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Sunday, February 11, 2024

Mixenden Reservoir

 

                                East bank gulls

                                    2 ad Herring
                                    3 Oystercatcher




                                    10 Mallard present
                                        Heron overhead.





                                    Single LBB



A reasonable morning weather-wise at Mixenden which was just below the cloud base with patches of mist on a light W>3 at 5 degrees.
     My intentions this morning were to go to Fly Flatts but as I got to Keighley Road I could see a thick bank of cloud going right along the western ridge and down into Calder Valley so a quick change of plan with a look at Mixenden Reservoir.
     As expected, yesterdays 5 Wigeon had moved on but replaced with 3 Oystercatchers on the east bank, which was a good sign of things starting to move. A good count of 10 Mallard were on the water
but gull numbers well down with just 4 Herring and a single LBB along with round 100 small gulls.
     A few fly overs, other than the usual species were, 2 Collared Dove, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Greylag and a Heron.
The Oystercatchers were reluctant to move on, being constantly flushed with off lead dogs mid morning, instead they just kept flying a circuit over the water and landing back on the banking. The 3 were still there as I left.
    As I was leaving a Great Black Backed gull dropped down onto the water near the far end but left almost immediately heading >NE, probably the same bird that's been around a few weeks now.
     Two Buzzard were interacting over Shibden Park early afternoon as we drove past.
Looking like a mix of sunshine and showers for morning with a moderate westerly. Hopefully it will shift the fog.
    BS