from the top of the viaduct looking down the full length
of the reservoir into the dark inaccessible top corner.
The blind shots have captured 6 Wigeon and
1 of 2 little Grebe
These birds were,nt visible through the bins although
I,d scoped them all earlier.
First light at Leeshaw in terrible conditions with dark clouds and heavy drizzle on a W>5.
Around 200 BH gulls were moving around the fields as well as Fieldfare but the water only held 1 Cormorant, 5 Canadas and a few Mallard.
Late afternoon at Hewenden Reservoir had much better conditions with the wind dropped to W>3 but still dark skies though keeping dry.
A good variety of winter wildfowl on the water where they seem attracted to the part sheltered conditions rather than the exposed reservoirs I usually visit.
As usual most of the ducks were hiding away in the top corner of the reservoir with no easy access , not with the dogs anyway, so it was a matter of scoping from the viaduct.
Wigeon, Goldeneye and Little Grebe were a good find along with Goosander, Tufted, Coot and Moorhen. The fallen tree in the water is a favourite perch for Cormorant with 7 present all of which seemed to be catching much more than the anglers on the far bank.
Good to talk to Cullingworth birder Debbie on the viaduct who had a good knowledge of the area and birds with living nearby. She used to live at Queensbury and said she picked up some of her birding knowledge from NK when she used the same watering hole as him many years ago.
If you,re reading this Nigel, Debbie says hello.
Hewenden
7 Cormorant
3m 2f Goldeneye
4m 3f Goosander
6m 5f Tufted
4 Coot
2 Moorhen
2m 4f Wigeon
2 Little Grebe
47 Canadas
sev Mallards and small gulls
BS