A winter wind at Fly Flatts

 

                                    5 Oystercatchers moving through

                                    1 of 3 Common Snadpiper

                                    Greylag goslings

                                    Minimum of  14 Wheatear

A clear morning with blue skies and full sun but an icy NW 4-5 at 3 degrees.

  As expected, no sign of yesterdays Little Ringed Plover or the Ringed Plover with 3 Common Sandpipers, 5 Redshank and a pair of Oystercatchers whilst 5 noisy Oystercatchers came through fast and low, continuing >NE.

    At least 14 Wheatear were present on the west bank and Robin Rocks but, as always with new arrivals at this site, very timid and flighty. Otherwise, things were keeping down out of the cold wind with most of the waders under the shelter of the far north shore.

    Very little in the sky with 2 LBB gulls, 1 Buzzard and a Raven being mobbed by Curlews. Apart from that it was just down to the usual species.

   Anything could happen weather wise this coming week with the wind turning from west to east early morn tomorrow and sticking to an easterly for the rest of the week with poor visibility and chance of showers. I may just make Fly Flatts in the morning before the wind gets round to the east then the rest of the week its looks like I could be catching up on Ogden with Fly Flatts probably fogged off.

BS

A Fly Flatts rarity, L.R.P.

 

                                    9 Wheatear present

                                    1 pr Stonechat

                                    3 Common Sandpiper

                                    4 Ringed Plover

                                Icing on the cake, Little Ringed Plover

                                    A mega for this site.

A morning of sunshine and showers with constant light rain and drizzle showers coming across from the west with short periods of sunshine on a moderate WSW> 4-5 at 6 degrees.

   New arrivals on the wader front this morning with 4 Ringed Plover and a real unusual treat with a Little Ringed Plover, a very difficult bird to spot at this site, my last sighting being 3 years since.

Also, 8 Redshank were showing as well as several Curlew and the usual Lapwings.

    A lively morning skyward with 3 Kestrel >NE and 5 Buzzard in the air together very high and distant over the Nab, also >NE. A single resident Buzzard was over the western moor. A few gulls on the move with 9 LBB and 3  Herring all >SW whilst a Raven was over the quarry.

    The pair of Stonechat were still by the lagoon along with a count of at least 9 Wheatear. Strangely, this year, Greylags are outnumbering Canadas and the first 9 Greylag goslings are out on the water.

    What I expected to be a poor morning turned out to be the best for some while.

 Looking good for tomorrow with cloudy sunshine on a light NW at 3 degrees.

BS

A breezy Fly Flatts

 

                                    3 Common Sandpiper now present.

A dark cloudy morning at Fly Flatts with full cloud cover on a moderate SW >5 gusting 6 at 8 degrees but feeling much colder in the wind. Light rain by 0945 hrs.

    Sand Martins and Swallows were the highlight of the morning with a steady flow of both species low over the water >SE drying up by 0830 hrs. Approx 50 Swallows and 20 Sand Martins through.

    Just 7 Wheatear this morning plus 6 Pied Wagtails and a pair of Stonechat along with several Meadow Pipits.

   Common Sandpiper were up to 3 along with 4 Oystercatchers and 6 Redshank plus the usual Curlews and Lapwings. A single Raven was being mobbed by Curlews.

  Apologies for yesterdays blog which is now published below todays. I was quickly skimming through the RNLI lifeboat live web cams last night and got involved watching Hornsea lifeboat launching and completely forgot that my blog was ready but not published. 

    A 50% chance of rain early morn but soon clearing to leave a bright day on a moderate westerly starting off at 7 degrees.

BS

Another day, another Fly Flatts. Thursday April 16th/

                                    Fresh wave of Wheatears present
 

                                    At least 14 seen

                               Still stuck at 2 Common Sandpipers

                                    1 Pair Stonechat

                                    Distant Buzzard

                                    Dropping onto prey

                                    Came away with nothing.

                                    2 Golden Plover.

A mish mash of weather this morning with early drizzle followed by a mix of short periods of sun and very dark clouds on a moderate WSW>4-5 at 6 degrees.

     A fresh overnight fall of another wave of Wheatears was apparent with a minimum count of 14 just at the south end. Otherwise another morning of the same with Common Sandpipers, Redshanks, Oystercatchers etc with 4 Pied Wagtail and several Meadow Pipits in the compound along with a pair of Stonechat by the lagoon.

    Just 2 LBB and a single Herring gull on the water as well as Mallards, Greylags and Canada geese whilst 2 Kestrel were in the air as well as a distant Buzzard hovering in the wind before attempting to drop onto prey but ending up with nothing as it settled on a fence post.