With mist rolling in late p.m. I took another trip over to Leeshaw reservoir with dark skies and rain throughout, but as always at this site, there is something to see.
Around 100 BH gulls were present along with 24 Commons, 3 LBB and 2 Herring. Just Mallards on the water whilst several winter thrushes were in the fields. A walk up the north track to get nearer to the Fieldfares and Redwings found me a first for this site in the form of a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the long hedge which comprises of only small bushes which made me think the pecker was a blogger.
I,ve put together a few pics of two good species that I,ve lost locally over the last few years, these being Twite and Snow Bunting when a few years ago they were a common sight being present in good number and staying on site for months at a time whereas now I,m lucky to get one or two sightings a year with passing birds stopping off briefly as they move through.
I can understand the loss of Snow Buntings from Soil Hill where they could be found to stay from November to March each year with up to 9 present but now the habitat is no longer attractive to this species, as well as many others, being an overgrown grassed area and other than a good vantage point for sky watching its another habitat lost.
In contrast to that, Fly Flatts habitat has not changed at all since the days when 20 to 30 Twite were present daily so why has this species moved away ? Maybe they,ll return one day, who knows.
at Ogden, 31/10/2019 , these were the last two found
at this site, 4/11/2016. 3 years apart but only 4 days
difference day wise.
