A very dark and damp morning on the tops with a moderate S>4 with full cloud at 6 degrees.
Another Leeshaw trip aborted with the road closed again in Oxenhope so stopped off at Leeming reservoir. Not my favourite of venues but it has its moments and it fared a bit better this morning with 52 Herring gulls present as well as several LBBs and the usual small gulls.
A massive count of 219 Canadas on the water before leaving very noisily heading for the fields for the day. Other wildfowl were several Mallard, 5m and 1f Tufted plus a single Teal.
Nothing special among the gulls as far as I could see, though visibility was poor and silhouetted as well as everything being distant. The Alders and bushes along the track side were void of birds other than a few Goldfinch and a single Redwing.
A mid afternoon Brambling search at Ogden was negative with the Chaffinch flock being split into small groups and spread all around the perimeter and very mobile, the most being by passerine alley. The Tit flock was as yesterday with a few Goldcrest mixed in as well as the very elusive Nuthatch in the same area . Plenty Siskin and Redpoll in the usual Alders but remaining high up and very silhouetted against the sky.
Very few gulls present and no Herring but the 2 drake Goldeneye, that were found earlier by DJS and then NK, were still present but keeping at distance. Hopefully it will be a better winter for this species after a very poor show last winter.
BS