As expected, the light easterly brought the fog in which stayed dense throughout the day.
The temperature was at 4 degrees which continued to slowly melt the snow.
With hopes of the fog lifting in the afternoon the morning was just down to a dog walk around Foxhill and then, late afternoon, with the fog still thick, I headed down to Mixenden with thoughts of the fog being clearer at a lower altitude. Wrong, the fog was so thick you could,nt even see the banking, let alone the water, so a quick about turn and headed in the opposite direction for Wibsey Park as I knew it was clearer over there as we had done a shopping spree at Tesco midday.
Wibsey was still very murky but visibility was enough for me to do my job by checking the gulls. Around 200 Black Headed gulls were on and around the water with several stood on the part frozen lake whilst around 50 Common gulls were mixed in with them.
The Black Headeds were carefully checked through for Med gulls and the birds on the ice checked for rings whilst the Common gulls were checked for Ring Billed. Neither of which appeared but this is the only way to find them so one of these days.....
The gulls were very mobile lifting off and landing frequently as people kept appearing to throw food in for the ducks and Swans. A 1st winter Herring came in briefly but didnt hang around.
A good show of wildfowl was present with the long staying drake Shoveler still looking settled
along with a good count of Tufteds which must be a record for this site. Otherwise it was down to the usual Mute Swans, Coot,Moorhen, Mallard, Canadas and Greylags.
Park watching is a far cry from my usual upland habitats but with plenty fog, strong winds, snow and heavy rain forecast for at least the next week its something I may have to get used to and at least there,s chance of something special showing up.
Wibsey Park
4 Mute Swan
1 m Shoveler
19 m 21 f Tufted duck
c 200 BH gull
c 50 Common gull
1 2cy Herring gull
+ usual sp.
BS