A breezy Fly Flatts.

 

                                Buzzard on a distant fence

                                    Minimum of 15 Wheatear

                                9 Redshank present

                                An unfortunate newt type creature.

                                1 pr Stonechat present.

A bright and breezy morning at Fly Flatts with full blue sky and sunshine on a moderate ENE>5 gusting 6 at 5 degrees with good visibility.

   Thanks to an update from birder Mark reporting that Cold Edge Road is open as far as the quarry I headed up there with hopes of waders although it will probably be into May before anything new arrives. Ruff and Wood Sandpiper are favourites at this site for early May.

    A good count of 9 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Dunlin and 2 Oystercatchers but all at distance bunkered down on and around the peninsular in the strong wind so it was a scoping job and having to get down low out of the wind. The getting down bit is easy, its the getting back up that's the problem.

   Wheatear were all over the shop with a conservative count of 12 just around the south end whilst several Swallows were over the water. 

    A pair of Stonechat were on the edge of the Flat Moor and a Buzzard was on a distant fence post , but otherwise down to the usual species.

    Another bright and sunny day for tomorrow, still with the moderate easterly wind, at a start temperature of 5 degrees.

BS

Doe Park/ Denholme Clough.

 

                                Doe Park Reservoir 

                                    From the dam wall

                                    From the Clough

                                    Alive with Swallows

                                    and Sand Martins.

                                    Single Heron

                                    Numerous Willow Warblers

                                    2 Common Sandpipers present

                                    1 of 2 Grey Wagtails.

A cloudy morning with early light drizzle on a cold ENE>4 at 5 degrees but sheltered down in the Clough.

   Plenty Swallows and Sand Martins skimming over the water but no sign of House Martin as yet.

Just 6 Canada geese on the water along with a few Mallard and a Heron on the far shore. At least 2 Grey Wagtails were below the dam wall as well as 2 Common Sandpipers which eventually went out onto the jetty to preen whilst a Dipper and Kingfisher were down in the overflow area.

    The Clough was buzzing with Willow Warblers along with at least 4 Blackcaps plus several Chiffchaffs and Linnets along with the usual common woodland species.

   Very little overhead other than 3 LBB gulls and plenty Jackdaws whilst 2 Song Thrush and 3 Mistle Thrush were present.

  Looking like a bright sunny day tomorrow with a slightly stronger NE starting off at 4 degrees. They seem to have back pedalled on tomorrows morning fog.

BS

Mixenden reservoir/ Ned Hill track

 

                                    As good as it got camera wise, several Chaffinch.

A bright clear sunny morning with a light NW>2 at 7 degrees.

  With Fly Flatts road down to close today I didn't risk going up there early morn before the work started in case it was blocked on my return. With my other two fall back sites, Ogden and Leeshaw also stopped due to road closures I settled, reluctantly, for Mixenden reservoir followed by Ned Hill track on the way home.

   The reservoir just held 3 Canada Geese and 4 Mallard whilst a wander about in the plantation produced a flock of 12 Chaffinch with one Siskin mixed in with them, otherwise 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and the usual woodland species but all very mobile and camera shy in the trees.

   After 20 minutes in the wood it was time to get out sharpish with several skummies wandering about with evil looking off lead dogs so before my two dogs had chance to be eaten alive I got out of there. The cracking of an air rifle in the background didn't help. A venue that I'll not be visiting again in a hurry.

   Back to the peacefulness of Ned Hill track I walked the length of the track picking up 2 Whitethroat, 3 Goldfinch, a Willow Warbler and a few Linnets but once again all very elusive and nothing in the air.

    With the wind back to a moderate NE tomorrow its showing a cloudy wet start to the morning improving as the day goes on with a start temp of 7 degrees. Morning hill fog likely for the next 3 days.

BS

   

Back to a cold Fly Flatts.

 

                                        Only 5 Wheatear showing

 

                                     Single Stonechat

                                    1 of 4 Common Sandpiper

Back to the icy cold SE>3 at Fly Flatts with a low cloud base and mist moving through but soon clearing bringing some blue sky and sunshine at 4 degrees.

     Everything anchored down from the cold wind this morning across on the north shore and peninsular

with a single Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 4 Redshank and 4 Common Sandpiper as well as a single Oystercatcher.

   Just 5 Wheatear showing as well as Stonechat and Reed Bunting plus the usual species with nothing in the sky.

   Looking good tomorrow with a light NW starting off at 8 degrees with cloudy sunshine turning to full cloud late afternoon with rain and chance of thunderstorms. I say its looking good but with Ogden Lane to the car parks closed from tomorrow until the end of May, as well as several roads around Oxenhope closed or delays and long diversions to Leeshaw, also until the end of May, plus Cold Edge Road from Wainstalls to Oxenhope closed I could be in for a problem.

    Hopefully, with the sailing club and several farms up there I,m hoping that there will be some kind of access. Watch this space.!!!!!!

BS

   

Here come the waders, Fly Flatts

 

                                Best I could get on a Little Ringed Plover

                                Distant Dunlin with Redshank

                                    North end peninsular

                                    6 Oystercatchers

                                    Only 6 Wheatear today

                                    1 of 4 Common Sandpiper

                                1 of 2 Dunlin, west bank.  1st back.

                                    2 pair Reed Bunting

                                    4 breeding Pied Wagtails

Only complaints about the weather this morning is that it was too warm at 8 degrees with full clear sky on a light WNW turning W>2. Good visibility other that slight milky haze over the moor.

    A good wader morning with the first 2 Dunlin arrived along with a Ringed and Little Ringed Plover and 6 Oystercatchers along with the 2 breeding pair of Oystercatchers, 4 Common Sandpiper and 5 Redshank.

   Just 6 Wheatear this morning along with Reed Buntings, Stonechats and Mipits but nothing in the air other than a few Swallows >NW.  Swallows are now back at their annual nesting site on Balkham Edge.

   A cloudy start to the morning tomorrow then cloudy sunshine by midday with the wind back to a light SE starting off at 6 degrees.

BS