More wet and windy, more Ogden

 

                                    Usual 2 Herons

                                    A second drake Tufted arrived

                                    8 Canadas still present

                                    Single Herring gull

                                    Hungry juv Crow.

A very wet and windy start to the morning so another dog walk at Ogden where the weather soon took up with 90% cloud on a light SW>3 at 12 degrees.

     I could have used yesterdays blog again today with a different title with just the same species showing, other than a second Tufted duck appeared as well as 7 LBB gulls and 1 Herring gull on the water. 

   A Kestrel was over the car park whilst a single Goosander flew over mega high >SE just as I was leaving.

  A good report from birder Richard from yesterday with 2 Avocets at Leeshaw reservoir. Unfortunately I didn't get the e mail till I got home this morning so too late to go and check although, chances are, they would have left overnight.

    A dry morning tomorrow with a light southerly starting off at 12 degrees. Low risk of rain p.m.

BS

   

A look at Ogden below the fog.

 

                                    Juvenile Heron

                                        Adult Heron

                                        1of 3 LBB gulls

                                    Impression of a butterfly !

                                    Single drake Tufted going into moult.

                                    8 Canadas present.

                                several juv Blue Tits on feeders.

As expected this morning, dense fog on the tops, with Ogden slightly hazy but good visibility, with full cloud and dead calm at 10 degrees.

    A juv Heron was in the SW corner whilst an adult was on the shore at the NE end. Just 8 Canada geese and a single drake Tufted duck on and by the water but, despite ample exposed shore, not a single Common Sandpiper or Oystercatcher to be found.

    A full circuit of the water provided lots of  Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Song Thrush song but finding them was another story.

    Back to a good chance of rain and poor visibility in the morning on a moderate SW at 12 degrees, improving after midday.

BS

The ups and downs of Fly Flatts.

 

Hovering Buzzard                                                                     

                                     Into the dive.

                                    1 pair Tufted.

                                Some of the 400 + Canadas

                                    Goslings growing well

                                    Late batch of Mallard.

A very dark, full cloud morning at Fly Flatts on a cool E>3 at 8 degrees.

   A very steady morning compared to the last few visits, probably due to the cool easterly wind with never does this site any favours.

  A Common Sandpiper and an Oystercatcher were the only waders found, other than Lapwing and Curlew, though I didn't walk the west bank to check the NE corner. Not a Wheatear in sight this morning with just 2 male Reed Buntings plus plenty juv Meadow Pipits around the compound area.

    A Short Eared Owl flew low over the water at the far north end but continued >W over Tatty Pie Hill whilst a few LBB gulls were slowly making their way >NE. The sky, once again was alive with Swifts and Swallows but otherwise a bit of a disappointing morning.

    A drizzly damp morning tomorrow with hill fog on a light SE turning SW later in the day kicking off at 10 degrees.

BS

Wheatear invasion, Fly Flatts.

 

                                    At least 5 Common Sandpipers

                                    Redshanks on the moor

                                    1 of 3 Raven

                                    5  2  CY Wheatear, brown primaries.

                                    4 juveniles.

As promised, a dry day at last with 50% cloud and sunshine on a light NW>3 at10 degrees.

     Preparations for the sailing club open day this morning so restricted to the west bank to avoid any disturbance with no waders in the usual SE corner.

    Common Sandpipers were spread along the west bank whilst the main of the waders were way across in the far NE corner on a strip of mud banking but too distant from the west bank, even through the scope, due to heat shimmer along the shore. I picked out at least 2 Ringed Plover that flew across the water whilst several small waders were working the shoreline what looked like Dunlin, going by the jizz of them but can't be sure.

    Wheatear were the birds of the day with it being very unusual to get June birds up there. At least 4 juveniles present, including the home bred 2 whilst at least 5 adults showing as 2 CY, still retaining their brown primaries.

    Otherwise, 3 Raven, which have bred locally, 2 Herring and 2 LBB gulls, along with 2 Stonechat and several Swifts, plus the usual species.

    Cloudy sunshine for tomorrow with the problem of a light easterly which could bring poor visibility, starting off at 10 degrees.

BS