The fog this morning stuck to the valleys so I headed for Fly Flatts where the sky was bright and clear with full sun. A cold minus 4 degrees but felt much milder with the light SW>2.
A difficult session with the entrance track snowed over and frozen so I did,nt dare risk driving down there as the only vehicle that had used the track was the YW 4x4 Land Rover. Also the reservoir was 90% frozen over with just the NE corner ice free which held about a dozen Mallard.
Leaving the car on the top road I had a quick walk down to the bottom but got back sharpish whilst my windows were still intact, then after a walk along the top road to the quarry I spent the rest of the time sky watching from the top gate which is an excellent vantage point.
The conditions looked perfect for Pinkies or Whooper over but the skies remained empty other than several post roost small gulls heading >NE along with a single Herring gull. I tried to trace where these gulls were coming from and picked them up over Saddleworth Moor near the Manchester border.
Otherwise I just had a single Meadow Pipit and 2 Reed Buntings. On the way back I came across 42 Greylag geese in the field opposite the Delvers which is the first time I,ve had them in that area.
Another day of freezing tomorrow then higher temperatures which should shift the snow and ice from up here on the tops.
BS.