A reasonable morning weather wise at Leeshaw with 70% clear sky but very little sun on a SW>4 at 6 degrees.
Bird wise it was much quieter than yesterday but a surprise to get a Kingfisher down in the Dipper beck, an unusual species for this site though all the conduit has been cleaned out which may be an added attraction.
The gull count was well down on yesterday with just 18 Herrings and around 150 small gulls whilst the Goosanders were down to 1 pair.
A pair of Pied Wagtails were investigating the mud that has been excavated from the conduit and spread along the south banking which will be a good wader catchment in the spring until it grasses over.
Overhead a small group of Lapwings circled the water along with a menacing Sparrowhawk and around 200 Jackdaw but no Pinks over today even though the sky looked right.
Mid afternoon was another story. I always say that if you are going to get a real good dowsing get it at the beginning of the year and get it over with, which I did today.
I arrived at Doe park mid afternoon to a very dark cloudy sky and it was,nt long before the heavens opened with rain pounding down like stair rods and being blown horizontally on a strengthened SW>5. The wind was driving the rain across the reservoir towards the dam wall so visibility was very difficult with it coming straight towards me and no shelter.
The reservoir was overflowing with no banking so nothing around the edges and just 39 Mallard out in the centre of the water along with a single Grey Wagtail on the boat jetty and a Kestrel up on a pylon.
After 30 minutes of wiping the rain off my bins and water dripping off my nose end I abandoned ship and headed for home. Ironically, after tea it had cleared up somewhat and I got a dry dog walk around Foxhill.
BS