in the strong wind.
from the water
Another trip to Redcar Tarn and another dip on the Yellow Legged Herring gull as well as no sighting of either Caspian or Iceland gulls though several gulls were in surrounding fields , heads to the wind with a strong W>7 near gale but fine and clear after earlier showers.
A good count of Herrings and several Lesser Black Backed which is unusual early on as most big gulls arrive mid morning. No sign of Brambling today but plenty Chaffinch very mobile in the fiercely swaying Hawthorns.
Highlight of the morning was bumping into I.H. who was checking for Med gulls and the YL Herring on his way to his patch at Keighley Moor reservoir. Unfortunately Ian,
the white headed Herrings in the field had pink legs when I blew the photos up, so did the birds on the water. Its years since I last bumped into Ian and one of the good memories I have was when Lynda and me took our twin girls to Stockbridge reserve and Ian, who was in the hide, was showing the girls birds through his scope which amazed them seeing birds at such a close range.
The girls were 6 at that time and now they,re 38, how time flies.
So no fancy gulls but never disappointing up there with full on activity from start to finish.
With the wind still blasting late p.m. and a few drizzle showers I had a wander around Ogden , again checking the gull situation.
Just 2 adult and 2 first winter Herring on the water along with 1 adult LBB and around 50 small gulls. The above photoed Common gull caught my eye carrying , what looked to be a Hawthorn berry, in its bill. It would fly high up and drop the berry then dive down and either catch it in mid air or retrieve it from the water before repeating the procedure. This went on for about 15 minutes before it flew off towards the Oxenhope roost still carrying its toy.
I,ve watched Herring gulls do this with pieces of wood or some other object but I dont know just what the idea is.
A flock of around 40 Siskin were flying round wildly in the wind but every time they dropped into one of the Alder trees they immediately took off again eventually heading for the shelter of the plantation.
Yet another , hold onto your hat day, tomorrow but we can,t complain about this sort of weather for February. I,ve had one grounded day due to snow up here on the tops so far this year.
PS. Me and my mouth, I,ve just finished the blog and let the dogs out to find it snowing like the clappers up here in the gods.
BS