A heavy frost this morning with a temp of 1 degree at Fly Flatts on an icy cold N>3 increasing 4 but blue skies and sunshine. By the mid afternoon visit the temp had only risen to 3 degrees and black clouds approaching brought some rain by 1500 hrs.
A lovely morning to be up on the moors and walk the west bank though birding was not at its best today with a gull movement being the highlight. Commons were the main movers along with Black Headed and Herrings all high and >NW. This move continued mid afternoon but on a less scale.
A 4 raptor day with Peregrine, Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk all being attracted by the massive Starling flock up there at the moment.
Another bright sunny day forecast for tomorrow which could be the calm before the storm with snow forecast by the weekend which hopefully will liven things up a bit.
Fly Flatts
112 Common gull
36 BH gull
29 Herring............all gulls >NW
1 Peregrine
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
38 Mallard on water
+ usual sp.
BS