As expected, the light NE>1 brought with it dense fog on the tops but Leeshaw was misty but clear enough to do the job. Low cloud base on a very light NE>1 with constant rain throughout, which is'nt a problem, at a mild temperature of 6 degrees.
A good start to the morning, whilst on route, with my best ever views of a Barn Owl. The Owl was perched on a fence post right at the side of the road in heavy rain. I stopped right alongside it with it just 5ft away, I could have touched it out of the passenger window. After about 30 seconds of the owl and me staring at each other it glided off across the field. An amazing event which would have been better if I could have got a photo but no time and way too close, the lens would have been touching its beak.
Leeshaw was, as usual, very active with Lapwings , Curlews and Oystercatchers very noisily moving around the fields as well as the rowdy Canadas and Greylags.
A single Moorhen looked out of place on the water but otherwise no more wildfowl other than the Mallards. A pair of Redshank were copulating in the field whilst 2 Dipper and 2 Pied Wagtail were moving around the beck area
A better morning for big gulls with 5 Herring , 7 LBB and 3 Common but strangely no Black Headed.
Cloudy and dry tomorrow on a light sou'westerly, increasing towards midday so the mornings birding is in the hands of the fog!
BS