One of the better mornings. Fly Flatts.

 

                              Heron back on the moor for frog season

                                2 Redshanks high >S

                                    7 Redshanks present

                                All distant, NE corner

                                    4 of 7 Redshank

                                    Redshank and Ringed Plover 

                                    Ringed Plover, far NE bank

                                    Good overnight fall of Meadow Pipits

                                    Stat attraction, 36 Whoopers >NE

                                    Out over the moor

A belting morning at Fly Flatts, both weather wise and bird wise with 20% cloud and sunshine on a light SE>3 at 8 degrees. Luckily no fog but a light haze over the moor.

     A hectic morning, start to finish being a lot livelier than it was in the wind yesterday. An overnight fall of Meadow Pipits was apparent with good numbers around the fields and banking whilst a good count of 14 Curlew were in the top fields.

   Redshank numbers were up with 7 present as well as 2 over the water very high and >S towards Cold Edge Dams. After a lot of searching I managed to find the Ringed Plover hidden away in the tufts of grass on the far end of the NE banking and only showing itself briefly. 

 Plenty squabbling among the Lapwings on the Flat Moor whilst 6 Oystercatchers were present.

Strange how Herons know when the frogs are spawning with one back on the moor today with a vast number of frogs and spawn around the lagoon area. My first 2 Reed Buntings of the year were back and otherwise down to Greylag and Canada geese as well as Mallards and a single Kestrel over the moor.

    Back at the compound, near knocking off time, a skein of 36 Whoopers came in from the south over Tattie Pie Hill heading >NE. I thought they would have come down on the water but continued on, so probably had just left a water to the south, possibly Manchester way.

    Another bright dry day forecast for tomorrow but a light easterly bringing early morning fog at 7 degrees.

BS.

    

Fly Flatts

 

                                    From the compound looking >SW

                                    North towards the Nab.

                                    4 Oystercatchers present

                                Plenty Canada geese

                                    and Greylags

                                    Male Pied Wagtail

A bright clear morning at Fly Flatts with 60% cloud and sunshine at 6 degrees on a moderate SW>5.

    Still about 3 weeks to go before Fly Flatts starts to kick off so a steady morning today. Plenty to see and search for but nothing to get the adrenaline flowing.

   Plenty Canada and Greylag geese now paired up and spread around the moor, fields and water ready for breeding, also several Mallards, mostly drakes now with the females at nest.

     The Flat Moor is busy with Lapwings, all up protecting their territory from the Crows which are always present. Poor on the wader scene with no sign of Redshank or Ringed Plover and only 4 Oystercatchers and a single Curlew. 

    The pair of Pied Wagtails have returned to last years nest site where they successfully raised 17 young in 3 broods and are now starting again. Otherwise, just a few Red Grouse and Meadow Pipits and not a gull in sight. I thought the nice clear skies may have brought an Osprey over, with a few now on the move, but not to be, although most seem to move late afternoon rather than early morning. Black Tailed Godwit next with several on the move.

    A bright sunny day for tomorrow with full sun on a light SE at 7 degrees early morn. Hopefully the light SE won't bring any fog in.

BS

   

Another visit to Ogden

 

                                    Good count of Coal Tits

                                        as well as Long Tailed Tits

                                    1 pair Tufted still present.

                                    Arrival of the Heron, frog season.

                                                           

A dark drizzly morning with full cloud on a light SW>3 at 4 degrees brightening up a the morning wet on.

    Still a bit of snow around the edges after last nights heavy hail storm leaving the waterside track a real muddy mess. No surprises this morning with yesterdays drake Mandarin duck gone and the only newcomers today were a Heron on the east bank. now that the frog season is underway, and a Sparrowhawk was soaring over the north plantation.

    The west bank trees were relatively quiet with just Treecreepers and the usual species whilst a hidden Great Spotted Woodpecker was hammering away at a tree deep in the plantation. A good count of Coal and Long Tailed Tits were around the feeders.

    The water just held the usual pair of Tufted duck along with 4 Herring gull, 3 Common and 2 Black Headed.

  A better day tomorrow with a part cloudy morning then sunny afternoon on a light SW starting off at 7 degrees.

BS

    

   

Patience pays off, Ogden

 

                                    Early morn at Ogden

                                    4 LBB gulls

                                    Aerobics.

                                    Nuthatch up singing.

                                    Star Prize, drake Mandarin duck.

                                    Very distant

                                    Usual pair of Tufted,

Decent conditions at Ogden this morning with sunshine and showers on a light SW>3 at 2 degrees.

     Plenty activity along the west bank with a Nuthatch up singing as well as several Blue and Great Tits whilst 4 Chaffinch were working their way through the waterside trees as well as several Treecreepers.

    The usual pair of Tufted duck were still on the water but a poor show of gulls with 4 LBB, 2 Common and 2 Black Headed.

 Walking back along the west bank, near to knocking off time, I was looking at the LBB gulls out on the water when a small duck came into view way over by the east bank.

It was very hard to make out with the waves and glimmer on the water and I put it down to probable the female Tufted. A scan round the water revealed the pair of Tufted together so alarm bells started ringing. I relocated the duck which turned out to be a drake Mandarin, a rare species for this site although I had a pair here briefly in November last year.

   A quick dash back to the promenade to get better views and photos, only to find it had drifted way up into the north corner, and with time up I had to let it go, but a good record for Ogden.

     A similar forecast for tomorrow with sunshine and showers on a light to moderate SW at 3 degrees.

BS

A sunny Leeshaw reservoir

 

                                    5 Redshank present

                                    as well as a minimum of 26 Oystercatchers

                                    100 + Starlings

With Fly Flatts out of bounds for the next 3 weekends due to working parties up there doing drainage and track potholes it was across to Leeshaw with brilliant weather conditions. Wall to wall sunshine on a clear blue sky and a fresh but light W>3 at 2 degrees.

     Oystercatcher numbers are up to at least 26 whilst 5 Redshank were present moving around the fields. The water was quiet with just 1 pair of Teal along with a few Greylag and Canada geese plus the usual Mallards.

  It seemed strange up there without the gulls, the only one present briefly was a Herring gull, the majority of small gulls now headed off to their breeding grounds. A good morning with plenty to see though nothing out of the ordinary. Good to bump into nephew NP up there giving it a coat of looking at.

   Back to normal tomorrow with a cloudy wet day on a light SW at 3 degrees.

Leeshaw

Min. 26 Oystercatcher

5 Redshank

c 80 Lapwing

1 Herring gull

3 Curlew

1 Little Owl

1 Dipper

1pr Teal

2 Heron

1 Buzzard

2 Pied Wagtail

2 Grey Wagtail

Starling 100+

1 Mistle Thrush

Small count of Greylag and Canada geese

+ usual species.

BS