Oxenhope Reservoirs .... the bird drought continues

I had the usual run out to visit the Oxenhope reservoirs on a very chilly day with a cold easterly breeze keeping the temperature at 8 degrees.

The BIG coat will be coming out soon.

Leeshaw 10:50 - 11:30.

The water was quiet here with c16 small gulls but no geese.

Lots of smaller birds were moving about - c30 Meadow and c30 Goldfinch with an unid hiding in some tall plants, possibly a Reed Bunting I thought at the time - but the pic does not support that, I don't think.

Also about there were 4 Pheasant and a couple of Red Grouse calling from the moor.

13 Lapwing left the fields to land on the shoreline and a Mistle Thrush called as it flew past high up.

Lower Laithe 11:35

Just c60 small gulls on the valve tower walkway, with a further c40 small gulls on the water.

13 Lapwing came in to land as I was leaving - the same ones I'd seen at Leeshaw no doubt.

Ponden 11:45

A Heron was in the fields as I made my way along the bumpy track near the old Ponden Mill shop.

Not a lot on the water just a few small gulls with 2 LBBG and a few Mallard on the edges.

Also here there were a few Pheasant and a Moorhen.

Leeming 12:35

As I approached Leeming, on the tarmac road, c20 Pheasant flushed from 2 fields over on my right.

A Sparrowhawk was circling high up and a Heron sat patiently on the reservoir cobbles.

c10 small gulls and a few Mallard were on the water and then I had a small bonus with a Great Crested Grebe also on the water.

There were 11 Greylag Geese feeding on the short new grass in the mud bank with another 2 or 3 Greylag on the other side.

I did a circuit, leaving the reservoir at the far end and going through the fields. 10 Long Tailed Tit landed close by, in a tiny tree, soon to fly off again.

A Jay flew over and a Sparrowhawk circled above - most probably the one seen earlier.

A pretty Wren flitted about low down in a small tree.

Through the tress I could see just a small triangle of sky and this was temporarily invaded by 6 Thrushes moving fast, possibly Redwing but they were gone before I got anything on them.

A Weasel ran across the tarmac track, disappearing into a wall as I got back to the reservoir.

I am thinking we will be hearing about water shortages soon - that should bring the rainstorms - and some Geese or Swans.

Leeshaw:

Meadow Pipit?

An Otter stone

Any idea what this is please?

Possible Dunnock but it does not look right?

Not much clearer cropped.

Very distant Mistle Thrush

Lower Laithe:

Lapwing coming in to land

Ponden:

Ponden Reservoir

Leeming:

??

Above the moor is on fire in the distance

Moor fire full zoom