Amazing reservoir weather today with a strong W>6 driving heavy horizontal drizzle across the water leaving poor visibility at 12 degrees.
Seeing the conditions early morn I headed for Leeshaw which used to be a hot spot for several Tern species and has even been known to have Little gull through.
Although the weather was atrocious it was brilliant for reservoir watching and, as always in these conditions, it provided the goods. There is plenty shore at the north side though viewing was distant and poor in the heavy drizzle so it was mainly down to scoping and definitely not a camera day.
Several waders were present with Curlew, Lapwings, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and Oystercatcher but unfortunately, with me neglecting the site, it is impossible to say whether the waders were late leavers or early passage birds moving through.
Gulls soon started building up on the far shore, mostly Black Headed but several Lesser Black Backed as well as 4 Common gull and the highlight was a single Yellow Legged Herring gull which landed on the shore showing its bright yellow legs before settling down and remaining so for the rest of the watch. Yellow Legged become a common sight at Leeshaw every July/August.
During a particularly heavy bout of drizzle 2 Common Terns came through fast and low >W being helped on their way by Black Headeds, a practice I,ve seen at Ogden in the past where BH gulls dont seem to like Terns.
A late afternoon check of Fly Flatts had the same type of weather with the wind increased slightly to near gale W>7 at 34 m.p.h. with less visibility due to more heavy drizzle and low scud clouds causing mist over the water.
Much quieter here than Leeshaw with just 2 male Ringed Plovers new in, unless one was the missing long staying male. Several juv Black Headed gulls were moving through >SE but otherwise all was quiet.
Leeshaw
1 Cormorant
2 Common Sandpiper
1 Dunlin
7 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew
c 30 Lapwing
2 Common Tern
1 YL Herring gull
4 Common gull
c 30 LBB gull
c 150 BH gull
+ usual sp.
Fly Flatts
2 m Ringed Plover
c 20 juv BH gull.
BS