A good start to the day when AC found a single Pink Footed goose on the Raggalds Flood. Presumably the same bird, was seen earlier at Doe Park by MP. The Pinkie was later joined by a Curlew, DW, and the goose was still present as I passed late afternoon.
Leeshaw was buzzing in the spring like weather with a count of 14 Curlew and 6 Oystercatchers but very few gulls, mostly Black Headed with just 2 first winter Herrings.
Lapwings are now starting to hold territory in the surrounding fields.
A late visit to Oxenhope reservoir waiting for the gulls to arrive did,nt go to plan with very few gulls coming in and only staying enough time to freshen up before heading off towards Eccup. The best I got was 86 Herrings and 4 LBBs along with a few small gulls but the gulls were very difficult to see on the water with the sun full on in the face and reflecting on the water but nothing that I could say looking like the Iceland. I stayed until 1630 hrs by which time all the gulls had gone and no signs of any more coming in.
What I thought was a possible repair on the camera at lunch time proved me wrong when a skein of Pinkies came overhead and the camera refused to play. After that it gave up the ghost altogether so its chucked in the draw waiting for a price of a repair once the shops reopen again. I took the Canon 7d mk1 to Leeshaw which was worse than useless and the photos were not fit for blogging. The auto focus is so slow that the bird is out of the area before it gets a focus on it.
I,ve 2 more cameras to try tomorrow but I,m not holding my breath.
LEESHAW
14 Curlew
6 Oyks
2 Herring
c 100 Small gulls
c 80 Lapwing
1 Grey Wagtail
+ usual sp.
OXENHOPE RESERVOIR B.O.G. members only
42 Pinkies..............>NW
6m 8f Goldeneye
5m 7f Goosander
5 Teal
86 Herring
4 LBB
6 Curlew
c 250 Lapwing
27 Golden Plover
+ usual sp.
BS