November Blues !

This has got to be the worst autumn for fog on record with another day of dense fog on the tops which lasted from dawn to dusk. Four venues today and not enough material to make a blog with more rain and fog forecast throughout the weekend.
                                                        This morning Leeshaw reservoir was just below the cloud base with light rain but 30 minutes into the watch the rain stopped and the fog came down. Around 200 BH gulls were on and around the reservoir along with 5 Herrings and 6 LBBs but otherwise all was quiet apart from 21 Greylag geese , a Dipper in the beck and 3 Mipits in the overflow.
                                                         Late afternoon and the fog was still thick at Fly Flatts so a trip to Cold Edge Dams which was another mistake. All parking has been stopped near the dams now after a stretch of over 50 years so I parked lower down the road by the wide T junction and walked up towards the dams. As I got near, a farmer in a pick up stopped and told me I shouldnt park there as a tractor could hit it as it passed, a very wide tractor! so I walked back down and parked on the wide bit of Lumb Lane where I was told by a passing resident that it was unwise to park there as several dog walkers cars had been damaged recently, possibly by the very wide tractor?
                                                       It seems to me that the Cold Edge community have got fed up of visitors with cars invading their privacy and are trying to get them out. Perhaps the area was getting a bit like Ogden at the weekends, anyway, I took the hint and headed back to Mixenden reservoir.
                                                      A scan over the water in very dark skies just produced the usual small gulls, 1 Cormorant, 2 Herring gulls and a single female Goldeneye.
                                                        Last stop on the way home was the Ned Hill track to check the Thrush roost that usually starts building at this time of year with just 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Blackbirds and about 12 Redwing though by now it was 1515 hrs and almost dark.
                                                        Roll on some cold icy weather so we can see the sky again.
BS

Hard going at Fly Flatts.( no public access)

With a SE then turning E>4 at Fly Flatts today it was surprising that there was no fog, which is the norm for any light winds from easterly directions, though the skies were very hazy with little visibility beyond 5 miles. Temperatures remained low at 2 degrees and, this afternoon especially, the sky was very dark giving no chance of anything in the way of decent photos, even if there had have been something worth taking.
                                              The skies remained empty throughout other than 2 Herring gull >NE and a single Black Headed gull which hung around most of the day. A Kestrel and 3 Raven were also present over the quarry area.
                                           With empty water and shoreline I spent my time scratting about for any small passerines which may be grounded in the area checking all the accessible dykes , drains and ditches , with special attention to the seeded areas and SE ponds which are 100% perfect for Snow Bunting , Twite and Shorelark. This area also has had a good covering of seed which so far has just kept the 2 local long staying Crows happy.
                                               This search was part successful turning up 3 separate Reed Buntings,
5 Stonechat, 2 Meadow Pipits, a Wren and a single Dunnock, both the 2 latter being rare at this site in the autumn/winter. The pond area has water in the ponds and weeds,along with short water grass growing around them with good areas of sand and silt. Also the shoreline along the front of the boathouse is now a good silt and sandy beach area with several types of low weed and grass species growing. One of these areas has got to temp a Shorelark come December.
                                            A report yesterday from one of the Bentley workers of a Barn Owl in the area at 1700 hrs as he was leaving and again this morning at first light but no more sightings as yet.
This could possibly turn out to be the commoner Short Eared Owl usual to this site but not seen since the summer.
BS

Leeshaw Reservoir a.m. / Fly Flatts p.m.

 Test shot in poor light of very distant LBB gull.
        600mm lens x 1.4 converter x 1.6 crop factor camera = 1344 mm

                                        Tons of small gulls at Leeshaw

          Excess of 1000 small gulls in the air and on the deck

                                            Commons and BHGs

                               

                                  End of another day, Fly Flatts.

                                 Stoodley Pike on the horizon

                   Weird cloud formation above the setting sun.

Dense fog , as expected, this morning up on the tops not clearing until midday. Surprisingly Leeshaw reservoir was clear and bright with some blue sky on a light S>2 . The sky clouded over mid watch but remained clear.
                              Common and Black Headed gulls dominated the morning with well over 1000 birds on and around the water, in the sky and in the fields with only 2 Herring and 1 Lesser Black Backed present. A good scope through failed to find me a Med gull.
                           A few Fieldfare and Redwing were moving around whilst a Dipper flew downstream along with a Grey Wagtail. The water just held 5 Mallard and 2 Teal with  Heron on the far bank.
                          A flying visit late afternoon to Fly Flatts with just 30 minutes to check the water and seeded areas with 4 Stonechat being the only bird life up there but an interesting sunset made the visit worthwhile.
BS

Fly Flatts on ice.

                                   A frozen over reservoir early morn.

                                         Good flocks of Woodpigs

                                           4 Stonechat present

                            Kestrel adapted to using 2 of the digger booms.

Another cracking day weather wise at Fly Flatts with light grey full cloud cover, a light S>2 with
a temp of 0 degrees rising to 2 degrees in the afternoon.
The water was 3/4 frozen over and about 1/2 still frozen by late p.m.
                                                I took advantage of the well frozen ground and no mud to contend with by walking the full length of the west bank giving the conduit a good check as well as the NW corner and south shore. Unfortunately the temperature is rising so tomorrow it will all be back to sludge which doesnt bother me but I can,t find any rigger boots to fit the dogs.
                                             Bounce back Woodpigeons were piling over >NE with still a few Starlings moving towards the west coast area but otherwise the skies were once again quiet although the day looked perfect for Pinks and Whoopers.
                                              Stonechats were hanging around the seeded track along with a Wren which is an unusual bird for this site whilst otherwise it was just down to the usual species.
                                                  Hazy skies late p.m. made me suspect fog for the morning, especially as the wind has to change to a light SE>3 which usually spells trouble?
BS
                                                     

A lull hits Fly Flatts and winter wildfowl to look out for.

A good day to be out at Fly Flatts with clear blue skies, sunshine and a light NE>2 turning NW>3 pm with a temp of 2 degrees, but not a good day for the birds.
                                               This mornings watch produced the last few dregs of vis mig with
27 Woodpigs >S and 76 Starling >NW in migration mode Otherwise it was down to 1 Heron >E,
2 Meadow Pipits on the frozen ponds, 6 BH gulls and 2 Canadas.
                                                   Late p.m. was quieter still with 4 BH gulls on the water, 2 Raven and 2 Crows. A very boring 2 sessions.
On the way home a Buzzard flew amazingly low over Pavement Lane, Bradshaw just above the house tops.

This is some of the winter wildfowl from the past that I,m waiting for over the next 3 months.

                                                     Goldeneye

  Check the gulls for Kittiwake as well as white winged gulls.

          Plenty skeins of Pink Footed Geese to come over

                                             Whooper Swans

                                     Pintail mixed in with the Mallards, female

                                                         and male

                                               Shelduck with Whoopers

                                                           Shelduck

                                                 Wigeon

                                           Shoveler

                                   Pair Shoveler with drake Wigeon.

                                            Shelduck in the snow.

           Flocks of grounded Barnacles and Pinkies

                                              Gt Northern diver

   Plus of course many others to watch for on local waters over the winter.
BS