Oxenhope 1445-1615 hrs Bright and breezy. WNW>5, light showers, good visibility
An amazing show of gulls this afternoon with well in excess of 1000 birds, 75% being LBBs, the others BHGs with only 9 Herring gulls but no Yellow Legs.
Surprisingly yesterdays Ruff was still present but keeping in the shelter of the spit in the SW corner.
The Ringed Plover and Dunlin were still by the back ponds, which are now well topped up after last nights rain, but no sign of the LRPs.
The gulls were very nervy today even though I never saw anything to spook them but every 15 minutes the whole shebang would lift up in the air making a breathtaking sight as they circled around to land back on the water before they returned to the shore.
It was after one of these time when the gulls were on the water that I picked out a 2nd year Mediterranean gull in amongst the Black Headeds with possibly a second bird but this was a juv so not certain on that one.
During a rain shower 5 Cormorants dropped onto the shoreline , an unusual bird for here, and after about 15 minutes preening 4 headed off >NE with the 5th bird gone but that must have moved in a different direction.
A text from MC, Hudds, whilst I was up there telling me he had Osprey and Marsh Harrier over as well as Common Scoter and Black Tailed Godwit on the local res. Nice one Mick.
Its all happening now.
BS