Seeing June out at Fly Flatts.

 

                                    2 juvenile Wheatear

                                    Juvenile Stonechat

                                    Around 400 Canadas

                                    Redshank on the distant peninsular

A nice cool morning at Fly Flatts with near full cloud and odd breaks of sunshine on a moderate 

SW>3-4 at 14 degrees.

    A single Common Sandpiper, Redshank and Oystercatcher were present but very distant, sticking to the north shore and peninsular, whilst once again, the air was alive with Swifts.

    The 2 home bred juv Wheatear seem to be here for the duration now along with a single home bred Stonechat whilst several juv Meadow Pipits are now fledged. Otherwise, just a few LBB gulls as well as the usual species. 

  Although some good birds at Fly Flatts this month I have had no new species and very disappointing on the waders. The water will have to keep going down, from where it is now, if I am to get any decent July waders.

    A forecast for morning of a low chance of rain on a light WNW starting at 14 degrees.

BS

    

Fly Flatts.

 

                                    Short Eared Owl

                                    1 of 2 juv Wheatear.

                                    2 Oystercatcher chicks

A nice fresh morning at Fly Flatts with a moderate WSW>4-5 at 15 degrees being mostly cloudy but odd periods of sun.

    A Short Eared Owl was the first bird seen but dangerously close to a pair of Oystercatchers with two very young chicks. Just one Dunlin seen today along with 2 Redshank, way over on the peninsular, whilst a Lapwing was mobbing a Buzzard near the turbines.

    Two juv Wheatear were present, which were probable the home bred birds, as its still early for returners. Lots of Swifts feeding over the water making it an exceptional month for this species. A few LBB gull >SW but otherwise down to the usual species.

     A cloudy morning for tomorrow on a light SW at 14 degrees with chance of thundery showers p.m.

BS

    

Weather that I like, Fly Flatts

 

                                          Juvenile Lapwing

                                        Plenty Swifts over the water.

                                Very distant peninsular in heat shimmer

                                    8 Dunlin, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshank.

At last, back to the weather I'm used to and appreciate at Fly Flatts with full cloud on a cool WSW> 4-5

at 16 degrees. Periods of very black clouds over with light drizzle and odd bursts of sun.

     The birds seemed to appreciate the cooler weather being much more active though most keeping well at distance. During one period of drizzle and dark skies a group of 8 Dunlins flew in low over the north end of the water, from the west, and landed on the peninsular which already held 2 Redshank and 2 Oystercatchers with a juvenile. Unfortunately, the water is still too high for me to access the east bank so the only photos possible were from the compound which is out of range and made worse with a ton of heat shimmer.

    A pair of Snipe flew from a top field and landed together on the 'Flat Moor' whilst 3 juv Lapwing and a Stonechat were in the same area. Up above, the sky was full of Swifts along with a few LBB gulls and 3 Kestrel. Otherwise, down to the usual species. Hopefully the Dunlins will stay around a few days despite the shortage of exposed shore.

   Better forecast still for tomorrow with the temp starting at 12 degrees on a moderate westerly with cloudy sunshine.

BS

    

Fresh and breezy Fly Flatts

 

                                    Early morn Short Eared Owl

                                Several Goldfinch present.

                                    Raven feeding young.

                                    Plenty LBB gulls

A much healthier morning at Fly Flatts with 50 % cloud at 19 degrees but a nice chilling moderate SW>4 and the water going down nicely.

    Also much healthier bird wise with still a lull of waders but encouraging to get a Little Ringed Plover briefly as it flushed from the lagoon area but not re-located. 

     Several Swifts and LBB gulls drifting through >SW whilst a Raven was busy feeding 1 of 2 juvs.

A Short Eared Owl was again quartering the moor with a Kestrel and Buzzard overhead. Goldfinch numbers are rising along the track side thistles with a good count of young, whilst several juv Pied Wagtails are still in the area and the 2 pair that have bred 5 and 6 are sitting second broods.

Only 2 Lapwings present today and no Curlews.

    A better forecast for tomorrow with cloudy sunshine on a moderate sou'westerly and a low chance of rain with a start off temperature of 15 degrees and peaking at a more sensible temp of 18 degrees after midday.

BS

Fly Flatts in the haze

 

Short Eared Owl in the haze                                                           

                                    1 of 2 Snipe

                                    Single Oystercatcher

After a 3 hr early morning thunder storm, starting at 0400 hrs, I though it would have cleared the air slightly but Fly Flatts was hazy sunshine at 19 degrees on a light SE>2 with some large fog banks in the valleys.

   Very disappointing up there at the moment with a full clear out of waders other than a single Oystercatcher and 2 Snipe. Curlews and Lapwings are now noticeable by their absence. A Short Eared Owl was the highlight of the morning whilst 6 LBB and a single Herring gull were on the water.

     Plenty Meadow Pipits around and a few Goldfinch on the thistle heads by the track but otherwise very quiet. With the temperature slowly creeping up it was an early finish. At least the garden got a bit of an overnight watering but my water butt hasn't risen at all and luckily the reservoir water level is slowly dropping. The temperature in Halifax early afternoon was reading 34 degrees as Lynda rummaged around Matalan.

    A small touch cooler tomorrow starting off at 18 degrees and rising to 24 degrees p.m. on a light SE with cloudy sunshine.

BS