With this mornings outing abandoned due to dense fog and snowy, icy roads I just managed an hour out early afternoon with the fog almost cleared, leaving full hazy cloud on a light SE>3 at 2 degrees.
The nearest port of call was Mixenden, other than Ogden, which is public orientated on a Sunday afternoon. As soon as I arrived at Mixenden it hit me why its a place knocked off my list of venues now.
After making my way up dog muck alley and passed the fly tipping I peered through the gates to see dogs running loose around the water, several lads fishing and one with an air rifle over his shoulder.
Unsurprisingly, very few gulls present with 33 Black Headed, 16 Common and 12 Herring plus a Moorhen, 4 Mallard and 2 Cormorant on the water. A Heron was on the west banking whilst a noisy Raven was over Hunter Hill. Otherwise, just the usual species and the usual 2 Barn Owls in the distance.
A stop off at Ned Hill track on the way back produced a single, very shy Stonechat along with 3 Red Legged Partridge, 3 Lapwing and a Kestrel overhead. A few gulls were making their way through the col towards the TMR roost. A bit of a wasted birding day but hopefully better weather on its way.
A cold, cloudy morning forecast for tomorrow with a moderate south easterly at minus 1 degree. Hopefully the stronger wind will keep the fog at bay.
BS