An early morning arrival at Mixenden Reservoir found that already there were around 8 off lead nasty looking dogs charging about with equally nasty looking owners. Some of these were long dogs probably rabbiting so not the place to be with my two. This has happened on the last three times I,ve set off to go there so looks like another venue that I,ll be giving a miss.
On then to Leeshaw with reasonable conditions and decent visibility. Light showers throughout on a light S>3 at 1 degree and mist on the top of the moor.
A nice find with a suspected Yellow Legged Herring gull on the water showing dark streaking forming a dark shadow around the eye. Luckily it landed briefly on the valve tower exposing its legs which ,unlike the bright summer plumage yellow, they were a dull winter plumage yellow confirming it as a michahellis. This is the 15th YL I,ve had this year.
A record flock of 44 Mistle Thrush were moving around the fields as well as a group of 62 Fieldfare with a few Redwing mixed in whilst 12 Meadow Pipits were feeding along the far shore.
The water just held the usual 3 Goosander, 1 Teal and several Mallard plus a single Cormorant, the first I,ve seen there for a while. Very few gulls again with around 100 Black Headed and Commons with just 5 Herrings and the Yellow Legged.
Gale force winds and lashing rain up here on the top of the hill tonight which seems to be the forecast for the rest of the week.
BS.