Harold Park/Park Dam.

 

                                    Very few Tufted

                                    3 Gt Crested Grebe

                                        11 Mute Swan

                                Why is our dad that funny colour.

                                    Buzzing with Swallows

                                    Several House Martins

                                    Lines full of Swallows

                                    Several Swifts high overhead

Dense fog as promised this morning so with Ogden out of bounds by car it was down to Harold Park and Park Dam which are winter venues but plenty this morning to keep the interest going.

     Great Crested Grebe at both sites as well as a very low count of Tufted plus the usual Mallard, Coot and Moorhen whilst 2 Mute Swan were at Harold Park and 11 at Park Dam. Park Dam held 3 LBB and 2 Herring gull.

   No doubt, the highlight of the morning was Hirundines and Swifts with several Swallows feeding over the water at Harold Park and an unbelievable number of Swallows at Park Dam, feeding over the water and fields as well as lined up on the telegraph wires.

   A good count of Sand Martin were also over the dam with a lower count of House Martin, whilst several Swifts were high up in the sky.

    A better morning for tomorrow with a light NW at 6 degrees and a mix of cloud and sunshine, clouding over after midday and a chance of showers.

BS

Bank Holiday Washout.

 With dense fog and heavy rain and drizzle all day birding was abandoned with just a few very wet dog walks over Foxhill. Typical Bank Holiday weather but on the plus side, my garden is well watered and the water butt is full and overflowing into my overflow buckets which is good news with us being on a water meter.

    Tomorrows weather is showing a very cloudy but mostly dry day on a light NE starting at 6 degrees with fog on the tops.

BS

 

Another dabble at Fly Flatts

 

                                    6 Stonechat present

                                    5 Reed Bunting

                                    Still 3 Wheatear

                                    Lots of Swallows

                                Single Pink Footed goose

                                    6 Common Sandpipers

A dull start to the morning with a low cloud base and drizzle clearing by 0900 hrs to leave full cloud on a light WNW>3 at 8 degrees.

     Much the same as previous days with Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Redshank and Oystercatcher though more movement today with a good count of Swallows feeding over the water then slowly heading off >N. A Pink Footed goose was on the water which will be 1 of the 3 doing the rounds between Leeshaw, Mixenden and Ogden.

    A check in the Whinchat hotspot area failed to provide but turned up 6 Stonechat and 5 Reed Bunting as well as several Mipits. Still just the 3 Wheatear hanging on around the lagoon area.

    Looking like rain throughout the day tomorrow on a moderate NE at 9 degrees with chance of poor visibility. At least it will do my gardens good and top up the water butt.

BS

   

More sunshine at Fly Flatts

 

                                    1 of 3 Stonechat

                                2 pairs Pied Wags feeding young.

                                    Count of 7 Redshank

                                    At least 6 Dunlin.

Another stonking morning at Fly Flatts with wall to wall sunshine on a light SE>3 at 8 degrees.

     Plenty activity with the usual waders, several of which were sticking to the east bank peninsular but a bit more movement around the shore with the cold east wind dropped.

    Dunlin were showing well with at least 6 present along with 7 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe and 2 Oystercatchers. 

    The majority of Wheatear have now moved through with just 3 showing as well as 3 Stonechat but no sign of Whinchat down in the bracken as yet. Otherwise, down to the usual species and nothing in the air.

   Tomorrow not looking bad with cloudy sunshine on a light sou'westerly starting off at 5 degrees. Rain moving in over Saturday night ready for a Bank Holiday washout all Sunday. 

BS

New arrivals, Fly Flatts.

 

                                    Now 7 Common Sandpipers present

                                    Redshank withGreylag

                                    5 Oystercatchers, 9 Redshank 

                                Distant Little Ringed Plover in the heat shimmer

                                    1 of 3 Stonechat

                                    1 Buzzard

                                    All against sun angle.

Another bright clear sunny morn at Fly Flatts with full blue skies and sunshine on a moderate SE>4 at 5 degrees. Heat shimmer is now starting to effect distant photos.

    More new wader arrivals this morning with now 6 Dunlin, 7 Common Sandpiper, 5 Oystercatchers,  9 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover and a Little Ringed Plover, as well as the usual Curlews and Lapwings. Unfortunately, once again all using the NE peninsular so at scoping distance and now hampered by the heat shimmer. Once the water drops a bit lower I have access to the east bank although heavy rain is forecast over the weekend, well it is bank holiday!!

    Otherwise, 8 Wheatear, 3 Stonechat, 2 Raven and a Buzzard, plus the usual species with nothing but a few Swallows overhead.

    Another of the same for tomorrow with clear skies and sunshine on a light SE kicking off at 5 degrees. Chance of an odd thunderstorm early evening.

BS