Leeshaw reservoir early morn with bright skies and sunshine at 3 degrees on a W>6. Very blowy but a decent dry morning.
Nothing other than the usual species this morning with 9 Oystercatchers now present plus the 2 Curlew. Two pair of Goosanders were on the water whilst a Grey and a Pied Wagtail were by the overflow.
An interesting forecast for the afternoon with a heavy low heading towards us from the west bringing rain by late afternoon and gale force winds, reservoir watching tackle.
Whilst shopping in Brighouse after dinner I was watching the sky cloud over and darken with the wind increasing, even low down in Brighouse, so once home it was a dash to Leeshaw again to wait for the show to begin. A dog less visit late afternoon so I could position the car and get set up behind the tailgate with the wind already blowing at near gale W>7 as I arrived with grey skies but dry.
The wind was increasing all the time getting to gale force W>8 at 43 m.p.h and gusting to strong gale W>9 at 48 m.p.h. for short periods during which time it blew the tailgate down twotting me on the head twice, thats the first time I,ve ever had that happen.
Despite this, the birding was excellent and the best session I,ve had for a long time
with birds to watch and count for the full hour I was there.
Part of the Greylag group had come in with 87 on the water along with 38 Canadas and several Mallard. The Oystercatchers were up to 12 but still just the 2 Curlew, with no sign of yesterdays Golden Plovers which will probably have moved up to their favourite field at Upper Marsh where the flock reaches near on 400 by mid March.
Suddenly a move started with firstly Curlews, then Lapwings with groups piling through low over the water directly >W. Oystercatchers then joined in the procession coming through in twos and threes along with several mixed flocks of Curlew and Lapwing. An amazing sight to watch as they flew into the wind with very little effort.
Leeshaw
59 Oystercatchers.............>W + 12 present.
248 Lapwing....................>W + several present
68 Curlew........................>W + 2 present.
38 Canadas
87 Greylag
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
2 pr Goosander
c 100 Fieldfare
c 50 Redwing
c 200 Starling.
The amazing thing today was in all this movement only 1 gull was seen all day. This was a single
Black Headed out on the high waves making me get the scope out in hopes of Kittiwake.
BS