Tuesday, 19 April 2011

Leeshaw Part 2

The weather today reminded me very much of the early 90's when Black Terns were regular visitors to Leeshaw Reservoir at this time of year and so I couldn't resist a break from work this afternoon. Alas no terns although a quick check on the web confirmed that many were passing in the southern half of the country so maybe tomorrow????
Nevertheless there were plenty of others things to watch and not all of them feathered.

5 comments:

Dave Barker said...

Great shot of the Hercules Ian. Over the years, since that period in the 90's when we had the terns, I too have kept looking but had very few. What I have noticed though is that there are very many fewer flies at that site than I remember in those fantastic days... there may well be site specific related reasons for that due to obvious change or there again it might be general national reduction... any thoughts?

Ian H. said...

Hi Dave
You could be right about the flies and I suspect anothet factor is the closure of Sugden tip and the lack of gulls passing through Leeshaw. As you will recall there was always a steady trems of birds washing off throughout the day. In the couple of hours I was there yesterday afternoon I saw just 1 immature BHG and a couple of LBBG flying over the moor.

Ian H. said...

Hi Dave

I tried again today, no terns but a Yellow Wagtail, my first locally for several years. It's a long time since Yellow Wags were regular; do you remember when you could get up to 10 Y.Wags together on passage at Leeshaw!!
Ian

David said...

Good one with the Y Wag Ian and I certainly do recall, I also recall three breeding pairs, birds actually visible through the bins from my house window in the 70's/80's... they have just vanished, extinct now in Bradford as breeders i would believe... with only a few flythroughs heard/seen on visible migration to which only "flava" can be attributed. Have been trying to snap one for donkeys years but without success. Give my regards to MJ, it would be good for the three of us to meet up some time for a bit of local birding?

Ian H. said...

Hi Dave

I suspect we'd need to count MJ out....too busy with grandchildren and mountain biking to lift the bins much these days I'm afraid. I still see him regularly but just not birding. Losing Marley was the tipping point I guess, I'd love to get back in there with a decent camera though!!!