A grim start to the day at Fly Flatts with mist cutting visibility down to just across the water and about 50 ft above on a very light SW>1 at 14 degrees. By 0930 hrs the cloud had closed in even more bringing drizzle then rain and forcing the watch to be aborted.
By mid afternoon the weather had brightened at Doe Park with cloudy sunshine at 20 degrees and just a couple of short sharp heavy showers.
A full clear out at Fly Flatts with all yesterdays blogging Mipits and Wheatear gone leaving the area very quiet. Only birds seen were a fistful of Swallows and a few Mipits low over the water >S.
The top road to Oxenhope was closed with a full production team up there filming though its doubtful that they would see very much. Probably a program about the worst possible birding patch in England.
Doe Park was much better in the afternoon though I think I can stick my neck out now and say the Osprey has gone with no sighting for 2 days now. Amazingly the bird stayed for over 2 weeks giving plenty birders crippling close up views of the bird fishing, possibly a once in a lifetime experience. The best Osprey experience I have ever had in 57 years of birding. Hopefully it will return here in the spring if it survives its long journey to Africa although several 1st year Ospreys stay in their wintering grounds for their first summer.
A lively hour here though nothing out of the ordinary, the highlight being 2 Willow Warblers though MP reported having a good move of passerines through the area this morning with Willow Warbs, Blackcap, Spotted Fly etc.
A dipper was down in the outlet whilst a Kingfisher flew along the south bank and 3 Greenfinch flew overhead, an uncommon species lately.
A stiff west wind promised for tomorrow which should clear any morning mist.
Interestingly an Osprey went over Simon Johnsons watch point at Manchester >SW this morning, could it be the Denholme bird, directions right ?
Fly Flatts, Vis Mig
5 Swallow..............>S
23 Mipits...............>S
Present
1 Peregrine
Doe Park
1 Dipper
1 Kingfisher
8 Stock Dove
16 Goldfinch
3 Greenfinch
2 Willow Warbler
usual gulls over
+ usual sp.
BS