Larger bird with outstanding red breast and extensive white rump.
Possible Nth European.
Leeshaw this morning was an absolute washout with the first 30 minutes of light rain and then torrential rain coming down in sheets and blanking out visibility concluding in an early finish.
Bird wise, the 3 Wigeon flew from the water to a top field out of sight with no geese to be found this morning. Possibly up at some of their favourite fields at Upper Marsh.
Otherwise it was just small gulls on and around the water.
Late afternoon and time to pull one of my winter venues out of the bag with a visit to Soil Hill in a moderate SW>5 gusting 6 on the summit but slightly sheltered down the north bank with some sunshine.
Nothing on the summit other than 4 Stonechat on the heather at the top of the west slope and all the activity was taking place at the bottom of the north slope.
A Jay was unusual down there, as were 2 male Bullfinches, one of which was a larger looking bird standing out as much brighter red and a more extensive white on the rump making it a candidate for a Northern European but having no experience with this race I,ll quietly move on.
A single drake Teal was on the NK pond along with 6 Mallard whilst another 6 Mallard were in with small gulls on the Shay along with 1 ad and 1 1st winter Herring .
Looking at the habitat up there now I should think any Snow Bunting sightings will have to come from the quarry area rather than the hill itself now with very little , if any, suitable habitat on the tops.
The hill was very popular this afternoon with DP, CK, 2 unknown birders on the opposite summit to me and Dan B on route up there.
LEESHAW
3 Wigeon
Small Gulls
2 Cormorant
Soil Hill
2 Blackbird
1 Wren
1 Jay
2 Bullfinch
115 Small gulls
2 Herring gull
1 Moorhen
12 Mallard
1 Teal
4 Stonechat
BS