A very foggy morning up on the tops but a visit to Leeshaw Reservoir found it under the cloud base on a very light E>1 at 11 degrees with full cloud and drizzle turning to rain.
Despite the dark conditions it was the most lively vis mig morning this season with Meadow Pipits piling over >S all low down below the cloud with several ground hopping through. My count probably only caught a quarter of the Mipits with higher and more distant birds in the mist.
Swallows, Martins, Wagtails and gulls were also moving making a very hectic morning. The Mipits came through in groups of 5 to 20, the largest group being 48. By 0930 hrs the rain was heavy but the Mipits still continued to trickle through with quiet skies just before I left at 1000 hrs.
With hopes of something maritime over the water I had an hour at Doe Park mid afternoon in very poor conditions with heavy drizzle on a light E>2 and low cloud.
Nothing unusual showed but a goo count of BH gulls on the south shore as well as 2 LBBs. The Grey Wagtail family of 4 were active whilst 3 Cormorants were harassing the fish.
Again no sign of the Osprey or reports of the bird at this site today but sounding like it was at Hewenden all day with a report of it there this morning by Haworth birder SB and a text this afternoon from a Denholme birder saying it was still there fishing and perched it a tree at around 1530 hrs. Well done to Sharon for braving the elements this morning to view the bird at Hewenden and for sending me the report as well as a meteorological forecast saying' its hissing down' .
Good company on the dam wall at Doe Park for 1 hour this afternoon, as we got wet through, talking to a Cullingworth birder about days gone by.
Leeshaw Vis Mig
427 Mipit...................>S
c50 Mipit .................blogging
21 Swallow...............>S
9 House Martin........>S
7 Alba Wagtail.........>SE
3 Grey Wagtail........>SE
2 Grey Wagtail........>blogging
17 Herring gull.......>W
5 LBB.....................>W
Present
21 BH gull
2 Kestrel
+ usual sp.
Doe Park
2 ad 2 juv Grey Wagtail
48 BH gull on shore
2 LBB gull on shore
3 Cormorant
5 Swallows over water
sev Herring and LBB gull heading for TMR
+ usual sp.
BS