Sat on next doors back garden fence whilst Lynda was clearing birds from our
front garden feeders.
An icy cold morning with a strong NW>4 gusting 5 with full cloud and light rain throughout at
4 degrees. By mid afternoon the wind had eased slightly but still NW and very cold. Snow showers with flakes like half crowns in Queensbury early evening.
With a strong NW wind blowing in the morning I headed for Leeshaw reservoir where a good NW is favourable for bringing gulls through. Plenty Herrings and LBBs through >W but still awaiting a Tern of any sort. Strangely only 1 single Black Headed through.
Plenty shoreline across on the north shore which held 1 Common Sandpiper and 5 Dunlin as well as the usual Redshanks and Oystercatchers. The long staying Pink Footed Goose was in with the Canadas and Greylags, both of which have several goslings, whilst Lapwings are scattered all around the fields sitting eggs.
Another wild and wet afternoon at Fly Flatts but always worth checking in these conditions. With full winter waterproofs on I walked, or was rather blown, along the west bank checking that nothing unusual had been blown in. Hardy Common Sandpipers were spread all along the banking busy feeding whilst 24 Herring gulls were on the north banking with a few Herring and LBBs drifting through >SW.
Just the usual Ringed Plovers, Redshanks and Oystercatchers present otherwise with no sign of the Dunlins. Wheatears don,t seem to mind the weather at all with 4 active birds present.
Looking like a dry and bright day tomorrow with a moderate W then NW wind.
A real downer today when I took Lynda for a pre operation Xray at the hospital. The spaced out seats were nearly full so Lynda sat down and I stood at the side of her. A fellow opposite us,probably in his early fifties, got up and offered me his seat. I suddenly went from feeling 18 to feeling 80. At least it cheered Lynda up and made her laugh.
Leeshaw
6 Oyk
1 Common Sandpiper
5 Dunlin
7 Redshank
1 PF goose
1 BH gull
c 50 LBB gull............>W
c100 Herring gull......>W
1 Little Owl
+ usual sp.
Fly Flatts
2 Ringed Plover
9 Common Sandpiper
6 Redshank
4 Wheatear
24 Herring gull present
13 Herring gull...........>SW
9 LBB........................>SW
+ usual sp.
BS