Sunny and still, Ogden.

 

                                        Juvenile Heron

                                           1 of 3 adults

                                    Juv

                                    1 of 3 Black Headed gulls

                                        23 LBB gulls on the water

                                    23 LBB and 4 Herring gulls

Too hot and too still this morning to go out into the open, for the dogs and me, so a wander around Ogden in the shade of the trees making it pleasant, with full sun on a light NE>2 at 21 degrees.

     A bit better on the water with a group of 23 Lesser Black Backed, 4 Herring and 3 Black Headed gulls along with 3 adult Heron and a single juvenile along the west bank. The 8 Canada geese were still present along with the usual Mallards and several ducklings.

     Nothing in the sky and just the usual noisy but invisible warblers in the waterside trees.

Another grim forecast for tomorrow starting off at 20 degrees on a light SE with full sun. Possible early morning fog. Roll on winter.

BS

    

Mega Lull at Fly Flatts.

 

                                    1 of 3 LBB gulls

                                Some of the 300 + Canadas

                                    Two 2 CY Wheatear

                                    3 juv Wheatear

A warm morning but with 40% cloud, keeping the sun at bay, and a nice cool SE>3 it felt cooler than the registered 17 degrees.

     Surprise of the morning was 5 Wheatear present at the south end of the water, by the lagoon, and on the Robin Rocks. Another surprise was 2 Skylark near the lagoon, a species rarely seen at this site.

    Otherwise it was unbelievably quiet with not a single wader to be found and nothing in the air other than 3 LBB gulls, briefly dropping down before heading off >SW.

  Plenty juv Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits about but all in all, a real poor morning.

Not pleasing again for tomorrow with a start temp of 19 degrees with full sun on a light SE turning E. At least the water level is dropping but some nice westerly wind and drizzle is required to give Fly Flatts a kick up the backside.

BS

Ogden reservoir.

 

                                    2 Heron present

                                    Same 8 Canadas

                                    3 Tufted duck

                                        A few LBB gulls coming and going.

Pleasant enough weather wise at Ogden with full cloud on a light SE>3 at 12 degrees.

  Birding was near to none existent with just the same species as my last few visits with 8 Canada geese, 3 Tufted duck and 2 Heron whilst several LBB gulls were coming and going plus a single Herring gull.

    Plenty noise from the usual woodland species but  mostly unseen.

A sunny day tomorrow with temperatures starting off at 18 degrees and peaking at 28 degrees on a light south easterly. 

BS

Summer Solstice, longest day, Fly Flatts

 

                                        Short Eared Owl

A muggy still morning at Fly Flatts with 50% cloud and sunshine on a light E>3 at 14 degrees.

 Plenty druids up at the sacrifice stones this morning for the summer solstice.

   With the sailing club preparing for Sunday racing I once again stuck to the west bank and as there were a lack of waders, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Redshank, I concentrated on the beck and bracken area in search of Whinchat but that never materialized either. Usually by this time of year I have Whinchat and Stonechat along the fence line but the best I could do was a distant Short Eared Owl disappearing towards Castle Carr.

     Just 3 LBB gull on he water along with the mass of geese but none of the half expected Common Scoter present after a report from MC who had a good count yesterday at Fewston reservoir.

    Plenty Swifts over along with 3 Raven but otherwise it really did feel like the longest day today. 

Another hot one tomorrow starting at 15 degrees on a very light SE. Chance of rain p.m.

BS

One of the quiet ones, Fly Flatts

 

                                        2 Buzzards up throughout

A cloudy morning with 70% cloud and sunshine in between on a moderate W>4-5 at 14 degrees.

    Very poor wader wise with the water well up now and a very limited amount of shore with a small area in the SE corner and a narrow strip of mud at the north end which the birds are favouring at the moment.

 With boating members doing a training class in the compound I stuck to the west bank armed with scope to check the north shoreline where just 4 Common Sandpipers were present and a single Oystercatcher with no sign of the Ringed or Little Ringed Plovers from previous visits though with over 400 Canada geese and 60 plus Greylags, scoping was a bit restricted.

    Lesser Black Backed gulls were moving >SW throughout whilst 2 Buzzard were present in all the time I was there. Plenty Swifts and Swallows over the water  with 2 Raven and a few Curlew present whereas most of the Lapwings have now left the area once their offspring had fledged.

   Otherwise, down to the usual species, so really, a quiet morning in all. 

A cloudy sunny morning tomorrow at 12 degrees but dry on a light NE which could spell early morning hill fog.

BS

Leeshaw Reservoir

 

                                    2 Oystercatchers with 2 chicks

                                    126 Greylags on the water

                                    Muscovy duck in the conduit

                                    Several Curlews and chicks

                                    juv Pied Wagtail

                                    Only gull present, 1 Black Headed

A bright sunny morning at Leeshaw reservoir with 20% cloud on a moderate SW>4 at 10 degrees.

   Very little exposed shore and very few waders with just 2 Oystercatchers with 2 chicks along with the usual Curlews and Lapwing with plenty chicks present to both species, some very young and others now fledged.

   The highlight was 2 Little Ringed Plovers with 2 juvs looking, very near, if not fledged, but keeping on the far NW shore with the adults keeping flying around the shoreline but scope able only and poor visibility in the heat shimmer. I could only split them from Ringed Plover in flight with the lack of wing bars.

  Greylag geese greatly outnumbered Canadas with 126 on the water plus more in the fields. Lots of House Martins present over the water along with a few Swallows whilst a white Muscovy duck was an unusual find in the conduit, probably on walk about from one of the nearby farms.

    A dry day expected tomorrow on a light westerly starting off at a too warm 14 degrees.

BS