A wild morning at Fly Flatts with the wind increasing all the while to a near gale force W>7 with 90 % cloud and a touch of sunshine at 2 degrees.
Too windy to be productive this morning but nice to get back up there, this being only my 3rd visit this month due to the weather of one form or another.
Just enough to keep me interested which is good for this time of year until the second week of February when I get the first Curlew, Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover back.
Canada geese numbers are already building in their breeding area with around 28 present this morning along with 23 Mallard, the latter being harassed by a Sparrowhawk.
A single, hardy Stonechat was near the compound along with 4 Reed Bunting and a Blackbird whilst a Barn Owl flew low, at distance, disappearing over the moor.
Only sky movement, in the strong wind, was 12 Herring gull high and >NE.
Very few gulls present again at Mixenden now that the ice has gone and too much disturbance for them on the banking.
There should still be some Pink Footed Geese to be seen overhead though several returning birds this winter seem to have taken the east and west coastal routes. Its been a very poor winter this year for this species with none of the usual massive skeins over that we used to see.
Tomorrows weather looks reasonable with a cloudy day on a light sou'westerly. That,s as long as the fog keeps away.
BS.