A decent morning weather-wise at Fly Flatts with good visibility and light showers on a light N>3 at 3 degrees. Full cloud cover but opening up to some blue sky mid watch.
A pleasant mornings birding at Fly Flatts with nothing exceptional but enough to keep me occupied. The water just held 3 Canadas and a single Greylag goose plus the usual Mallards whilst 3 grey geese went overhead >NE very high and distant which I were unable to i.d. as I was on the west bank at the time with the scope back at the car, a lesson to be learnt there, although I only usually carry the scope on the bank with me during wader time. The geese could have been Greylag or Pinks but did,nt just look right for either, we,ll never know.
A Buzzard was being mobbed with a Raven over the Nab and the only gulls seen were 2 Herring >NE high over the water.
On the way back a Stonechat was near the wind turbine entrance and several Fieldfare were in the field opposite.
A quick look at Ogden mid afternoon was once again disappointing on the gull scene with around 50 Common and Black Headed but no big gulls whatsoever.
The west bank held several Coal Tit and Goldcrest but no sign of the recent Siskin flock whilst the Kingfisher was working the west bank on the trees overhanging the water but never showing in a clear area to get a photo.
Back at the promenade a Great Spotted Woodpecker was at the top of a tree by the lodge house.
To finish on a very sad note on hearing that Rod Proctor sadly passed away yesterday. Rod was one of the Bradford Ornithological Groups veteran birders. A true apprentice trained and very knowledgeable birder and always a pleasure to be with. Rod was an Oxenhope man and I,ve spent many happy hours birding with him at both Leeshaw and Thornton Moor. Another excellent birder gone who will be sadly missed.
BS