Fly Flatts in the haze

 

Short Eared Owl in the haze                                                           

                                    1 of 2 Snipe

                                    Single Oystercatcher

After a 3 hr early morning thunder storm, starting at 0400 hrs, I though it would have cleared the air slightly but Fly Flatts was hazy sunshine at 19 degrees on a light SE>2 with some large fog banks in the valleys.

   Very disappointing up there at the moment with a full clear out of waders other than a single Oystercatcher and 2 Snipe. Curlews and Lapwings are now noticeable by their absence. A Short Eared Owl was the highlight of the morning whilst 6 LBB and a single Herring gull were on the water.

     Plenty Meadow Pipits around and a few Goldfinch on the thistle heads by the track but otherwise very quiet. With the temperature slowly creeping up it was an early finish. At least the garden got a bit of an overnight watering but my water butt hasn't risen at all and luckily the reservoir water level is slowly dropping. The temperature in Halifax early afternoon was reading 34 degrees as Lynda rummaged around Matalan.

    A small touch cooler tomorrow starting off at 18 degrees and rising to 24 degrees p.m. on a light SE with cloudy sunshine.

BS

Not fit for man nor beast, Ogden.

 A very light SE>2 this morning with clear blue sky and full sun at 21 degrees. The wind thankfully increased after midday but too late for birding.

      A quick dog walk half way along the east bank in the shade of the trees and back home by 0900 hrs with the heat building and no fun for the dogs or me.

    Same sightings noted as yesterday with 8 Canada Geese, 3 Heron, 16 LBB and 3 Herring gulls.

I hope that the water level at Fly Flatt is going down as quick as my water butt.

     Another hot day tomorrow starting at 20 degrees and getting up to 29 degrees p.m. with a light SE and chance of some thundery showers throughout the day.

BS

     

Sunny and still, Ogden.

 

                                        Juvenile Heron

                                           1 of 3 adults

                                    Juv

                                    1 of 3 Black Headed gulls

                                        23 LBB gulls on the water

                                    23 LBB and 4 Herring gulls

Too hot and too still this morning to go out into the open, for the dogs and me, so a wander around Ogden in the shade of the trees making it pleasant, with full sun on a light NE>2 at 21 degrees.

     A bit better on the water with a group of 23 Lesser Black Backed, 4 Herring and 3 Black Headed gulls along with 3 adult Heron and a single juvenile along the west bank. The 8 Canada geese were still present along with the usual Mallards and several ducklings.

     Nothing in the sky and just the usual noisy but invisible warblers in the waterside trees.

Another grim forecast for tomorrow starting off at 20 degrees on a light SE with full sun. Possible early morning fog. Roll on winter.

BS

    

Mega Lull at Fly Flatts.

 

                                    1 of 3 LBB gulls

                                Some of the 300 + Canadas

                                    Two 2 CY Wheatear

                                    3 juv Wheatear

A warm morning but with 40% cloud, keeping the sun at bay, and a nice cool SE>3 it felt cooler than the registered 17 degrees.

     Surprise of the morning was 5 Wheatear present at the south end of the water, by the lagoon, and on the Robin Rocks. Another surprise was 2 Skylark near the lagoon, a species rarely seen at this site.

    Otherwise it was unbelievably quiet with not a single wader to be found and nothing in the air other than 3 LBB gulls, briefly dropping down before heading off >SW.

  Plenty juv Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits about but all in all, a real poor morning.

Not pleasing again for tomorrow with a start temp of 19 degrees with full sun on a light SE turning E. At least the water level is dropping but some nice westerly wind and drizzle is required to give Fly Flatts a kick up the backside.

BS

Ogden reservoir.

 

                                    2 Heron present

                                    Same 8 Canadas

                                    3 Tufted duck

                                        A few LBB gulls coming and going.

Pleasant enough weather wise at Ogden with full cloud on a light SE>3 at 12 degrees.

  Birding was near to none existent with just the same species as my last few visits with 8 Canada geese, 3 Tufted duck and 2 Heron whilst several LBB gulls were coming and going plus a single Herring gull.

    Plenty noise from the usual woodland species but  mostly unseen.

A sunny day tomorrow with temperatures starting off at 18 degrees and peaking at 28 degrees on a light south easterly. 

BS

Summer Solstice, longest day, Fly Flatts

 

                                        Short Eared Owl

A muggy still morning at Fly Flatts with 50% cloud and sunshine on a light E>3 at 14 degrees.

 Plenty druids up at the sacrifice stones this morning for the summer solstice.

   With the sailing club preparing for Sunday racing I once again stuck to the west bank and as there were a lack of waders, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Redshank, I concentrated on the beck and bracken area in search of Whinchat but that never materialized either. Usually by this time of year I have Whinchat and Stonechat along the fence line but the best I could do was a distant Short Eared Owl disappearing towards Castle Carr.

     Just 3 LBB gull on he water along with the mass of geese but none of the half expected Common Scoter present after a report from MC who had a good count yesterday at Fewston reservoir.

    Plenty Swifts over along with 3 Raven but otherwise it really did feel like the longest day today. 

Another hot one tomorrow starting at 15 degrees on a very light SE. Chance of rain p.m.

BS

One of the quiet ones, Fly Flatts

 

                                        2 Buzzards up throughout

A cloudy morning with 70% cloud and sunshine in between on a moderate W>4-5 at 14 degrees.

    Very poor wader wise with the water well up now and a very limited amount of shore with a small area in the SE corner and a narrow strip of mud at the north end which the birds are favouring at the moment.

 With boating members doing a training class in the compound I stuck to the west bank armed with scope to check the north shoreline where just 4 Common Sandpipers were present and a single Oystercatcher with no sign of the Ringed or Little Ringed Plovers from previous visits though with over 400 Canada geese and 60 plus Greylags, scoping was a bit restricted.

    Lesser Black Backed gulls were moving >SW throughout whilst 2 Buzzard were present in all the time I was there. Plenty Swifts and Swallows over the water  with 2 Raven and a few Curlew present whereas most of the Lapwings have now left the area once their offspring had fledged.

   Otherwise, down to the usual species, so really, a quiet morning in all. 

A cloudy sunny morning tomorrow at 12 degrees but dry on a light NE which could spell early morning hill fog.

BS