Unexpected overnight snow left a decent covering by morning with the roads snow covered and very icy causing me to stick to the main roads and head downhill to Wibsey Park. Cloudless sky and sunshine made a pleasant morning with a light covering of snow on a NW>3 at minus 3 degrees.
The lake was 80% frozen over with just a small area of water where the Tufted duck, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen were fighting for space along with 2 Mute Swans. Only 8 Tufted at the moment and no sign of the drake Shoveler, for the second year running, which usually over-winters here.
Around 100 Black Headed gulls were on the ice along with 20 Herring and 5 Common gull but the Herrings soon left >W. A careful check through the Black Headed gulls failed to turn up a Med gull.
The trees around the park were buzzing with the 4 common Tit species, Treecreepers and Goldfinch
along with several Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, Blackbirds and Robins.
So, despite the weather, I salvaged the morning with a decent 2 hours birding.
Tomorrows weather could go either way with a snow warning out with expected snow showers on a moderate SW at a slightly milder temperature of minus 1 getting slightly above freezing point.
BS