Poles take note!

An early start at Old Moor only to be greeted with torrential rain which tempted me to call the whole thing off, fortunately however, when I reached the Mere Hide the RSPB had remembered to put the roof on and the birding went ahead as planned! By the time I reached the Wath Hide the sun was shining and glaring light meant that most birds were seen purely in silhouette. Present were about 250 Wigeon (types), 200 Teal (types), 1,500 Golden Plover (types), a Dunlin (type) and a definite Green Sandpiper. A decent number of thrushes were grounded on Green Lane, 20 Blackbirds, 6 Song Thrushes, 3 Redwings as well as a couple of Goldcrests and a Jay. A steady trickle of Skylarks passed over south as did 6 Siskin and a Redpoll. As I left to check out Wombwell Ings a couple of Coal Tits and a Willow Tit were at the car park feeders.
Wombwell Ings: 2 Little Egrets, 26 Greylags, 28 Wigeon, 150 Lapwing, a Golden Plover, 2 Snipe and a Grey Wagtail. And there was news from Broomhill Flash too (presumably the 42b doesn't run Wednesdays!) where as well as the two Little Egrets earlier there was a Little Owl.

Belated news from Saturday of a Stonechat Wombwell Ings (Dave Pickering).

Cormorant at Broomhill Flash - Jim Thompson. Phalacrocorax lawycus perhaps?

Common Gull at Broomhill Flash - Jim Thompson