A reasonable morning with the weather nothing like the life threatening forecast we were given.
Only a light SE>4 at Leeshaw with a few heavy showers and very dark clouds at 10 degrees. By 0900 hrs the wind was increasing and continuous rain cutting down visibility and though the wind increased into the afternoon it was nobbut a stiff breeze by Queensbury standards.
A pleasing morning at Leeshaw after expecting to be grounded today with yesterdays forecast. A bit of early movement with Redwing, Woodpigs, Alba Wags, and surprisingly Cormorants.
Only a low count of distant gulls and nothing unusual on the water but something to watch throughout.
With heavy rain by 0900 hrs I moved on at 0930 hrs to try my luck with gulls down in the Sladen Valley at Lower Laithe reservoir but only small gulls on the gantry and 29 LBBs way out on the water.
Not a pleasing sight to find the whole hillside by the reservoir overflow has had all the mass of Rhododendron bushes removed which acted as a good nesting and migrant catchment point.
A field at Penistone Hill had a good amount of small gulls along with a few LBBs but did.nt appear to be anything special as I peered through a barred gate from the car. To get a better look I carefully clicked the car door open to sneak out, but as expected, there they were, gone!
Looking like a bright clear day tomorrow with a moderate to strong sou' westerly.
BS