All pics Canon 7d Mk2 + 300mm 1.4 L IS
In an attempt to drop below the fog I aimed for Mixenden which was just on the bottom of the cloud base with visibility three parts way across the water and steady to turning heavy rain with a temperature of 10 deg.
First check of the water produced the usual small gulls then a walk along the west banking found a female Goldeneye out in the mist along with a pair of Mallards. The water now is very high with very little shoreline along the west bank but one area I,ve been keeping an eye on surprised me today with a Dipper on the waters edge. Unfortunately it saw me as soon as I saw it so away it went low along the waters edge hidden by the trees and a check as far as the nw corner failed to relocate it. This is a first for me at this location, maybe DJS has had one here before.
The area that has caught my eye, and also the earlier Dunlins, is where the two streams run from the wood into the reservoir half way along the west bank creating a muddy dark area well hidden under the edge of the overhanging shrubbery. This area will be worth checking when the waders start moving mid April.
Whilst heading back towards the sw corner another scarce bird for here flew fast and low along the waters edge part hidden by the trees and this was a Moorhen which did the usual Moorhen stunt by disappearing itself somewhere along the banking not to be re found.
Hopefully this bird will not meet the same fate as the last time Moorhens turned up here and one was found killed probably by the nugget brigade.
So despite the fog and rain a pleasing session at Mixenden.
BS