Poor conditions at Leeshaw early morn with a very strong W>6 and horizontal drizzle at 6 degrees but good visibility.
Around 150 gulls mainly staying on the water whilst a single Wigeon was in the field with Mallards. Other than a few Starlings through and a Kestrel battling the wind things were very quiet with empty skies.
Mid afternoon and back into the breach at Cullingworth fields with what must have been in excess of 2000 gulls spread over 2 fields. To start with the gulls in the feeding field were at close range so easier to scan through whilst the gulls in the big field were at distance.
Once again they were very flighty but luckily kept landing back in the same area. One problem today was the gulls , being so numerous ,were drawing attention and several cars were stopping and videoing them on their phones.
The job went pear shaped when the farmer appeared in his tractor muck spraying which put all the gulls in the air making the tractor disappear in a sea of gulls, an awesome site. After that the majority settled on the new sprayed area at the far end of the field and out of range.
As I set off for home KM was once again on his way to take second watch,( you were just by the Flappit Pub traffic lights Keith). Hopefully Keith found something special although the gulls were,nt in a good position for him.
Amazingly I scanned through hundreds of Herrings and Black Headeds and not one Med , Yellow Legged or Caspian that I could see but a very entertaining afternoons birding.
BS