Another of those wet and windy mornings at Leeshaw with a moderate W>4 with heavy rain, sleet and snow throughout the watch at 3 degrees.
The highlight of this mornings watch was undoubtedly the arrival of 28 Curlew coming in from the east and settling across on the far moor with another 4 arriving and settling in the goose field. Oystercatchers have now increased to 4 and usually get up to around 28 before the spring whilst Lapwing numbers were up to 47. A count of 91 Greylags and 5 Canadas were in the field but the Pink Footed was not among them this morning although some of the flock were missing.
Around 200 Starling and 150 small gulls were mobile whilst a Heron flew over very high and >N . Big gulls are quietening off now with just 3 present whilst LBBs have been noticeable by their absence all winter.
Just 1 hour to spare mid afternoon so a check on Ogden which was ridiculously quiet with the bird of the afternoon being a Kingfisher and otherwise it was down to Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnock and Wren after a full circuit of the water. None of the Robins and Blackbirds were showing signs of continentals whilst tit flocks seem none existent so far this year .
The water held around 30 small gulls and the usual Mallards, and a Moorhen seemed out of place walking along the west bank track.
BS