Another of those awful low cloud mornings at Leeshaw with drizzle and rain showers until mid morning when it dried and brightened up. A moderate SW>5 increasing >6 at 6 degrees. By late afternoon the sky was bright and the wind dropped to a cold SW>4.
Small gulls kept the job going this morning with a near continuous flow of Black Headeds and Commons all >W with some stopping on the water and others flying low over the water but continuing through. Strangely there were no big gulls through whatsoever and no wildfowl on the water. Apart from the usual corvids etc the small gulls were the only species seen throughout the watch.
Late afternoon and even with conditions improved Mixenden reservoir was also mega quiet with just around 50 small gulls and again no Herring or LBB.
The water held a single female Goosander along with a Moorhen and a pair of Mallard. A Grey Wagtail was in the NW corner and the highlight was a small tight group of 12 Siskin dropping into the plantation.
Another early finish so stopped off at the Soil Hill Black Redstart site to find the red trailer of manure where the birds hung out has been removed with no signs of either bird although the cold wind could have been keeping them down or they may have relocated nearby.
A task for hill watches NK an JJL.
Leeshaw Reservoir
c 300 BH gull
c 50 Common gull
+ usual sp.
Mixenden Reservoir
1f Goosander
1pr Mallard
1 Moorhen
1 Grey Wagtail
12 Siskin
+ usual small gulls etc.
BS