A wild morning at Leeshaw reservoir with a near gale W>7 at 38 mph gusting at gale force W>8 blowing at 42 mph with broken cloud and sunshine at 6 degrees.
Around 200 small gulls present, which were 90% Black Headed, and only 1 Herring gull, this being a 1st winter. The Black Headed were easy to check through for Meds with all being pinned down in the field and very little flying going on in the strong winds. Just a few ventured onto the water, battling with a 4 foot swell.
A single male Goosander was on the water diving in the normal fashion unperturbed by the waves but then left towards TMR mid watch.
A pair of Pied Wagtails were by the overflow whilst 4 Lapwing looked to be sussing out territory in the field with 6 Stock Dove nearby. Just a single Greylag goose present which is amazingly strange at this time of year for this location which usually holds over 300 Canadas and Greylags.
A mid afternoon visit to Mixenden was extremely poor with 1 pair of Mallard, around 50 small gulls on the water and a single Cormorant in breeding plumage.
Not an enjoyable visit once again with out of control nasty dogs, air rifles cracking in the plantation along with noisy quad bikes.
BS