A hot watch at Leeshaw which started off reasonable with a brisk W>3 which soon turned to a S>2 with full sun and clear blue skies on a temperature of 18 degrees. Luckily, the life threatening heatwave only lasted 2 hour and the rest of the day has been cloudy.
As expected, the still, hot conditions kept the birds inactive so a steady morning but enough to keep the interest going, just!
House Martins were busy collecting food for their young and several Swallows were in the air along with a small flock of Linnets. A Chaffinch and Mistle Thrush were unusual at this site at this time of year, but the raptors I was expecting in the conditions never materialized.
The water held the usual large count of Greylags, with a lesser number of Canadas with all but a few goslings now fledged. A female Goosander was present but waders were poor with just 3 Oystercatchers and a chick, 5 Curlew and the usual Lapwings, most of which are this years birds.
Gull count was down with 5 LBBs present and a few over >W very high whilst a single Herring and Black Headed flew over the water but did'nt stay.
Very calm and warm tomorrow with always some east in the breeze but showing visibility as good. One forecast puts a cloudy afternoon whilst another predicts rain from midday so its wait and see.
BS