A deteriorating morning at Leeshaw with a moderate SW>5 increasing to near gale force later in the day. Dry for most of the watch before heavy horizontal drizzle moved in. Mild at 6 degrees.
The usual busy morning at this location but surprisingly no returning Redshank as yet, making them about 10 days late.
Oystercatchers again stole the show with 34 present along with 5 Curlew and the usual Lapwings, though several of the latter have now dispersed and the majority of the remaining birds now sitting.
Very little wildfowl on the water with just a single drake Teal and a female Goosander as well as the usual Canadas, Greylags, Mallard and a Cormorant. Scores of Starlings are congregating in the fields, probably ready for heading back >N whilst 2 Little Owl were in their usual area.
As hoped, the strong SW wind brought a number of gulls through and into the fields but nowhere near as many as expected. Black Headed and Commons were in the fields whilst around 30 Herring gull moved through >W without stopping off.
BS