Very wet and windy day throughout providing me with a good soaking morning and afternoon with heavy horizontal rain driven on a S>4 at 6 degrees in very dark conditions.
A hard morning at Leeshaw with bins and camera wet and steaming up but again lively on the bird front, thank goodness for waterproofs.
Very much the same as yesterday with the Greylag goose flock still present but in a field further away. The field was also shared with Canadas, Mallards, Lapwings and a single Pink Footed goose. The water held 1 pair of Goosander plus around 100 small gulls whilst the Stonechat pair re appeared, once again working the south banking.
As I was leaving, a last check of the big goose field produced around 50 Fieldfare mixed in with the Starling flock. Fieldfares have been scarce at this location so far with just a few flocks of Redwing showing.
On then to the Sladen valley to check Lower Laithe reservoir and the Upper Marsh Golden Plover fields.
Lower Laithe just held a pair of Goosander plus the usual small gulls, Canadas and Mallards whilst once again the Upper Marsh fields were empty other than Corvids.
For some unknown reason the massive Goldie flock that has used those fields since Adam was a lad have, in the last 2 years, completely deserted the area.
Mid afternoon and a check on Mixenden, on the way past to Fly Flatts, found it very poor with just a few small gulls. Fly Flatts was wild and wet but worth a wet walk on the west bank when I came across the male Ringed Plover which looks like it may be staying the duration if it is the same bird as the last 2 years which I suspect it is, using just the same parts of the reservoir as it did before.
Canadas are still increasing in numbers and starting to pair up now out on the moor whilst Red Grouse were the only other contenders.
More wind and rain tomorrow and road closures for the day making it awkward to get to Fly Flatts and Mixenden from my end so it looks like I,ll be Oxenhope bound again.
BS