Arrived at Leeshaw early morn to find bright, clear blue skies and sunshine on a SW>5 at 4 degrees
Around 500 Common and Black Headed gulls were on and around the water as well as in nearby fields, whilst Herring and Lesser Black Backed gulls moved west overhead.
For 2 weeks now I,ve been watching the winter goose flock build up but never had chance for a count or scan as they have been keeping to a field with no access and out of view other than very distant from the top road.
This morning they were very vocal getting louder and louder and I knew they were due for a blast off. Suddenly it happened and I had nearly 500 mixed Greylag and Canadas over my head. With Big Bertha on the camera they were far too close to photograph flying over whilst the noise was deafening sending the dogs into a bit of a panic, they thought the sky was falling in.
The whole shebang landed on the water for about 15 minutes before moving back to a field to the north of the water , again just out of sight, but enough time for me to get a count and a scan through for strangers.
I ended up with 5 Pinkies amongst them as well as the 4 white Greylags from TMR as well as 3 Wigeon which must have flown in with them from the field then left with them presumably back into the new field with the geese.
Two hours of hectic and exciting birding.
Late afternoon and reluctantly I tried Fly Flatts again in a calmer SW>4 and full cloud cover with light rain showers but again the area was void of bird life with 1 Stonechat, 2 Crows and 3 Red Grouse. Its unbelievable that Leeshaw is only 2 miles NW of Fly Flatts and buzzing with birds whilst Fly Flatts is getting nothing. Even Oxenhope reservoir just over the Nab is getting 1000s of gulls to the roost but not a gull at Fly Flatts, wierd.
LEESHAW
278 Greylag
196 Canada
5 Pinkies
3 Wigeon
13 Mallard
15 Meadow Pipit
21 Herring gull
37 LBB gull
c 500 BH and Common gull.
+ usual sp.
FLY FLATTS
1 Stonechat
3 Red Grouse
2 Carrion Crow.
BS