A windblown Fly Flatts

 

                                    Juvenile Redshank

                                    Juv Kestrel battling the wind

                                    Common Sandpiper

                                2 CY male Wheatear, well in moult

                                                  Water going down a treat

Despite yesterdays forecast of a moderate westerly the wind at Fly Flatts was near gale to gale force

force W>7 gusting W>8 at 38 mph and gusting at 40 mph. Near full cloud with good visibility at 14 degrees.

    Despite the wind, a few birds were found but very hard to come by and all very mobile. Wader wise, just a Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher and juv Redshank whilst 1 Stonechat and 1 Wheatear were present along with Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits.

    Overhead, battling in the wind, was a juv Kestrel, 2 Raven, several Swallows and Swifts along with 1 Black Headed and 4 LBB gulls. The Crayfish traps have now all been removed and so far the water is going down nicely exposing much more shore.

    Much the same forecast for tomorrow with cloudy sunshine on a moderate to strong westerly but remaining dry at 14 degrees.

BS

Gulls and waders, Ogden.

 

Oystercatcher in with the gulls                                                    

                                    Selection of LBB, Herring and Black Headed

                                     Juv Black headed

                                  Plenty shore waiting for a Green Sandpiper.

Another gull type morning with very low cloud and heavy drizzle, clearing at Ogden by 0800 hrs leaving full cloud on a brisk W>4 at 14 degrees.

    Much the same as yesterday gull wise without the Yellow Legged Herring which failed to make an appearance leaving 38 LBB, 15 Black Headed, including a juv, and 5 Herring, along with an early returning Common gull. 

   A single Oystercatcher was in with the gulls on the west bank and a Common Sandpiper flew from the west bank over to the east side but I didn't do the east bank this morning so it was never re-located.

   Tufted ducks were back up to 4 eclipsed drakes along with 3 Heron, and a Kingfisher flashed along the north banking. Several Swallows were overhead whilst otherwise down to the usual species. 

    A cloudy sunshine day tomorrow remaining dry on a moderate to strong westerly force 5 at 21 mph with a start off temp of 14 degrees.

BS

    

Right on time, Yellow Legged Herring gull for Ogden.

 

                                   LBBs Black Headed and Canadas, West bank

                                    Several Black Headed arriving.

                                    A busy shoreline, Herring gulls arriving

                                    Yellow Legged Herring gull, centre

                                    Adult in moult. Bang on schedule.

                                    Lesser Black Backed on the water.

With fog on the tops along with a strong westerly and heavy drizzle it was down to Ogden reservoir where the wind was W>3-4 but sheltered in the trees with full cloud and drizzle at 12 degrees. Ideal gull conditions.

     Just a few LBB and Black Headed gulls to start off the morning and looking quiet in the gloomy conditions with just the usual 8 Canada geese, whilst Herons were back to 4 and Tufted were down to 2 eclipsed drakes.

   By 0930 hours a few more gulls were drifting in to preen on the water before moving onto the west bank, though very nervy and kept going back onto the water. A final count was 23 Lesser Black Backed,

6 Herring, 32 Black Headed and a star prize with a Yellow Legged Herring Gull in their midst. The YL was expected, as July is always the peak month for this bird in this area. Last year I had 9 YL Herring gull sightings between Ogden, Fly Flatts and Leeshaw.

    So despite a wet and windy morning the wind and drizzle saved the day.

Another wet and windy morning for tomorrow with a moderate westerly with low cloud and drizzle at 

13 degrees, drier in the afternoon.

BS

Fly Flatts.

 

                                Single SEO over the car on the way up there.

                                Oyks possibly down to 1 chick

                                    2 CY male Wheatear

                                Traps appeared around the waters edge ?

                                    All along the east and south bank

                                    Common Sandpiper

                                    Juv Redshank

A cool and breezy morning at Fly Flatts on a moderate W>4 gusting 5 at 12 degrees with full cloud.

   A Short Eared Owl flew over the car as I drove up to Fly Flatts, just giving me time to stop and get a few back end shots as it flew over the field before landing on a distant telegraph pole.

   The reservoir held the usual species with 3 juv and a male 2CY Wheatear plus juv Redshank, Common Sandpiper and 2 Oystercatchers which seem to be down to 1 chick unless the other was keeping its head down.

   A single Snipe flushed from the lagoon whilst 2 Kestrels and several Swallows and Swifts were in the air. 

 The traps that have appeared around the waters edge are almost certainly for Crayfish which YW trap under license as they burrow deep down which can undermine the banking, although I could do with a few holes in the banking to get the water down!

    A good chance of showers in the morning along with early fog and drizzle on a moderate westerly starting off at 14 degrees.

BS

    

Time to get the gull head on, Ogden.

 

                                    LBBs and Herring

                                    Black Headed arriving

                                    Down to 1 Heron

                                    4 drake Tufted + 3 female

                                    Drakes in eclipse

                                Foreground, Mallard in eclipse.

A very wet and windy start to the morning with mist on the tops. Ogden had drizzle which soon cleared leaving it very windy on a W>4-5 at 12 degrees. Full cloud breaking to leave patches of sunshine.

     Good to see gulls returning with 14 Black Headed, 12 LBB and 5 Herring gulls briefly on the shore before moving onto the water. July is the hot spot month, in this area, for Yellow Legged Herring gull so one to look out for.

    Tufted duck numbers were up with 4 eclipse drakes and 3 female along with the usual Mallards, many of which are also in eclipse. Still 2 young Mallard ducklings but several that have survived the Herons and Crows and are now near fledging.

    The usual 8 Canada geese were still present whilst a pair of Grey Wagtails were near the overflow with their new fledged juv. Very little bird song from the trees now other than Wren, Robin and Dunnock.

    Looking dry for tomorrow on a lighter westerly starting off at 12 degrees with cloudy sunshine.

BS