Fog over the tops this morning but Leeshaw remained just below the cloud base with early drizzle on a cold SW>4 at 3 degrees.
A quieter morning with most birds sheltering at the western end of the water out of the wind with just a quick fly past of the 15 Oystercatchers before they dropped below the banking not to re appear. A check of the stream caught a quick sighting of a Dipper flying upstream whilst 2 Grey Wagtails were having a real go at one another. Probably a fight over territory as one bird had a definite black bib whilst the other bird had a facial moult but also showed signs of a bib.
Two Little Owls were back in their old location after deserting it for 12 months and moving a few fields away. The water held a few Canadas, Greylags and Mallards along with a pair of Teal and several small gulls but a poor morning for big gulls.
Plenty Lapwings and a few Golden Plover calls but no returning Redshank as yet. Good to meet NP up there doing the rounds.
Late afternoon and a dog less visit to Fly Flatts in terrible conditions with rain showers and a strong to gale force SW>7 at 6 degrees but feeling more like minus 6 in the wind with some very black skies.
A sludge through the mud to check for an early Wheatear, though 2 weeks early yet, took me on the very windy west bank to check the feeding area but nothing to be found. In fact the whole area was quiet with just a few Canadas and Mallards with nothing in the sky. No sign of the Ringed Plover, Lapwings or Oystercatcher which must have been lying low in the reed bed field.
Leeshaw
2 Little Owl
2 Grey Wagtail
15 Oystercatchers
1 pr Teal
4 Curlew
1 Dipper
+ usual sp.
Fly Flatts
15 Canadas
8 Mallard.
BS