Leeshaw res. 1630 - 1745 hrs. Strong W>5 Blue skies and sunshine.
Much quieter than my last visit but enough to keep me watching throughout .
The grouping Oystercatchers were more spread out this evening with some in the fields and some around the water with a count of 12 rather than the 22 recorded on my last trip.
5 young Curlews came through >W along with a steady flow of Black Headed gulls also >W with about 80 in all.
Reports around Calderdale of Common Scoter but still none showing here with just Greylags and Canadas on the water.
Only 2 juv LBB gulls which flew through >SE probably on their way to Oxenhope res whilst a Snipe was very vocal but remained unseen.
The highlight of the visit was as I was ready for leaving when a shrill call came from the south banking of the reservoir, which is out of sight from the track, and what looked like a very dark Curlew flew up just giving me time to id it as a Whimbrel with a very prominent eye and crown stripe and as it lifted up high and >W it flew off into the sun giving the seven whistle call as it went.
Id just put the camera in the car ready to leave so by the time I got it I could only manage a few tail end shots.
This is my second Whimbrel sighting this year over Leeshaw , the last one being in May whilst CK had an Oxenhope bird last week so a good year for the area with this species.
BS