or Sigma 150-600mm ( Big Bertha) and I,ll bore you
no more with talk of the Nikon P900 which is boxed up
and sent back to where it came from. Thanks to I.H. for trying
to get a success out of it.
A brighter afternoon with some sun and some very dark clouds on a cold E>5.
First stop Cold Edge and a scan across the goose field did indeed produce 3 Barnacle geese , the third possibly being the Leeshaw reservoir bird sighted there last week, (MC). All the geese were very distant, remaining at the far side of the field but I managed to get some shots with the 3 in the same frame. Also in the field were 5 Curlew and 4 Redshank.
Across then to Leadbeater Dam where I could hear the Whooper Swans before I got them in sight. A scramble up the banking and there they were, probably the same 4 that were reported over Lee Mount this morning, (DJS). The birds looked settled so will possibly stay the night before moving on. Possibly a family with 2 adults and 2 younger birds, slightly smaller and duller bills. Also on the water were 7 Tufted but the Goldeneye seemed to have moved on. Whilst by the dam a flock of 28 Golden Plover came over heading for Fly Flatts which was my next destination.
When I was passing Slade two massive flocks of Golden Plover were circling round totaling 173 flying as far as Cold Edge Dams and over the wind farm before settling on the flat moor along with about 40 Lapwing. On at the far north end of the reservoir another flock of 62 were acting the same and landing on the moor just to the north of the water. I counted a full total of 235 Goldies but there were probably more still on the moor, an amazing sight.
Scoping down to the sailing club compound there were at least 7 male Wheatear and 2 near the farm opposite the wind farm along with a pair of Stonechat.
Not a bad 2 hours worth.
BS