at 960 mm.
A windy dark day throughout with occasional showers but most of the rain holding off until after dark.
Leeshaw this morning was bursting at the seams with birds though nothing out of the ordinary but everything seemed to be aggravated by the moderate S>5.
The fields were full of Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling whilst Lapwing and Woodpigeon were overhead.
The water held a good count of 9 Goosander along with the usual Canada, Greylag, Mallard and Cormorant.
Late afternoon at Redcar Tarn, Keighley was grim with the wind increased to S>6 gusting near gale 7 with skies as black as night. Birds here were also hyper in the wind keeping very unsettled giving an amazing sight with the sky full of gulls, Lapwings, Starlings, Fieldfare and Canadas constantly flying round before resettling again.
Around 40 Herrings were on the water with around another 20 in the pond field. First Caspian spotted was on the water, this being the 1st winter bird which has been under scrutiny but now confirmed as a 1st winter Caspian. Immediately after spotting it the whole shebang took off and I was unable to re locate it. After a couple of laps dog walking around the water the gull had resettled for about the 4th time and a scan of the pond field found the 2nd winter yellow leg ringed Caspian in among the Black Headeds.
In between another 3 blast offs I managed some shots in beyond the limit conditions and had to be taken from the tripod with such a low exposure and high iso to try eliminate blur in the dark and wind.
Despite the conditions a well pleasing days birding.
Leeshaw Reservoir
2 Cormorant
5m 4f Goosander
c 200 Fieldfare
c 100 Redwing
c 300 Starling
c 200 Woodpigs
52 Lapwing
+ usual sp.
Redcar Tarn
1st winter Caspian .
2nd winter Caspian
c 60 Herring gull
4 LBB gull
sev small gulls
+ several Fieldfare, Starling, Lapwing and usual sp.
BS