The saga continues with another morning of low cloud , heavy drizzle and rain on a moderate S>6 gusting 7 at 10 degrees. Conditions improved slightly for the last 30 minutes of the watch.
Once again I had to drop down to Leeshaw reservoir to get below the cloud base which hung over the tops of the moor. Its now over a week since I did my last visit to Fly Flatts with low cloud there every day.
With very cloudy skies overhead things were quiet with small gulls present and several small squadrons of Starling moving >NW. The highlight of the morning was at 0930 hrs in heavy drizzle when I heard Pink Footed Geese overhead but could,nt locate them until they appeared out of the cloud having passed over me with 120 >NE. A quick call to DCB/HC to alert them and even in the terrible conditions at their watch point they managed to locate them.
Late afternoon and a mix of sunshine and showers with more of the latter, some being drizzle and some heavy rain still on a moderate S>6.
The reservoir was very active with Herring and LBB gulls as well as the usual small gulls, whilst the LBB intermedius is still hanging around, first seen by me at Ogden and then by DJS at Mixenden within the last few days.
Two Goosanders were on the water, one female and one male in eclipse along with a drake Tufted and a female Goldeneye which dropped in near the end of the session.
With lock down once again looming on Thursday we find ourselves back in the position of finding out if we can drive to a venue for exercise,( birding), or not, but if not I suppose its a good excuse not to have to trail out in this dreaded weather.
Leeshaw
Small gulls
Mallard
120 Pinkies...... >NE
Mixenden
2 ad Herring argentatus
3 1st winter Herring
3 ad LBB
1 1st winter LBB
1 Intermedius LBB
1f Goldeneye
1f Goosander
1m Goosander in eclipse
1m Tufted
1 Canada goose
c 15 Coal Tit in the north end long hedge.
+ usual sp.
BS