at the far side of the water
Yet another early breeder.
A pair of Blackbirds in Halifax are feeding 2 well grown young.
First light at Leeshaw on a cool 3 degree morning with a SW>5 and 40% cloud but bright and clear.
A good record count of 318 Greylag geese along with 33 Canadas and the single Pink Footed goose were very noisy ready to move. I put the 70-200 mm lens on ready for a big blast off but they moved off in small groups in the opposite direction to me.
Things otherwise were quiet with the usual small gulls, Cormorants and a single Goosander and only 2 Herring gull present.
With little time late afternoon and my ' where do I go' head on I headed for Ogden, sometimes I get these silly ideas, but I thought it had to be quiet on a Monday afternoon, wrong. After I,d struggled to park I walked round amid a constant flow of public which is alright till you come to take a photo!
A surprise to see 2 female Goldeneye on the water but nearer to the far bank so only chance for a few record shots before they headed skyward. JL was on the opposite bank photographing them from much closer so he should have some better results.
I suspected the birds to be from Mixenden but they lifted high up and headed off >NE.
A small group of around 10 Siskin and at least 2 Redpoll were high in the tree canopy whilst further on, the tit flock was mobile along the waters edge.
Two Treecreepers came amazingly close several times landing on the wall about 10 foot away and too close to get a focus. By the time I had switched to close focus a group of people came past noisily so that was that. The same happened a few times till I eventually gave up on the camera .
A Great Tit was busy collecting food and taking it into the wood before darting back again for a refill, just another example of early breeding this year.
As I left , 17 post roost Herrings were on the water as well as around 100 small gulls.
Good news today that AC, followed by DJS and NCD got the Lceland gull at Redcar Tarn as well as at least 1 of the Caspians. Two very rare species well worth the effort to go and see.
Leeshaw Reservoir
318 Greylag
33 Canada
1 Pink Footed goose
1m Goosander
3 Cormorant
2 Herring gull
sev small gulls
Ogden
2f Goldeneye
17 Herring gull
c 100 small gull
3 Goldcrest
2 Treecreeper
Coal, Blue and Great tit
BS