Fly Flatts back on track

 

                                        Fewer Curlews breeding

                                        5 Wheatear present

                                    4 Common Sandpiper

                                2 Stonechat feeding young

                                        At least 6 Redshank

                                    Who said Redshank can't swim.

                                    1 of 4 distant Dunlin

                                    Several Reed Buntings

                                    Redshank

A cool ENE>4 this morning at Fly Flatts but clear with good visibility at 5 degrees. Around 30% cloud and sunshine starting to cloud over mid morning.

    After the respite at Fly Flatts yesterday things were back on track this morning with 4 Dunlin way out on the NE peninsular and in the heat shimmer. Redshanks and Common Sandpipers were very active whilst 5 Wheatear were at the south end around the lagoon area.

   A pair of Stonechat are now feeding young and a new arrival of Reed Buntings was apparent. The water is still slowly going down though slowed off slightly with the weekends rain.

  It was odd to see a Redshank swim well out on the water and back to where it set off. I've seen Oystercatchers do it but never Redshank.

   A cloudy morning tomorrow on a light southerly veering SW then SE at 8 degrees and rain by late morning.

BS

Fly Flatts

 

                                    Usual Redshanks

                                    and Common Sandpipers

                                    Curlews busy breeding

                                    Plenty Swallows through 

A cloudy but bright morning with good visibility on a cool NW>4 at 5 degrees.

    A much quieter morning with a clear out of several waders leaving me with just 2 Common Sandpipers and 4 Redshank and no sign of the Dunlins or Oystercatchers. Even small passerines were absent with no Stonechats or Reed Buntings though plenty Mipits and Pied Wagtails.

   A cross over of  Swallows heading >N on a low level and Swifts heading >SW on a high level with a good count of both species.

   Otherwise just the usual geese, Mallards etc so a bit of a damp squib this morning.

About the same forecast for tomorrow with a light NE at 5 degrees clouding in the afternoon.

BS

Harold Park/Park Dam.

 

                                    Very few Tufted

                                    3 Gt Crested Grebe

                                        11 Mute Swan

                                Why is our dad that funny colour.

                                    Buzzing with Swallows

                                    Several House Martins

                                    Lines full of Swallows

                                    Several Swifts high overhead

Dense fog as promised this morning so with Ogden out of bounds by car it was down to Harold Park and Park Dam which are winter venues but plenty this morning to keep the interest going.

     Great Crested Grebe at both sites as well as a very low count of Tufted plus the usual Mallard, Coot and Moorhen whilst 2 Mute Swan were at Harold Park and 11 at Park Dam. Park Dam held 3 LBB and 2 Herring gull.

   No doubt, the highlight of the morning was Hirundines and Swifts with several Swallows feeding over the water at Harold Park and an unbelievable number of Swallows at Park Dam, feeding over the water and fields as well as lined up on the telegraph wires.

   A good count of Sand Martin were also over the dam with a lower count of House Martin, whilst several Swifts were high up in the sky.

    A better morning for tomorrow with a light NW at 6 degrees and a mix of cloud and sunshine, clouding over after midday and a chance of showers.

BS

Bank Holiday Washout.

 With dense fog and heavy rain and drizzle all day birding was abandoned with just a few very wet dog walks over Foxhill. Typical Bank Holiday weather but on the plus side, my garden is well watered and the water butt is full and overflowing into my overflow buckets which is good news with us being on a water meter.

    Tomorrows weather is showing a very cloudy but mostly dry day on a light NE starting at 6 degrees with fog on the tops.

BS

 

Another dabble at Fly Flatts

 

                                    6 Stonechat present

                                    5 Reed Bunting

                                    Still 3 Wheatear

                                    Lots of Swallows

                                Single Pink Footed goose

                                    6 Common Sandpipers

A dull start to the morning with a low cloud base and drizzle clearing by 0900 hrs to leave full cloud on a light WNW>3 at 8 degrees.

     Much the same as previous days with Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Redshank and Oystercatcher though more movement today with a good count of Swallows feeding over the water then slowly heading off >N. A Pink Footed goose was on the water which will be 1 of the 3 doing the rounds between Leeshaw, Mixenden and Ogden.

    A check in the Whinchat hotspot area failed to provide but turned up 6 Stonechat and 5 Reed Bunting as well as several Mipits. Still just the 3 Wheatear hanging on around the lagoon area.

    Looking like rain throughout the day tomorrow on a moderate NE at 9 degrees with chance of poor visibility. At least it will do my gardens good and top up the water butt.

BS