A real grim morning at Leeshaw with near gale W>6 gusting 7 bringing heavy horizontal drizzle throughout, making poor visibility at 4 degrees.
As per usual, wet and windy weather brought the gulls in good numbers all >W. Several stopped off briefly but very hard to get a grip of with high waves and a deep swell. Around 350 small gulls passed through along with 16 Herring and 9 Lesser Black Backed but still awaiting the white wings which is starting to look a bit sad now, getting late in the winter. My previous year Iceland gulls have been January up to early March with Med gulls more early/mid winter although I have had an odd March sighting. Mid February through March is the time to watch for Kittiwakes in this area.
Around 18 Lapwing are now back in the area whilst the single Curlew is now joined with a second bird but sticking to the top field way above the farm.
Otherwise it was down to a small count of Greylag and Canada geese, Mallards, and Cormorant plus the usual species.
More showers tomorrow on a moderate sou'westerly till mid week and then promise of a week of snow showers.
BS