Sorry its more gull talk but December is the gull watching season.
A very dark, grey and windy afternoon as I set out at 1445 hrs to do a second day gull check at Leeshaw reservoir.
On the way there Pit Lane pitches held around 100 small gulls along with c 200 Starling whilst Raggalds Flood had plenty water in but only 4 Black Headed gulls and 2 Lapwing present.
The Shay fields below Soil Hill held the local Lapwing flock of around 150 birds whilst the Golden Plover flock was still present showing around 30 Goldies but hard to view from the main road due to walls and hedges.
Leeshaw reservoir was very black and very windy with a strong SW>6 gusting 7 and large black clouds rolling off the moor.
In contrast to yesterdays session things were poor with around 400 small gulls and c50 large gulls but all were sheltering up in the NW corner of the banking out of the wind and all facing away from me into the wind. A few Herrings were present but nothing on the scale of last nights influx whilst amongst the Lesser Black Backed one showed the signs of Intermedius with a very dark mantle.
Other than gulls, a pair of Mallard and a pair of Teal were on the water along with 4 Canadas plus the usual 3 Cormorants, and in the air , 16 Lapwings flew over the far fields with 2 Golden Plover in amongst them.
Dark by 1530 hrs this evening as I left Leeshaw but only 15 days left to Winter Solstice, the shortest day when we turn the corner and slowly make our way back to lighter evenings.
BS
WEST YORKSHIRE BIRDING. BRIAN SUMNER. I am based at Queensbury and bird a patch within a 10 mile range of home incorporating 16 stretches of water, several plantations, a belt of woodland, stretches of river and canal and good areas of moorland. I specialize in upland birds, reservoir and sky watching. My local patch is Fly Flatts reservoir. Any reports can be sent by text or call to 07771 705024 or see profile for e mail address. All images on this blog are copyright.(2024).