A dull morning with dark skies and a moderate S>5 at 7 degrees and light rain by 1000 hrs.
Gulls were back in the fields today after a few days absence with several fields through Oxenhope holding good numbers of mainly small gulls.
Leeshaw had around 300 small gulls whilst around 120 Herrings dropped onto the water mid watch but only staying about 10 minutes before heading off >W. A good scope through found Herrings of every year but no Caspian or Iceland.
Geese were also back in the fields before moving onto the water and the upland spring arrivals were building up with Oystercatcher, Lapwing and Curlew, with Redshank due to be the next to show.
Hundreds of gulls around the Cullingworth fields but very mobile moving around from one field to another in the strong S>6 gusting 7. They started off in a field at Sugden Top by the
lay-by then moved across to their favourite field near to the Flappit moor. As I parked up there I found KM scoping through them from his car. Keith managed to check them out whilst I got half way through before they moved off again not to return.
No sign of the Pink Footed goose on Raggalds Flood each time I passed today.
After trying 4 Canon camera bodies today, to use as a temporary measure, I ended up using one of my first DSLRs , the Canon 1200d . Its amazing how technology has improved since I first used this camera. The auto focus on the Canon 7d mk2 is killer fast picking up a flying bird whilst the auto focus on the 1200d gives you time to pour a drink from your flask whilst waiting for it to find the bird but its better than nowt for now.
Leeshaw
c 120 Herring gull
c 300 Small gull
71 Canada
48 Greylag
9 Oyks
8 Curlew
c 200 Lapwing
+ usual sp.
BS