Leeshaw this morning was acceptable weather wise with a SW>4 at 4 degrees with light rain and drizzle showers.
Canada geese are slowly returning with 11 present today but only 1 Greylag found as well as a single male Goosander. A small group of Mallard along with a very white duck were battling the waves as well as 2 Cormorant and around 60 small gulls but only a single Herring.
A Sparrowhawk was sheltering from the wind on one of the Little Owl s wall perches before skimming over the wall and flushing a flock of around 200 Starling from a distant field.
The highlight of the morning was a small skein of Pink Footed geese over heading >W
Late afternoon and the weather deteriorated no end with heavy rain followed by dense fog before being cleared with a strong wind which built up to gale force SW> 8 gusting strong gale 9 for a short period blowing at 46 to 48 m.p.h.
First plan was to get below the cloud base which I did at Mixenden reservoir and then as the clouds lifted Mixenden gave me some shelter from the wind whilst on the west bank under the trees but it was near impossible to stand on the east bank with the strength of the wind increasing.
Once again, Goldeneye are attracted to this reservoir with 2 males and 3 females present but very hard to photograph as they always kept to the opposite side of the water to me and frequently disappeared from view with the deep troughs and swell of the water.
A male and 2 female Goosanders were also battling the waves along with the usual small gulls, 4 first winter Herring gulls and 2 Cormorant whilst a Moorhen sheltered under the west bank trees.
The skies were near empty other than a Sparrowhawk fly over and Woodpigeons coming in to roost.
Leeshaw Reservoir
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Cormorant
18 Mallard
11 Canada geese
1 Greylag goose
1 Herring gull, 1st winter
1 skein of 30 Pink Footed geese ....>W
Mixenden Reservoir
2m 3f Goldeneye
1m 2f Goosander
1 Moorhen
1 Sparrowhawk
4 Herring gull....1st winter
sev Small gulls
2 Cormorant
BS