Back to Leeshaw reservoir.

 

LEESHAW                Looking down the overflow.

                                    Down to 8 Oystercatchers from 32.

                                    1CY Cormorant.

                                    Shore slowly appearing.

LONG CAUSEWAY          22 Herring gull

                                    17 Curlew.

                                    Field opposite T.M.R.

Very wet and windy morning at Leeshaw reservoir with some breaks of sun but otherwise full cloud and heavy showers on a moderate SW>5 gusting 6 at 5 degrees.

   No continuation of yesterdays move with just 6 Swallows, 3 LBB and 4 Herring gull all >W whilst otherwise more or less the same species present as yesterday with the addition of 2 Grey Wagtails and a small flock of Goldfinch.

    The majority of Oystercatchers have now dispersed with just around 8 remaining from the March count of 32 whilst 3 Redshank were busy feeding in the fields along with the Curlews and Lapwings.

Nothing on the water other than geese and Mallards.

   A saving grace on the way home with 22 Herring gulls and 17 Curlew in a field off Long Causeway opposite TMR reservoir. A careful scan through for Black Tailed Godwit, as there are plenty around at present, but not to be. A flock of around 50 Fieldfare were heading >E over the Dog and Gun at Oxenhope.

    Showing a day of cloudy sunshine and dry for tomorrow  on a light SW turning S then SE kicking off at 3 degrees.

BS

    

    

Leeshaw Reservoir

 

                                        A wet Leeshaw

                                    Plenty Lapwings

                                    Usual Canadas

                                    and Greylags

With low cloud and heavy rain early morn I headed for Leeshaw reservoir where visibility was good but wet throughout with a mix of rain, sleet and snow on a cold SW>3 at 3 degrees. 

   Hopes of  bagging up on moving Arctic Terns and Little Gulls was soon dashed even though conditions were ideal. A good movement, never the less, of LBB and Herring gulls all heading directly >W as well as a steady flow of Swallows and Sand Martins with a few House Martins mixed in.

   Otherwise, plenty to see, as always at this site, but only the usual species, with Redshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Lapwing and Cormorant plus several Meadow Pipits and Stock Doves in the goose field plus the usual species.

     Slightly milder tomorrow starting off at 6 degrees with sunshine and showers on a moderate sou'westerly at force 5, 24 m.p.h. easing slightly after midday. Possible low cloud early morn.

BS

    

Wall to wall Wheatears, Fly Flatts

 

                                     Alive with Wheatear

                                    Even up in the trees

                                    Unusual visitor for the compound

                                    1st back, Common Sandpiper

                                    Pink Footed Goose

                                    Then there were two

A decent morning on the weather front with early full cloud slowly breaking to let some sunshine through on a light but bitterly cold WSW>3 at 3 degrees.

    Wheatears were all over the shop this morning with 21 counted just half way on the west bank and 8 on the east bank with a total of 29 but undoubtedly several more if I'd have spent time scoping further afield. My first returning Common Sandpiper appeared in the SE corner, one day earlier than my first last year, whilst 7 Redshank were present along with the usual Curlew, Lapwing and a single Common Snipe. Nothing in the air other than a Raven, Kestrel and several Meadow Pipits whilst a single male Stonechat was near the lagoon.

   On my way out, the Pink Footed goose, that I saw on an earlier visit, had reappeared when surprisingly a second one appeared from behind the reeds. It would be nice to get a pair breeding here.

    Not looking good for tomorrow with plenty cloud and a mix of rain, sleet and snow on a moderate to strong sou'westerly. Possibly improving p.m.

BS

Below the fog, Ogden.

 

                                    A misty start, fog on the tops

                                    Clearing by 0830 hrs

                                1000s of  Weevil type creatures along the promenade

                                    1 pair of Tufted.

                                    Arrival of Willow Warblers.

                                    Very few big gulls

                                    Single Greylag.

With dense fog on the tops, as per forecast, it was down to Ogden which was slightly misty but soon cleared to leave full cloud on a light SW>2 at 7 degrees.

 The waterside trees were buzzing with Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs along with a single Siskin, several Chaffinch and Goldfinch as well as Song and Mistle Thrush.

    The water held 2 Canada and a single Greylag goose along with a pair of Tufted duck and the usual Mallards. The strangest thing of the morning was a Little Owl calling from the plantation half way along the east bank. A species that I have never had low down at Ogden before without going up onto the edge of the moor.

   Gull wise, just  3 LBB and 2 Herring on the water. A Raven flew over the plantation.

Looking dry for tomorrow with cloud and some sunshine on a light W turning SW starting off at 3 degrees.

Mega Wheatear overnight fall, Fly Flatts

 

                                    A minimum count of 20 Wheatear

                                    Very distant Wheatear      Stonechat

                                    1 of 9 Redshank

                                2 of last years bred white Greylags.

Another stonking day both weather and bird wise. Clear blue skies and full sun on a light SW>3 starting off at 6 degrees but soon rising to double figures.

    First birds that hit me on arrival were the number of Wheatear in the SE corner and by the lagoon. A count of eight soon rose after I'd walked the south bank and scanned the top field where at least 12 Wheatear were present taking my total count to 20. Unfortunately, not a record for this site where I have had several counts in previous years of over 20 and my record stands at 31. Also several other reports this morning of local Wheatear.

    Swallows were the next feature with a continuous steady flow >N of over 40 birds whilst 3 Stonechat and 4 Reed Bunting were distant beyond the lagoon. No new waders in yet with 6 Oystercatcher, 9 Redshank, Curlews and Lapwings plus a Snipe flew out of the trackside dyke and headed over the Flat Moor as I drove up the exit track.

    Just 2 LBB gulls on the water with a Herring and Common gull heading >SW. Otherwise down to the usual species. Quite a morning to be out.

    Back to basics tomorrow with sunshine and cloud after a possible misty start on a light SW>3 starting off at 8 degrees, rain given after midday.

BS