8000 mixed Common and BH gull
c 100 LBB gull
+ usual sp.
BS