Migrants in the mist, Fly Flatts

 

                                    Bush full of Whinchat and Stonechat

                                    Soon as the mist lifted they were gone.

                                            Several young birds.

I arrived at Fly Flatts just as the fog was leaving, with misty conditions but visibility across the water, though no vertical vision with very dark, low cloud and light drizzle on a light SW>1 increasing SW>3 at 12 degrees.

   First off, after a quick scope around the shore, was check the migrant hot spot area where several Meadow Pipits were flitting about, and after a bit of patiently waiting, Stonechats and Whinchats started to appear but very flighty, moving between the bushes and reeds in the top fields. At least 5 Whinchat and 6 Stonechat as well as 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Wrens and a Blackbird. By this time the mist was lifting and the birds disappeared into thin air, not to be seen again. A charm of around 50 Goldfinch were moving around the thistle tops.

    Another scope of the shore failed to produce any kind of wader with just 32 LBB and 8 Black Headed gulls whilst the family of 1 female and 5 young Tufted were on the water along with a single Mallard and Canada goose. Several Swallows were skimming over the water >SE.

    Another misty morn for tomorrow but dry until midday then chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon. A light to moderate SW at 12 degrees.

BS

More fog, more Ogden.

 

                                A quiet west bank

                                    5 Cormorant present

                                East bank not much busier

                                Common gull numbers rising

                                    Single drake Tufted.

                                    Nothing standing out as unusual today

Another morning of hill fog so down to Ogden which was again below the cloud base with full dark clouds and an early rain shower on a light SW>3 at 12 degrees.

    A very poor count of gulls this morning with around 50 gulls in all and nothing that stood out among them. A single Tufted was on the water as well as 1 Teal out in the centre of the reservoir along with 5 Cormorants.

    The Gt Crested Grebe was still feeding well but no Herons showing today. The Common Sandpiper flew across the water and disappeared into the channels at the northern end, whilst 2 Raven flew over towards Fly Flatts.

     An extensive move of mainly Swallows, along with a few House Martin and at least 3 Swifts heading >SE, high above the plantation. Otherwise, down to the usual species including 2 Goldcrest and 3 Treecreepers.

   Another foggy start to the day forecast for tomorrow with a dry morning with cloudy sunshine on a light Sou'wester at 13 degrees then rain after midday, possibly heavy with thunder.

BS

Beating the rain, Ogden

 

                                    Usual 4 Herons

                                Deep gullies at the North end.

                                    Long staying Gt Crested Grebe

                                    2 of 5 Cormorant

                                Scattering of gulls on the east bank

                                herring gull

                                    Around 40 LBB

                                    Common gull numbers building.

Dense fog this morning at Queensbury but luckily Ogden was just below the cloud base but very dark with a light NE>3 at 12 degrees. Slightly misty but clear enough to do the job.

    Very few gulls this morning with around 40 LBB, 4 Herring, 14 Common and around 30 Black Headed. No gulls to get the books out for today but always worth sifting through in hopes.

     Otherwise, just a normal Ogden morning with the usual Grebe, Cormorants, 2 Grey Wags and Herons, with yesterdays Teal and Tufted well gone.

   A good chance of rain tomorrow on a light sou'westerly at 14 degrees.

BS

Winter wildfowl , Ogden.

 

                                    East bank

                                    Dark mantled Herring gull

                                    Good contestant for Argentatus.

                                Suspected Yellow Legged but legs pink.

                                    14 Teal present

                                    Teals doing a circuit.

                                         1 CY Common gull and LBB

                                            3 Tufted present.

With thick fog on the tops it was down to Ogden below the cloud base with full cloud and specks of rain on a very light E>1 at 12 degrees.

     A low count of gulls with around 40 LBB and 6 Herring. One of the Herring gulls stood out with having a much darker mantle which had me thinking Yellow Legged until I got in a position to see its pink legs so I suspect this Herring gull to be an Argentatus. 

    A single small gull in with the LBBs stood out as being in unusual plumage so I tried to make it into a 1 CY Med gull having darkish legs, though not black plus the bill was stubby. After a check with the gull bibles at home, and more importantly, a photo to MC, who confirmed it as a 1 CY Common gull in advanced moult. Thanks for that Mick, probably the first puzzler of many this winter.

     The highlight this morning was the arrival of the first of the autumn wildfowl with 14 Teal on the water, probably attracted in by the areas of their favourite weeds around the waters edge. Hopefully the water will stay low enough to keep the weeds clear for when the Wigeon start to move mid September.

    Otherwise, 4 Cormorant, 3 Heron, 3 Tufted duck and the usual Gt Crested Grebe. 

Another foggy morning tomorrow with a chance of rain, mainly in the afternoon, with heavy rain and thunderstorms on the cards on a light NE at 11 degrees.

BS

A cold Fly Flatts

 

                                    Who pulled the plug out ?  SE corner

                                    Water is usually by the tripod.

                                A scoping job to check the near shore

                                Waiting for the Green Sandpipers. The Lagoon

                                    Buzzard

                                1 of 3 Wheatear

An icy cold E>3 at 9 degrees with early fog banks then broken cloud and odd bursts of sunshine.

     A clear out of migrants from yesterday with just 2 Meadow Pipits and 3 Wheatear throughout the area. The highlight of the quiet morning was a constant flow of Swallows moving >SE on two levels, some mega high and others skimming the water and moor, whilst a surprise to get 10 Swifts over >SE, just when I thought I'd had my last for this year.

    The water held 7 Canadas and 1 female Mallard with the female Tufted and 5 flying young had returned from C.E.D. Just 8 LBB on the shore along with 4 Black Headed.

   The usual Kestrels were over the west bank whilst 2 Buzzard were present, one over the west moor and the other on a fence post as I drove back up the track on my way out. Again, no waders.

      Forecast for a foggy morning tomorrow on a moderate easterly wind and a 60% chance of rain, possibly heavy in the afternoon with some thunder.

BS