More low cloud, fog and drizzle turning to heavy rain showers on a WNW>3 with some early sun at 8 degrees. By mid afternoon the wind had turned NW>7 reaching gale force 8 by 1800 hours before steadily dropping as the evening went on. The strong wind brought some torrential rain showers.
Leeshaw was below the cloud base starting with clear skies and some sunshine.
The bird of the morning was Swallows which piled through for 30 minutes ahead of the rain. This will be one of the last big pushes through though stragglers will go on into next month.
Around 300 small gulls present on the shore and in the fields but only 16 LBBs and no Herring. A female Red Breasted Merganser was a surprise on the water and a first for me at this sight though unfortunately it kept well to the NW corner out of range. A Snipe was in with a group of Lapwing.
A horrendous mid afternoon with horizontal sheets of rain ploughing across from the >NW but luckily this doesnt effect gull watching as the gulls just carry on feeding regardless.
10 Yards Lane was quiet with just a handful of small gulls found so on to Cullingworth where the big field was heaving with around 400 gulls, 60% small and lots of Herring and Lesser Black Backed. Very difficult scoping in the conditions and over half of the gulls at the distant far side of the field but nothing exotic spotted in the ones I scanned through.
Looking like a brighter day tomorrow hopefully with no fog as I have to get up to Fly Flatts in the morning to check for wind damage with the boats.
Leeshaw
1 f Red Breasted Merganser
34 Mallard
1 Snipe
47 Lapwing
18 Mipits................>S
73 Swallow............>S
16 LBB gull
c 300 Small gull
1 Grey Wagtail......>SW
Cullingworth Fields
c 400 gulls, 60% small .
Plenty Herring and LBBs
15 Lapwing
c 50 Starling
BS