0645 hrs and Fly Flatts fogged off and a good covering of snow so over the Nab to Leeshaw which was just below the snow line and under the cloud base. Very grey with light rain throughout with the sun trying to break through but failing miserably.
Despite the weather the area was buzzing with Lapwings everywhere busy fighting off intruders giving a real feel of spring. Snipe were up drumming and Curlews calling but just to remind us winter is still hanging on there was snow on the tops of the moor and the fields were full of Fieldfares with a few Redwing and Mistle Thrush mixed in. As I was tackling up a white bird appeared from the hidden west end of the reservoir and a check to see what gull it was surprisingly revealed a pair of Shoveler, an excellent finish to a good mornings birding.
100 + Mixed Fieldfare, Redwing , Mistle Thrush
3 Snipe
2 Redshank
11 Oystercatcher
7 Curlew
1pr Shoveler
+ usual Canadas, Greylags Lapwings, Mipits etc
BS