An afternoon free with grey skies, drizzle and a strong W>5, good gull conditions.
1315 hrs arrive at Fly Flatts with ,other than Red Grouse, not a bird of no sort in sight. On then to Leeshaw and absolutely alive with gulls, again this is to the east of the Nab, see HCs comment from Dec 3rd blog.
Around 600 gulls were on the far shoreline , 75% small, and 25% big gulls with 63 Lesser Black Backed, and an amazing 38 Herring gull plus 1 Great Black Backed. The Herring gulls were in the field far side of the water and also on the shoreline with several coming and going. All photos were very distant across the water and the poor light did,nt help but a good scope through them found nothing unusual.
As I was photographing the Herrings squabbling in flight I heard, then saw a distant skein of geese coming towards me looking like Pinkies but as they got nearer they were the group of Greylags returning to roost in the fields near Oxenhope reservoir.
This flock was recognized by the white and part white geese present.
A flock of around 70 Lapwing were mobile over the moor whilst 3 Cormorant were on the banking.
A pleasing afternoons birding.
BS