Leeshaw

Saturday 2nd May a.m.
A cloudy start to the day with a temperature at Leesharw Reservoir of 3.5°C with a cool breeze blowing.There were several Swallows feeding low over the reservoir & on the far side it was good to see a pair of Greylags with six goslings.The shoreline just held a few Lapwings & an Oystercatcher, with a solitary Wheatear in a nearby field.We started to walk up the track seeing Dunnocks & a Willow Warbler, we put some Nyger seed down in the usual spot & decided to go to the top of the steep track for a change.There were Curlews more Lapwings & another Wheatear at the top of the hill, a steep walk but a good view.
 After making our way back down to the dam wall we spotted four Linnets, a first for us at this location then a Redshank flew in front of us in to a field on the other side of the water.We decided to move the car back to the entry point of the reservoir & take the track up to the field.Walking up we saw another Wheatear then in the field our luck was in when we saw two Redshanks & getting a couple of snaps.
 We then relocated to Upper Marsh looking for Golden Plover in the usual field,as we walked down from the car park we saw a good number of them.We then saw several fly in to the higher field at the side of the track leading to the cafe, we took the chance of following them.Using the wall for cover we managed to get some good close views & again some decent snaps.We walked further along the track past the cafe where in the trees we got another surprise with two Redpolls & a Willow Warbler.
A difficult morning hard work locating the birds in poor light but our patience was rewarded in the end & a few decent snaps.

Golden Plover

male Goldies in breeding plumage

Female Goldie

Dunnock

Greylags with six Goslings

Lapwing

Linnet

Redpoll

Redshank

Wheatear

Willow Warbler

female Golden Plover

View from the track above Leeshaw

view from the other side of Leeshaw 2/5/15