Decent weather at Leeshaw reservoir this morning with 50% cloud and blue sky with some sunshine on a SW>3 at a cool 3 degrees and frost on the grass. A heavy mist hung over the hilltops.
A good show of Herring gulls but all argentatus as far as I could see, as well as a low count of LBBs and the usual mass of BHGs and Commons.
The female Wigeon is still flocking in with the geese but the Pinks seem to have moved on whilst 6 Lapwing were on the banking. At least 5 Meadow Pipits look like over wintering in the area whilst a Dipper flew upstream in the beck.
Mid afternoon and a trip up to Ringby Top in a brisk SW>4 and dark clouds bringing some light drizzle at 7 degrees. A real wellington boot job along the track at the moment but some good areas and ponds with a strong potential for Snow Bunting.
Nothing outstanding today but a nice variety of passerines with Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails, a single Stonechat, Dunnock and Skylark with the usual small gulls and corvids along with 4 Herring gulls, one of which had me going for a Caspian until I got my act together.
The same happened at Oxenhope yesterday when I came across a very white headed Herring gull but then found another 3 which dashed my hopes but then I remembered what MC once told me, that Sept to Jan/Feb 1st winter Herring gulls can show very white heads, why are gulls so confusing.
Back at the bottom of the track the bird feeders were very active with Gold, Green and Chaffinch as well as Tits and House Sparrows. Good to get Greenfinch which is becoming
a rare species of late and this area always looks promising for Brambling and Tree Sparrow, the latter probably just being a dream.
Just of note..... I just had a call from a gentleman from Hebden Bridge reporting the regular sighting of
an escapee Lady Amherst's pheasant in the Black Moor region.
KM has found yet another Caspian gull at Redcar Tarn, Keighley, this time a 1st winter.
MC has just had the rare sighting of a Marsh Tit in his Oxon garden.
LEESHAW
3 Cormorant
18 Herring gull
3 LBB gull
6 Lapwing
8 Mipits
1 f Wigeon
+ usual sp.
RINGBY TOP
3 Pied Wagtail
1 Skylark
1 Stonechat
12 Mipit
4 Herring gull
1 Dunnock
+ usual sp.
BS