Reasonable conditions today both at Fly Flatts a.m. and Leeshaw p.m. despite the moderate SW>6 increasing SW>7 near gale late pm with a few showers of rain and drizzle.
The forecast threatened danger to life winds but going by the Queensbury version of the Beaufort scale it was nobbut a stiff breeze. The temp early morning was 5 degrees.
Fly Flatts a.m. was reasonably quiet not producing the gull movement I expected in the conditions though a SW wind is not a great favourite for gulls.
Even though the air had the smell of Kittiwake they failed to make an appearance although most of my previous Kittiwakes have shown up February / March so my expecting may have been a little premature.
Just 8 Mallard on the water whilst a single Kestrel and 4 Raven were up over the Nab, not seeming to be bothered by the gusts. A hardy pair of Stonechat were by the track but very mobile.
Risking Leeshaw late p.m., after seeing work starting there yesterday, turned out ok with some digging going on around the dam wall banking but not affecting the reservoir.
Plenty small gulls present but only 7 Herring gulls and no sign of movement with some of the Black Headed and Commons on the water but mainly spread around the fields. The large stubble field held around 150 gulls and c 100 Jackdaw along with around 50 Fieldfare moving field to field.
The only wildfowl on the water were 16 Mallard sheltering under the SW bank before flying off to roost.
As I was setting off from home this morning the Foxhill Park, Queensbury, Common gull winter gathering had reached 72.
Lighter westerlies tomorrow which may be an improvement.
BS