A better day with a light S>2 and light grey full cloud cover at a mild 4 degrees.
First visit of the new year to Fly Flatts failed to greet me with a welcoming committee of birds but nice to get back now that the weather has started behaving itself a bit.
Completely empty skies this morning and only a single pair of Mallard on the water whilst a walk the full length of the west bank and a check around the boatyard only produced 15 Red Grouse and 1 Raven.
A few BH gulls were in fields along Cold Edge Road but otherwise nothing.
A mid afternoon visit to Mixenden was also very poor with a low count of around 75 gulls on the water including just 2 Herrings and a pair of Mallard.
A circuit of the reservoir failed to save the day with no sign of yesterdays Redpoll flock and no other birds present in the waterside trees. Oh well, thats birding, and if you don,t go, you don,t know.
On a brighter note, MP called me at 1138 hrs this morning reporting a skein of Pinkies over Thornton heading west in my general direction. We were on our way to Halifax at the time so I stopped and watched from the end of Swalesmoor across towards Fly Flatts but nothing seen. The geese must have passed more to the north of me. Thanks for the call Mark.
Mark ended up with 6 skeins over but more to the north over the Aire Valley.
A brighter day forecast for tomorrow on a very light WNW breeze but fog drifting in up here in the gods at the moment.
BS