Long primary projection, heavy streaking.
Just very large male LBB !
Several Herrings
Nice summer plumaged Herring
Playing with a bottle top.
2m 1f Bullfinch present
Taken in the dark trees at 4000 iso
A clear morning until I got up to the summit at Fly Flatts where the fog was hanging over the area. A stiff W>4 was blowing at 4 degrees. Very frustrating with one minute clear blue sky only to be immediately blanked out the next minute making me believe that it would soon clear but the fog was still over Fly Flatts mid afternoon as I headed to Mixenden,which luckily was dull but clear.
With a completely bird less morning at Fly Flatt I needed something to save the day at Mixy which luckily was quite lively.
The only wildfowl was 2m and 1f Mallard on the water along with 2 Moorhen, the latter keeping under the shadow of the west bank trees.
A large dark gull caught my eye as I arrived but after 2 quick, distant shots it took off >N. Seeing the size of it compared to nearby Herrings, plus the dark mantle I took it to be a GBB but, looking at the photos back at the ranch I think it is just a large male LBB . The head and neck is too streaked, the primary projection too long and the mantle too light comparing it with the blacker primaries. The mantle doesnt even look dark enough on the photo for an intermedius.
Meanwhile, back in the west bank trees, 3 Bullfinch in the Alders were a surprise whilst the flock of Redpoll were still present but very flighty today, constantly flying between the plantation and the Alders but never settling down.
So once again Mixenden saved the day.
A similar forecast for tomorrow with part cloud on a light westerly wind but looking out tonight I,m expecting fog.
Mixenden
1 LBB gull
13 Herring
c 200 small gulls
c 30 Redpoll
2m 1f Bullfinch
2 Moorhen
2m 1f Mallard
BS