Raggalds Flood a.m. / Leeshaw Reservoir p.m.

Another lousy morning, gales, heavy showers, some with hail.

Raggalds:

I braved the elements, eager to get me boots on, after having no birding time yesterday with Emma and  Abi to amuse. 

I had a walk up to look at the Raggalds Flood to see if this stormy weather had dropped owt in.

6 Common Gulls were in the Bradshaw fields.

Just 4 Black Headed Gulls there.

A  very large distant flock of Starlings were in the fields below Percy Rd.

2 Pheasant, 2 Mistle Thrush and a possible  Fieldfare were here also, but the hail and distance made ID unreliable.

A possible Wader morphed into a clod of earth and 2 stalks!

One bonus is that there is lots of juice in the flood.

Leeshaw:

We had a run out to Leeshaw reservoir this aft. another cold windy affair.

Hail showers going, snow showers on the return but amazingly it was dry during my short stay at Leeshaw.

However, the wind was cruel, gusting gale force along the track.

Sue read in the car while I had a walk along the reservoir track.

Most birds were distant on the north side, obscured at times by the 'waves'.

Two Little Owl were in the usual spot.

Not one Gull in sight, which must be a record, when I arrived.

A few Gulls passed > w with the odd one landing on the water.

1 F. Goosander was near the south bank, but I soon lost it.

Then 2 F. Goosander  flew low over the water, leaving W.

Then 4 Goosander (2 M. 2F) were diving constantly on the far north side.

One photo that I took of a Gull on the water, reveals 2 Ducks on the far banking.

I reckon they are a  Pr. Teal but the photo is pretty rubbish at the distance.

A small flock of 16 Mallard dropped in as we were leaving.

6 Pheasant, again distant - the bird on the left, however, might not be a Pheasant.

I thought I'd a problem with my eyesight (a bigger problem than usual that is!).

But on inspecting my glasses I noticed that the right lens had dropped out.

I was pretty fortunate to find it in some short grass, as I retraced my steps.

If it had fallen in "the long brown stuff" it would have been goodnight Vienna. 

We called at the co-op for an ice cream, on our way home,  and scoffed it in a layby below the Dog and Gun pub as the snow fell - we know how to enjoy our Sunday afternoons, we do.

Raggalds Walk:-

Possible Fieldfare at the front.

Starling Flock - "miles off"

Leeshaw:

Pr. Teal - way off.

Pheasant(s)