A real miserable morning with thick fog on the tops and mist drizzle at Leeshaw followed by heavy rain. Full dark clouds on a light NNE>2 at 7 degrees.
It all happened in the first few minutes of arrival with 3 pleasant surprises. Firstly, as I parked up a Red Kite appeared overhead so a quick panic to get the lens on the camera for a few very poor photos in the dark conditions with no time to get the camera reset. Next pleasing surprise was to meet Mick Cunningham, also viewing the Kite, who we communicate to each other near daily but I have,nt seen mick in around 30 years but he has now move back to his old stomping grounds of West Yorkshire.
The third surprise was that Mick had just finished taking a video of a drake Mandarin, a first at this site for me as I watched it in with the Mallards.
After that it went a bit downhill with nothing else unusual and not a gull of any description for some reason, the usual gull fields and Leeming were also empty. Still at least 21 Oystercatchers present along with 3 Redshank, 4 Curlew and the usual Lapwings.
A Heron was on the far bank and 2 Pink Footed geese flew from the water to the fields.
A report from Oakworth birder AK with a Wheatear up on the Nab above Fly Flatts.
A brighter day tomorrow but drop in temperature starting off at 4 degrees with cloudy sunshine and a very light NNE turning west by midday. Its fog dependent for the morning session.
BS