Arrival of fog from the east. Leeshaw.

 

                                    A misty Leeshaw

                                    2 Little Owl present

                                    1 of 4 Redshank

                                    Several Curlew

                                      Some of 26 Oystercatchers/

                                    1 of 3 Pink Footed geese

 Pink Footed with Greylags                                                            

Dense fog on the tops this morning so over to Leeshaw which was difficult to work on a low cloud base with mist and fog banks constantly moving through on a light SE>3 at 5 degrees. 

    A drake Wigeon was the highlight of the morning but only a brief sighting before it moved to the west end of the water and disappeared into the mist, not to re appear. The 3 long staying Pink Footed Geese were in with the Greylags but nothing else on the water other than Canada geese and Mallards

whilst a Heron was on the banking.

    At least 4 Redshank present and a count of 26 Oystercatchers along with Curlews and Lapwings but otherwise just down to the usual species.

  As I drove home, past Oxenhope graveyard, a Nuthatch flew out and landed on the wall at the roadside, a bit of an unusual sighting.

   Looking like a bright sunny day tomorrow on a light westerly starting off at 6 degrees.

BS

Local birding, spoilt for choice.

 

                                    23 Whoopers on Mixenden

                                        Taken from the top of Whitegate.

                                    Jet steaming through the mist, Fly Flatts

                                    1 of 3 Heron on frog watch.

                                    1 of 3 Pied Wagtail

                                    4 Oystercatchers present

                                    At least 9 Redshank

                                    1 distant pair of Goldeneye

Another bright sunny morning with some fog stuck down in the Aire valley and hazy mist over the moor. Clouding by 0945hrs on a light ESE>3 at 7 degrees.

   Local birders were spoilt for choice this morning with Whooper Swans on Mixenden and Ogden along with a Ring Ouzel on Soil Hill and a pair of Goldeneye and 9 Redshank on Fly Flatts.

   On route early morn I stopped at the top of Whitegate looking down on Mixenden reservoir when I spotted Whooper Swans on the water. Some were hidden below the east bank so I got a count of 20, to be corrected later as 23 by DJS. On my return journey at 1015 hrs there were no sign of the swans unless they were close to shore below the east bank.

    Fly Flatts was once again lively with a count of at least 9 Redshank, 4 Oystercatchers and 1 Ringed Plover plus several Curlew and Lapwing.

    A pair of Goldeneye were a surprise on the water, the second sighting at this site this month of a rare species on this water. Meadow Pipit numbers are building as well as Reed Bunting whilst 3 Pied Wagtail were present as well as the breeding pair. A raven was over the quarry whilst 3 Heron were spread around with plenty of frogs and spawn showing.

   Just 2 LBB gulls over >NE, otherwise down to the Canadas, Greylags and Mallards. Thanks to DJS  and Nick Small for the messages this morning.

    Plenty sun tomorrow on a light SE at 6 degrees with, once again, a report of early morning mist.

BS 

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