A much better day after overnight heavy rain and some snow up here on the tops which luckily cleared by daybreak. First light at Leeshaw reservoir found clear skies with 80% cloud and even a touch of sun on a cold W>4 at 3 degrees.
The drive to Leeshaw was fruitful when passing a field I spotted a bright white image in the centre which made me anchor on, much to the annoyance of a car behind me, obviously not a birder.
A Barn Owl was sat in the grass before quartering the field and luckily staying in the area long enough for me to get some poor shots in still part darkness and the camera wide open.
Leeshaw was much livelier this morning, and much easier to bird without the lashing rain, with again a good number of gulls moving through and several small gulls in the goose field. Around 16 Herrings headed >W along with an adult LBB and possibly 2 1cy LBBs unless they were Herring, not made my mind up yet.
A single male Goosander was on the water along with 32 Canada and 3 Greylag plus a few Mallard but no return yet of the massive flock of Greylags that are somewhere in fields around the area.
Otherwise it was down to a flock of around 100 Fieldfare, c 200 Starling and c 100 Jackdaw plus the usual species along with 4 Lapwing and a single Pied Wagtail.
Weather looking promising for the next couple of days.
BS