A pleasing day today with the rain holding off till after dark.
Leeshaw this morning had a moderate SW>6 gusting 7 but clear visibility at 6 degrees.
Plenty to keep me occupied throughout the watch but gulls not as active as expected with the usual c 200 small gulls but only 5 Herring gulls.
Goosanders are showing well there with 8 present today as well as the usual Mallards along with a single Cormorant.
Late afternoon at Redcar Tarn was ,as usual, alive with birds , once again having me wondering what attracts them to this small area of water plus 1 flooded field.
The wind had increased to gale force SW>8 at 41 m.p.h. with light drizzle but this affected neither the birds or me.
An amazing count of 34 Tufted duck along with good numbers of Mallard, Coot and Canadas as well as 1 male Goosander. The water and surrounding fields were white with gulls whilst 27 Herring and 4 LBB were on the water and in the nearby flooded field. A flock of Lapwing were constantly overhead.
Far too windy to get involved with the Brambling flock as well as a chunk of my time spent rescuing a run away dog that was spooked with a gust of wind and got itself trapped to the front of a parked car with its lead jammed around the wheel.
By the time I,d calmed it down, got it free and returned it to its lady owner with nothing worse than a torn claw it was time to head for home .
Leeshaw Reservoir
15 Greylag
5 Canada
c 200 Small gulls
5 Herring gull
3 Lapwing
1 Cormorant
5f 3m Goosander
Redcar Tarn
27 Herring gull
4 LBB gull
tons of small gulls
1m Goosander
25f 9m Tufted duck
78 Lapwing
+ usual Mallards, Coots Moorhens, Canadas
Several large flocks of Fieldfare and Redwing in fields.
BS