A much improved weather front early morn at Leeshaw with full cloud cover and drizzle showers on a light SW>2 at 12 degrees. Just the conditions needed for reservoir watching though the wind needed to increase slightly.
A cracking start to the morning with the first lift of the bins to check the Black Headed gulls on the gantry revealed a single Arctic Tern on the gantry rail. Arctic Tern is a rare sighting in this area, more so than Common Tern, the latter usually getting seen by me only once or twice a year, whilst its 11 years since my last Arctic Tern sighting which was one I twitched on the west shore at Ogden along with Common Tern. This was 13/9/2013 on an horrendous evening in fast fading light and torrential rain as I stood getting drenched along with DJS et al.
This mornings bird stayed about 15 minutes before climbing high and heading off >SE into the murky low cloud. A nice bird to get just around a week since a Common Tern at this site.
The area was alive with Meadow Pipits, Goldfinch and Linnets whilst overhead, Swallow, House and Sand Martins were busy feeding along with 2 Swifts which are rapidly disappearing now.
Still a single Curlew present along with 2 Oystercatchers whilst a few LBB gulls headed >W and 8 Black Headed were on the shore.
Looking like being back to sunshine tomorrow on a moderate WSW.
BS