Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve

It was another grotty morning in Bradshaw with a perishing cold Easterly wind which seemed to me to have some north in it. Zero degrees on the car.

I left the grot behind and drove down to Brighouse.

My usual parking place by Avocet was full to the brim so I parked in the Nature Reserve area.

It was not a day to hang about with the cold making my little fingers tingle, soft sod what I am.

I did a quick circuit of the area before standing to gawp through the ski-lake railings at the 'imprisoned' wildlife there.

At first it was difficult to see much new through the railings, but a few Goldeneye were kind enough to make an appearance.

More Lesser Black-backed Gulls here than I've seen lately.

At one point ALL the Gulls left the water "en-masse" and headed for the sky.

I had a look up to see what was causing the commotion and a Large Raptor flew south perused by a Crow Type.

Because of the birds flight, at the time I did not think it was a Buzzard but I could be wrong.

I did not think a Buzzard would have this affect on the Gulls either?

I called at the Visitors Centre cafe for a coffee, fruit cake and lump of cheese - very very nice indeed.

Snow warning issued for late  afternoon - great.

Birds:

A good selection of Gulls.

Pair Bullfinch.

Coot.

Moorhen.

Cormorant.

1 Male Goosander on the lake and 1 Red Head Goosander on the river.

6 Goldeneye (3m 3f).

Mallard.

Mute Swan (grunting).

Nothing seen on the lagoon.

It was good to see a class of young school kids being shown the (Phala)ropes down here today. 

Ho Ho ,,,,B.... Ho.

Photos of Large Raptor above.