A bad start to the morning at Fly Flatts with light snow on a SW>4 at 1 degree with full cloud. By 0815 hrs snowflakes the size of half-crowns were coming down and I was ready for aborting until I saw a break in the cloud to the west. Luckily I stayed put and the snowstorm passed over leaving a cold but pleasant morning.
Nothing to get excited about bird-wise with 7 Oystercatchers and 1 Curlew present plus a few Lapwings on the north bank. The skies remained empty other than a single Herring gull >NE and 2 Raven over 'The Bumps' whilst 2 Reed Bunting were in the compound area.
Plenty noise from the Canadas all sorting out partners on the water, with just 2 Greylags and a few Mallard present.
The Skylark flock have now dispersed with just one or two left in the fields around Nolstar but no sign of returning Meadow Pipit as yet though my first returners last year were 7th March. This is the first year that none have over-wintered.
Mid p.m. and a quick look at Horton Bank Top in passing with just the usual Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Mute Swan etc along with 10 1CY Herrings, plus 2 adult, and 4 LBBs with the usual small gulls.
Tomorrow morning is looking half decent with showers on a light southerly increasing by mid day.
BS