Back to some decent reservoir weather today although the rain was on the heavy side and the fog was on the thick side but with these conditions it was well worth a try.
On arrival at 1500 hrs the rain had eased and the fog was just starting to lift with the reservoir right on the cloud base so the water was clear but anything above was blanked off. By the time I,d walked on to the hide another massive bank of fog had rolled in staying for around 20 minutes before lifting leaving misty but watchable conditions.
The shoreline had almost gone with the sand and pebble area under water leaving just a long grassy strip but enough to attract the birds down.
Gull numbers were down with c300 LBB, c 150 BHG and 22 Herring gull including 1 adult Yellow Legged.
172 Lapwing were along the waters edge whilst 3 Dunlin, 4 Snipe and a single Ringed Plover were in the distant SW corner.
Canadas and Greylags have now left the area leaving around 30 Mallard.
Swallows were again moving strongly >SW with a constant stream throughout and the first signs of early Meadow Pipits was apparent with several moving over >W and a good number ground hopping, working their way along the banking before heading off west over the Nab.
Good to bump into fellow birder Keith Moir as I was leaving who had noted the weather and had the same thoughts as me and even the same target bird in mind, Greenshank which was not to be. Greenshank was a regular passage visitor years ago with up to half a dozen being a regular sight on the banking but has now become a rare bird. With reports of some moving through the area we may drop lucky over the weekend.
My last Oxenhope Greenshanks were 4 fly overs and 2 on the deck, 24/08/2013
