Yet another of those very dark, wet and miserable days with low cloud over the tops.
Leeshaw reservoir was reasonable weather wise with clear but dark skies on a W>4 and some very heavy showers at 3 degrees.
Nothing exciting on the bird side with Starlings and Fieldfares being the birds of the morning giving a count of around 200 Starling and around 100 Fieldfare moving about the fields together. A group of 7 Meadow Pipits were nearby obviously decided to over winter here.
The water just held 2 pair of Goosander, 27 Mallard and several small gulls along with one 1st winter Herring but no signs of yesterdays Herring argentatus .
Good to bump into Halifax birder Pete Grba who was doing a long walk circuit of the Leeshaw area in terrible walking conditions which never seems to both Pete who walks miles and miles over the moors throughout the year. We spent a bit of time reminiscing on birds we used to get at Leeshaw like Black Tern, Arctic Tern and Little Gull along with several species of waterfowl. Well done to Pete for the time and effort he puts into local birding.
Late afternoon at Ogden was horrendous with rain leathering down with just a clear spell long enough for a dog walk along the prom and a short part of the track producing the usual small gulls and Mallards on the water. The Kingfisher was down in the sluice gate area whilst 5 Bullfinch were in waterside trees.
Not the best of forecasts for the weekend with rain , sleet and snow on a strong wind. Roll on springtime.
BS