Arrived at Leeshaw reservoir at 1445 hrs to sunshine on a cool E>5 but a good thaw in the process.
Geese were the bird of the day with the Whimbrel field holding 294 Canadas and 179 Greylag along with Lapwings and Curlew. A good scan through the geese failed to produce anything exotic.
Several Lapwing are already sitting eggs so hopefully the winter weather doesnt return.
The water was quiet with just small gulls and 2 Herring gull whilst a sift through the Mallard found 2 female Teal, one flying off with a Mallard and the other one was on the water near the far bank before flying over the wall into the field.
Curlew, Redshank and Oystercatcher were present along with about 8 Golden Plover but these were keeping down in distant fields.
Kestrel, Merlin and Sparrowhawk helped to keep the interest flowing making a good hours birding.
Lower Laithe reservoir held 3 Oystercatchers, 4 Herring gull and about 50 small gulls whilst the Golden Plover flock at Upper Marsh is up to around 40.
Info for I.H. The 2 female Ring Necked ducks you mentioned last night turned up at TMR then , as you say, alternated between TMR and Fly Flatts 21st Oct to 3rd November 1995. Eck, where did that
23 years go to, I remember it like it was last week.
Leeshaw
28 Small gulls
2 Herring gulls
294 Canadas
179 Greylags
8 Golden Plover
2 Oystercatchers
1 Redshank
2f Teal
1 Kestrel
1 Merlin
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Mistle Thrush
sev Lapwings, several nesting.
PS Anyone remember Elland Gravel Pits in its hay day.
