A terrible day with the continuing strong SW wind at SW>5 gusting 6 at 3 degrees and heavy showers throughout the day . Late afternoon driving back from Keighley was horrendous with a gale force wind and lashing rain, sleet and snow.
A decent birding morning at Leeshaw despite the weather with a mega move of Starling all head down heading >NW exactly as they do in autumn.These were assumed to be continentals on their way back >N with a count of over 1500 birds in just over 100 squadrons during the 2 hour watch.
Otherwise, 31 Herring gull and 2 LBB gull headed >W as well as several small gulls. Curlews are now up to 4 and another Oystercatcher has arrived making 7.
The plan for the late afternoon session was Redcar Tarn but I called to see if the Waxwings were still present at Westfell Road which is only a slight diversion away. When I arrived around 8 other birders were present and I got the usual phrase of " you should have been here this morning"! Not to be disillusioned the berry tree was still booming with fruit so I was sure they would return for the last feed of the day.
After about 30 minutes they came flying in landing in a distant high tree aiming to drop down for their berries but unfortunately, as usual in these twitch type cases ,a few of the birders(?) were stood talking right by the tree that the birds wanted so the birds dare,nt come down. After a while the birds flew off and most of the people left but the birds returned to the same high tree after about 15 minutes. I stood for a while for the birds to drop down but the weather broke with torrential rain so I called it a day, and by now I,d no time left for Redcar Tarn which is probably as well the way the weather was. As I drove off the Waxwings were still in the top of the high tree in the pouring rain. A great sighting to end the day on.
Leeshaw
c1500 Starling...............c100 squadrons >NW
7 Oystercatchers
4 Curlew
31 Herring gull................>W
2 LBB gull......................>W
3 pr Goosander
+ usual sp.
Westfell Road, Keighley
15 Waxwing
BS