A very wet and windy morn at Wibsey Park though the wind is not really an issue at a lower level.
Very heavy rain throughout on a SW>5 at 8 degrees and full dark cloud. Again, not a morning for the camera with more deletes than saves.
The aim of the exercise this morning was to check the Tufted ducks to see if they had moved on like yesterdays Harold Park birds, and also to make sure the moving around Scaup had'nt arrived here.
A good count of Tufted, both male and female, with a minimum of 37 with possibly more but hard to get an accurate count with them mulling around the island. Nothing in the way of Scaup but a single drake Goosander was present whilst the drake Shoveler, that usually winters at this site, remains absent
this year.
Around 50 Black Headed gulls, as well as 4 Herrings, along with 2 Mute swan and the usual Canadas, Greylags, Mallards, Coots and Moorhens were present whilst a flock of 18 Redwing flew overhead. Nothing in the trees other than Woodpigeon and Collared Dove'
Looking good for morning with some sunshine, dry, and a moderate NW and then a pile of rain, snow and gales to take us up to Christmas. Just 3 days to the shortest day then a steady rise in daylight, I hate these late start mornings waiting until after 0800hrs for some form of daylight.
BS