Time to get the gull head on, Ogden.

 

                                    LBBs and Herring

                                    Black Headed arriving

                                    Down to 1 Heron

                                    4 drake Tufted + 3 female

                                    Drakes in eclipse

                                Foreground, Mallard in eclipse.

A very wet and windy start to the morning with mist on the tops. Ogden had drizzle which soon cleared leaving it very windy on a W>4-5 at 12 degrees. Full cloud breaking to leave patches of sunshine.

     Good to see gulls returning with 14 Black Headed, 12 LBB and 5 Herring gulls briefly on the shore before moving onto the water. July is the hot spot month, in this area, for Yellow Legged Herring gull so one to look out for.

    Tufted duck numbers were up with 4 eclipse drakes and 3 female along with the usual Mallards, many of which are also in eclipse. Still 2 young Mallard ducklings but several that have survived the Herons and Crows and are now near fledging.

    The usual 8 Canada geese were still present whilst a pair of Grey Wagtails were near the overflow with their new fledged juv. Very little bird song from the trees now other than Wren, Robin and Dunnock.

    Looking dry for tomorrow on a lighter westerly starting off at 12 degrees with cloudy sunshine.

BS

Fly Flatts. A livelier start to the month

 

                                    3 juv Redshank just fledged.

                                    1 Common Sandpiper

Good conditions this morning after overnight heavy rain with a cool W>3-4 at 14 degrees and 50% cloud with some sunshine.

    Waders were livelier this morning with 3 very mobile home bred Redshanks moving around the shore whilst a Common Sandpiper was on the west bank.

   At least 4 juv Wheatear were present along with a single 2 CY male but very camera shy, moving between the compound and Robin Rocks. One of the juv Wheatear was on the muddy shore of the lagoon but as I raised the camera to get a shot, a weasel appeared a couple of yards behind it with the Wheatear seeming oblivious to its present. It would have made a good photo as the weasel drew closer  but I dare'nt risk it so a loud clap of my hands got the Wheatear to fly off and the Weasel run off in the opposite direction.

    Still plenty Swifts over the water today joined by several Swallows whilst a single Black Headed Gull headed >W.

  Looking dry for tomorrow after overnight rain with cloudy sunshine on a moderate to strong westerly starting off at 12 degrees

BS 

   

Seeing June out at Fly Flatts.

 

                                    2 juvenile Wheatear

                                    Juvenile Stonechat

                                    Around 400 Canadas

                                    Redshank on the distant peninsular

A nice cool morning at Fly Flatts with near full cloud and odd breaks of sunshine on a moderate 

SW>3-4 at 14 degrees.

    A single Common Sandpiper, Redshank and Oystercatcher were present but very distant, sticking to the north shore and peninsular, whilst once again, the air was alive with Swifts.

    The 2 home bred juv Wheatear seem to be here for the duration now along with a single home bred Stonechat whilst several juv Meadow Pipits are now fledged. Otherwise, just a few LBB gulls as well as the usual species. 

  Although some good birds at Fly Flatts this month I have had no new species and very disappointing on the waders. The water will have to keep going down, from where it is now, if I am to get any decent July waders.

    A forecast for morning of a low chance of rain on a light WNW starting at 14 degrees.

BS

    

Fly Flatts.

 

                                    Short Eared Owl

                                    1 of 2 juv Wheatear.

                                    2 Oystercatcher chicks

A nice fresh morning at Fly Flatts with a moderate WSW>4-5 at 15 degrees being mostly cloudy but odd periods of sun.

    A Short Eared Owl was the first bird seen but dangerously close to a pair of Oystercatchers with two very young chicks. Just one Dunlin seen today along with 2 Redshank, way over on the peninsular, whilst a Lapwing was mobbing a Buzzard near the turbines.

    Two juv Wheatear were present, which were probable the home bred birds, as its still early for returners. Lots of Swifts feeding over the water making it an exceptional month for this species. A few LBB gull >SW but otherwise down to the usual species.

     A cloudy morning for tomorrow on a light SW at 14 degrees with chance of thundery showers p.m.

BS

    

Weather that I like, Fly Flatts

 

                                          Juvenile Lapwing

                                        Plenty Swifts over the water.

                                Very distant peninsular in heat shimmer

                                    8 Dunlin, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank.

At last, back to the weather I'm used to and appreciate at Fly Flatts with full cloud on a cool WSW> 4-5

at 16 degrees. Periods of very black clouds over with light drizzle and odd bursts of sun.

     The birds seemed to appreciate the cooler weather being much more active though most keeping well at distance. During one period of drizzle and dark skies a group of 8 Dunlins flew in low over the north end of the water, from the west, and landed on the peninsular which already held 2 Redshank and 2 Oystercatchers with a juvenile. Unfortunately, the water is still too high for me to access the east bank so the only photos possible were from the compound which is out of range and made worse with a ton of heat shimmer.

    A pair of Snipe flew from a top field and landed together on the 'Flat Moor' whilst 3 juv Lapwing and a Stonechat were in the same area. Up above, the sky was full of Swifts along with a few LBB gulls and 3 Kestrel. Otherwise, down to the usual species. Hopefully the Dunlins will stay around a few days despite the shortage of exposed shore.

   Better forecast still for tomorrow with the temp starting at 12 degrees on a moderate westerly with cloudy sunshine.

BS