Another bright sunny morning with clear blue skies and full sun on a cold NW>3 at minus 2 degrees.
I set off wondering if the track at Fly Flatts would be passable, thats if the fly tipping has been removed, but seeing the amazing amount of gulls on the ice at Mixenden the temptation was too much so had to go to check it out.
In excess of 400 gulls were tightly packed together on the ice with several on the water. The majority
were Common and Black Headed but several Herring, plus Lesser Black Backed as well as Great Black Backed. One of the LBBs had retained its pink legs but impossible to pick out a Yellow Legged Herring or Med gull with the birds so tightly packed together.
A pair of Tufted were on the water as well as Mallards but still awaiting Goldeneye and Goosanders.
The Redpoll/Siskin flock, of around 40 birds were present but very mobile, never settling in the Alders, as they kept flitting about between the riverside trees and the plantation.
The edge of the plantation along the west bank was alive with Redwings and Blackbirds on the holly berries whilst Goldcrest, Chaffinch and Bullfinch were also present along with a good sized Tit flock.
A flock of 18 Lapwing headed >SW and a Buzzard was over Slaughter Gap whilst the usual Barn Owl was quartering the distant moor. Quite a mornings watch.
18 Lapwing................>SW
1 Buzzard
1 Barn Owl
c 400 small gull
Sev Herring gull
6 LBB gull
2 GBB gull
1 pr Tufted duck
6 Mallard
c 20 Redwing
6 Blackbird
4 Chaffinch
2 Goldcrest
1 Mistle Thrush
Tit flock
1 pr Bullfinch
c 40 Siskin/Redpoll flock
+ usual sp.
BS