with lesser and median coverts mixed grey and brown.
A calm WSW>3 at Redcar Tarn first light this morning with 100% cloud cover and mist on distant hills.
A pleasure to be amongst the gulls with good numbers present. I have,nt had time to scroll through the pictures as yet but as KM would say, " Theres nothing that jumps out and hits me as being unusual." Keith must have big amounts of patience checking through the gulls at this site as when you have got through about half of them a car pulls up and someone jumps out with handfuls of bread sending the whole shebang skyward and when they resettle you have to start again.
Last weeks visit found no Tufted on the water but today there were 14 present as well as all the usual Coot, Moorhen, Mallards and Canadas etc.
The Chaffinch flock in the Alders comprised of around 20 Chaffinch, 10 Goldfinch and at least 3 Brambling but too dark in among the branches for photos.
A great site for studying and photographing gulls though just a bit of a bind driving there in the Keighley traffic.
Late p.m. a check on Fly Flatts found it black as night and heavy drizzle so after a check of the water from the top road I continued on Nab Water Lane to Leeshaw reservoir where it was slightly lighter but heavy drizzle showers on a WSW>4.
Around 40 small gulls on the water as well as 5 Goosander and the usual Mallards whilst the Greylag flock was back in the stubble field along with 4 Canadas but no Pink Footed which may have moved on or elsewhere with the rest of the Greylag flock.
Early dark tonight but good to meet Bfd birder Steve and his good lady up there battling the elements before I left.
Redcar Tarn, Keighley
14 Tufted
1 Heron
3 Brambling
c 20 Chaffinch
c10 Goldfinch
63 Lapwing
2 LBB gull
c 30 Herring
Loadsa BHG and Common gulls
+ usual sp.
Leeshaw Reservoir
148 Greylag
4 Canadas
5 Goosander
c 40 small gulls.
BS