Ogden Reservoir

 

                                    Ogden early morn.

                                    Good count of Treecreepers

A pleasant enough walk around Ogden early morn being sheltered from the moderate SW>4 with full cloud at 6 degrees.

   Bird-wise it was quiet on the water with just a single LBB gull and around 20 small gulls plus the resident Mallards.

    The west bank fared better with a good count of at least 8 Treecreepers in the same area along with 2 very mobile Redpoll s well as Blue, Great and Coal Tits. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was hammering away at a tree but kept out of sight.

    Otherwise, just a Raven overhead, along with the usual expected common woodland species.

 No reports yesterday or today of the local Iceland gull but the long staying Roundhay Park bird is still on site. A good report from MC with c 44 Whooper Swans on Fewston reservoir yesterday, a rare sighting locally so far this winter with reports that large numbers of Whoopers have stayed near their breeding grounds this winter due to mild weather.

    A good looking forecast for tomorrow with lots of sunshine on a light NE turning N then E at 3 degrees. Hopefully the low temperature will keep the eastern fog away.

BS

Horton Bank Top x 3 / Wibsey Park.

 

                                    Horton Bank Top

                                    Several Herring gulls

                                        2 Mute Swan

                                        3 singing Song Thrush

                                    Wibsey Park

                                    10 Herring gull

                                    Single LBB gull

                                    Usual Moorhens etc

                                    18 Tufted

                                    Greenfinch, a rare find recently.

A bright sunny morning with some cloud on a light SSW>3 at 5 degrees. By midday the wind had increased with full cloud cover.

   With 2 reports and photos of a 1CY Iceland gull on the water at Horton Bank Top yesterday I felt that I had to go check it out today. I'm not into twitching other folks birds but being only 5 minutes down the road I thought it was worth a try.

    Nothing showing early morn other than 12 Herring gull, 4 LBB and several small gulls. A single 

Great Crested Grebe was present in full summer plumage but otherwise just the usual 2 Mute Swans, Coots, Moorhens and Mallards whilst 3 Song Thrushes were up singing in the trees.

   On then to Wibsey Park where 10 Herring and 1 LBB gulls were present along with around 50 Black Headed.  A good count of 18 Tufted duck as well as 2 Mute Swan, Greylags and Canadas plus the usual park lake species. Another singing Song Thrush here plus a surprise to find a single Greenfinch.

   Still thinking Iceland gull, I stopped off at Bank Top on the way home for another check but very few big gulls present.

   Thinking afternoon is the best time for gulls I extended the afternoon dog walk back for a third check but despite 23 Herring gulls on the water, no sign of an Iceland. That's enough chasing around for Iceland gull, I'll wait for one to come to me at Ogden now.

    A mostly cloudy day for tomorrow with a moderate sou'westerly at 7 degrees and chance of rain after midday.

BS

Leeshaw Reservoir

 

                                    Plenty Canada and Greylags

                                    2 of 3 Pink Footed geese

                                    LH Pink in moult

                                    2 distant Little Owl

                                    Just 2 LBB gulls

                                    Over 100 Lapwing

                                    Minimum of 28 Oystercatchers

                                    Single drake Goosander

A pleasant morning at Leeshaw with full cloud on a light NW>2 at 5 degrees. 

    With all the roads now reopened, for now, I did a visit to Leeshaw reservoir to check out the geese and gulls. Around 200 mixed Greylag and Canada along with the long staying 3 Pink Footed geese, one of which is in moult, but no White Fronted mixed in with them.

    Gulls were disappointing with just 2 LBBs 4 Common and a few Black Headed around the water whilst waders did better with 28 Oystercatcher, over 100 Lapwing and 6 Curlew. Redshank are next on the list, due anytime in the next 2 weeks, and then there is a lull in the wader arrivals until April.

     Just a single drake Goosander plus a few Mallards on the water with a Heron on the north bank. 

Otherwise 2 Little Owl and the usual species.

   Some overnight rain and snow showers then a day of cloud with some heavy rain along with a chance of  sleet and snow on a moderate SW at 6 degrees.

BS

   

Its all happening now, Fly Flatts.

 

                                    Bright but damp start to the morning

                                        Drizzle throughout

                                    Here comes the fog

                                The Nab blanked out.

                                    2 Oystercatchers present

                                    15 Lapwing on the Flat Moor

                                        1 pair Tufted

                                Bang on schedule.  Ringed Plover.

                                2 Golden Plover, Nolstar.

A good morning at Fly Flatts with a clear start and good visibility at 6 degrees on a light NW>3 and light drizzle. By 0915 the drizzle turned heavy and a large fog bank rolled in partially cutting visibility down but this passed through within 15 minutes leaving it clear but wet.

     Bang on time I located my first, expected, Ringed Plover back on the south shore before heading over to the west bank. A pair of Oystercatchers were on the east bank along with 2 Curlew and 15 Lapwing holding territory on the Flat Moor.

    The water held a pair of Tufted duck along with several Canada and Greylag geese and a few Mallard. The compound area held 3 Stonechat, but very mobile, whilst a Robin and 2 Wrens were in the compound bushes.

   On the way home, a check of the Nolstar fields produced 2 very welcome Golden Plovers, a species well in decline in the Fly Flatts area over the last few years. Up until then, flocks of 300 + were a common sight on the Flat Moor.

   Looking about the same, weather wise, for tomorrow with plenty cloud and chance of light rain on a light NW but colder at 4 degrees.

BS