Scoter morning, Fly Flatts

 

                                Star prize this morning, 8 drake Common Scoter.

                                  Keeping their distance as always.

                                    Gulls on the NE bank.

A pleasing morning, both weather wise and bird wise with full cloud cover and clear visibility on a brisk WNW>4 at 13 degrees.

  As I set off walking the south bank a scan over the water produced a tight flock of black ducks way across at the north end of the water. Thinking it was the family of 6 Tufted I continued scanning the water and came across another group of black ducks under the NW banking which were the Tufted family. It was obvious then that I had Common Scoter on the water so a sprint along the west bank to get into camera range. Near the north end was as near as I was to get to them with them being way out in the centre of the water but good enough for some record shots. I sat on the the west bank cobbles, below the skyline, with hopes of them drifting nearer to me but the Scoters stayed put and just moving north then south of their position.

    The muddy shore at the north end just held 48 LBB, 3 Herring and 12 Black Headed gulls with not a wader of any description to be found.

  Back at the south end several Swifts and Swallows were over the water whilst a single autumn plumaged Wheatear was very mobile. Otherwise, a high count of Linnet in the compound as well as Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails. Disappointedly, a wader-less morning.

   A cloudy sunshine morning tomorrow on a light SW with a risk of light showers clearing midday with a start temp of 11 degrees.

BS

Back to Fly Flatts.

                                Low tide, SE corner
 

                                    The old causeways starting to show

                                    South shore islands

                                Common Sandpiper using the new islands

                                Tufted family, 1 ad female, 5 young

                            Distant Wheatear on Robin Rocks

                               5 dispersing Willow Warblers in lagoon tree,

Good visibility this morning at Fly Flatts with full cloud, other than a few quick flashes of sunshine, on a SW>3 at 15 degrees.

    Just the one new arrival this morning with the first returning adult female Wheatear in autumn plumage, but keeping at distance across on the Robin Rocks. A surprise to find 5 Willow Warblers in the lagoon tree whilst 3 Stonechat were on the fence line below the west bank.

     Plenty Swallows and Swifts over the water but otherwise the sky was empty apart from 2 Kestrels and otherwise LBB and Black Headed gulls. A count of 43 LBB gulls were on the north shore.

    The 5 young Tufted ducks are growing well and were constantly diving alongside their mother. It won't be long now until they are fledging.

    Still poor wader wise but no excuses with the water level this year but still struggling with just Common Sandpiper even though I had my best spring ever at this site for Little Ringed Plover. Its just a matter of being patient and keep watching and waiting. Its getting difficult now with the water so low. The SE corner where I usually stand near the waters edge is a scoping job to check the shoreline, plus I've now 4 islands offshore to check as well as all the north shore mud.

    Cloudy sunshine given for tomorrow with a stronger W>4 at 14 degrees and peaking at 18 degrees.

BS.

    

   

Below the fog, Ogden.

 

                                    East bank, small gulls

                                    West Bank, LBBs and Herring

                                        Single Common gull.

                                    1 of 3 Cormorant

                                    Herring gull, argenteus

                                    4 Common gulls present

                                    Common gulls

With fog on the tops it was back to Ogden with full cloud on a light W>3 at 15 degrees. By 0945 hrs the sun had broken through and the temperature rising.

    Nothing other than the usual this morning with around 80 LBB, 5 Herrings, all argenteus, and around 50 Black headed gulls with a slight rise in Common gulls with 4 present.

     The water held 3 Cormorant, 1 female Tufted duck and the long staying Gt Crested Grebe as well as 10 Canada geese.

    Plenty exposed shore for the gulls and wildfowl with the favourite weeds now starting to show. Hopefully the water will stay down ready for the September arrival of Wigeon. Unfortunately, until then, much of the shore is wasted as Ogden is by no means a wader friendly area due to being heavily surrounded by trees. The main possibility is Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher and Curlew although anything is possible with rare one day visits in the past of  Green Sandpiper, DJS et al, Black Tailed Godwit, NK, Greenshank, BS with 3 in 1990, and Redshank. Probably more rarer species if you go back many years when birds were easier to come by.

    Several Willow Warblers about this morning showing a sign of dispersion.

 A better forecast for tomorrow with no reports of morning fog. A cloudy/ sunny day with a light SW starting at 16 degrees and peaking at 22 degrees.

BS

Unusual Peregrine behaviour, Fly Flatts.

 

                                        1 of 3 Kestrel

                                Juv Peregrine over the water

                                Target bird, juv Carrion Crow.

                                    The dive, talons ready

                                Looking like in for the kill ?

                                Bottled out at the last minute.

                                    Did'nt know what to do next

                                Only attempted to attack when the Crow tried to fly off.

                                    Thinking of a new plan.

                                    Given up on the idea.

                                Finally seen off by the adult Crow

                                    1 of 3 Common Sandpipers

Another windy morning with a moderate to strong W>4 gusting 5 and light drizzle showers at Fly Flatts

 with near full dark cloud causing silhouetting at 12 degrees.

     The highlight of the morning was seeing a juvenile Peregrine low over the water and scattering a family of Carrion Crows with 2 adults and 3 juvs. The Pere locked onto one of the juvs getting very near to taking it out of the sky when the Crow landed on the west bank, either in desperation or knowing it would be safer on the deck.

   The Peregrine stooped down towards the Crow with talons outstretched but suddenly back peddled and landed right at the side of the Crow. The 2 birds just stood there like they were thinking " what do we do now" and every time the Crow tried to take off the Pere did the same.

    Finally the adult Crow made the decider and saw off the Peregrine. Looks like that juv Pere has a lot to learn as yet.

   Otherwise, 3 Common Sandpipers and at least 1 juv were the only waders, with 38 LBB, 14 Black Headed and 2 Herring gulls on the north shore. Just the usual geese on the water along with the Tufted duck family. 

   Alive with small passerines with Goldfinch, Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails, mainly juvs, plus 6 Reed Bunting and a surprise Willow Warbler in the lagoon tree, whilst Swallows and Swifts were over the water.

   A nice find for NK with a drake Common Scoter on the water at Ogden which is doing about as good as anywhere for Scoters this summer. A call at 1530 hrs from a dog walker at Ogden telling me the Scoter was still present.

   Very sad news just been announced of the death of Bill Oddie, a great birder and conservationist.

A dry day expected for tomorrow and slightly warmer starting off at 16 degrees on a light to moderate SW but showing early morning hill fog.

BS