YL Herring on the left.
1530 hrs Leeshaw reservoir in sunshine and a brisk SW>4-5.
With several gulls on the far shore but towards the western end a scope through them produced 15 Lesser Black Backed, 1 2nd year Herring gull and 1 2nd year Yellow Legged Herring gull, the latter being a different bird to the last Yellow Legged, this one not having leg rings. The last bird with a blue leg ring was ringed in Denmark but no area or dates as too distant to read numbers. Hopefully the Yellow Legged gull which visits Leeshaw each year June/ July will appear soon and by now should be near full adult plumage.
As I arrived a young Curlew was running up and down the roadside looking very lost but eventually it got back into a field where the adult bird was calling.
Two Oystercatchers were very noisy protecting a chick with the Oystercatcher count of adult birds up to 9. Four Black Headed gulls were harassing the Lapwings which were having a full time job looking after their chicks.
Otherwise it was down to the usual species but once again a profitable visit.
Nice to bump into RP and have a chat by the reservoir.
1 Yellow Legged Herring gull
1 Herring Gull
15 Lesser Black backed
4 Black Headed
9 Oystercatcher + 1 Chick
2 Redshank
1 LRP
1 juv Curlew
1 Cormorant
4 Stock Dove
+ usual sp.
BS