A cloudy morning with some light showers on a NW>3 at 12 degrees leading to a bright and sunny afternoon.
With the route to Fly Flatts closed today for re surfacing , rather than go the long way round, I headed for Leeshaw reservoir to check the shoreline situation. The water is well up but enough shore to attract passing waders down.
A very quiet start but things soon started happening in dribs and drabs with the first thing on interest was a Curlew calling but unseen. Shortly after 5 Curlew came over high and >W followed by singles totaling 11 by the end of the watch.
Swallows and House Martins were skimming over the water in good numbers all >S whilst a small flock of Lapwing were on the north shore.
I usually have Yellow Legged Herring gull at this time of year but a poor show of gulls this morning.
The afternoon was a bit of a gull search by firstly checking the Thornton fields which amounted to nothing other than Woodpigeons so on to Doe Park which was equally as quiet with just a couple of gulls, a Cormorant plus a few bits and bats.
Then, on the way home I finally found where all the gulls were. One of the fields at Denholme Gate was being ploughed, holding around 300 gulls with Herring, LBB, Black Headed and Common but unfortunately the field is right by the busy main road so had to leave the car in the business park area and stand by the roadside to view the birds. It was like standing on the M62 hard shoulder so took plenty photos and left, planning to scan through the pics when time allows.
Hopefully they,ll soon return to the quiet of the Thornton fields.
LEESHAW
1 Cormorant
115 Canada geese
12 Greylag geese
14 Lapwing
1 Moorhen
2 Dipper
3 BH gull
5 LBB gull
+ usual sp.
VIS MIG
39 House Martin..............>S
132 Swallow....................>S
11 Curlew........................>W
DOE PARK
1 juv Herring gull
1 juv BH gull
1 Cormorant
3 f Mallard
2 Kestrel
DENHOLME GATE
c 300 Gulls
Herring
LBB
Common
Black Headed
BS