A bright, clear sunny start to the morning at Fly Flatts but bitterly cold at 0 degree on a light SW>3.
Unfortunately this only lasted around one hour when mist started rolling in over the moor soon blanking out the blue sky and sunshine and by 0930 hrs it was dense fog and heavy drizzle freezing as it landed.
The drive up there was treacherous on a very icy Cold Edge road and even worst driving back in the fog as well as the ice. The top road to Oxenhope was closed off due to the ice.
Canadas are returning slowly to the water and very noisy as usual this time of year as they begin looking for a mate and territory. Just a few Red Grouse otherwise but the highlight of the morning was the first returning Oystercatcher which flushed as I looked over the east bank sending it across to the west bank to disappear into the mist.
Mid afternoon and Queensbury still in the fog I dropped down to Bank Top to check out the gull situation in very windy, wet conditions.
Around 100 small gulls, 75% being Black Headed, along with 14 Herrings showing ages of all the 4 year cycle. Tufted are now returning to the water with a single male and 2 female whilst the 5 female Goosander are still present but the male has not returned.
Otherwise it was down to the usual 2 Mute Swans, both disabled from dog attacks and unable to fly, plus Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Canada and Greylag.
BS