With a calm N>2 and good visibility I headed back to Fly Flatts after a break of nearly 2 month. A cool morning at 1 degree and full cloud cover.
A low expectancy visit but turned out better than expected with nothing special but enough to keep the interest going.
On arrival, driving down the entrance track I saw a white looking bird some distance away which looked like a Barn Owl on a post. It was still not fully daylight but a quick stop and a scan through the bins revealed a very pale phase Buzzard with a brilliant white head. A pale Buzzard has been about a couple of years up there but this was a different bird showing the white head. After a couple of quick shots it headed low over the Flat Moor towards Slade.
Nothing on the water other than 5 Canadas whilst 2 Kestrel were in the area along with a single Raven and 4 Crows. A few Red Grouse were on the Flat Moor, a rare species up there now, with no shoots, that I know of, taking place for the last few years.
On the return journey, several Common and Black Headed gulls were around the Nolstar fields along with 3 distant Herring gulls.
Last chance tomorrow for something special to turn up as 2025 draws to a close.
Looking brighter for morning with cloudy sunshine on a moderate NW at minus 1 degree.
BS