Up with the waders. Fly Flatts.

 

                                    1 of 4 Common Sandpiper

                                    6 Redshank present

                                    2 pr Pied Wagtail

                                    Distant male Wheatear

Another dry morning at Fly Flatts with 80% cloud and some breaks of sunshine on a light SE>3 at a chilly 4 degrees.

      The area is livening up slightly with more birds around than of late and good areas of shore exposed.

   At least 6 Redshank present with probably more at the north end whilst 4 Common Sandpipers were very active moving around the shoreline. No sign of Dunlin yet and looking sad for Ringed Plover after the February bird failed to attract a mate and moved on at the end of March.

    Plenty breeding Lapwing and Curlew plus just a single Oystercatcher now present with its mate off sitting. A low count of Meadow Pipits this year which was to be expected after a dramatic drop in visible migration counts in the autumn.

    The best count this spring so far for Wheatear, which was becoming worrying, with 5 female and a single male this morning where I usually have 20 + at this time of year.

   Otherwise, usual species, along with 2 pair of breeding Pied Wagtail and 4 Red Legged Partridge.

A cloudy morning promised for tomorrow on a very light SSE with a chance of light rain at 7 degrees.

BS

Meanwhile, back at Fly Flatts.

 

                                1 of 8 Redhank

                                 1 of 2 Common Sandpiper

Decent conditions at Fly Flatts with full cloud clearing by 0900 hrs to bring some sunshine on a light but cold SE>3 at 4 degrees.

     First bird seen in the compound was a long legged brute of a male Wheatear with a very deep orange buff the full depth of its underside making it an excellent contender for a Greenland Wheatear, 'leucorhoa', which unfortunately disappeared through the compound fence before I could get the camera on it. It was not re-located so no check on the primaries but looked like a cert to me and right on schedule with previous spring sightings at this site.

    Good areas of shore exposed now as well as plenty mud around the lagoon which this morning held 2 Common Sandpiper whilst 8 Redshank were around the reservoir shore.

     Otherwise just the usual Curlew, Lapwing, Geese and Mipits as well as 2 LBB gulls overhead.

About the same forecast for tomorrow with cloudy sunshine on a light SE kicking off at 5 degrees.

BS

Leeshaw Reservoir / Ned Hill Track.

 

LEESHAW               1 of 3 Pink Footed Geese.

   NED HILL                A rare sight for me, Greenfinch

NED HILL TRACK                1 of 5 Willow Warbler.

A pleasant morning with full sun on a light ENE>3 at 7 degrees at Leeshaw Reservoir.

    Nothing untoward this morning, but as always at this site, plenty to see with a steady flow of Sand Martin and Swallows >E whilst the shore held Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Lapwing.

     A decent count of 28 LBB gulls on the water along with 4 Herring gull, all eventually moving off >W. A Willow Warbler was in the track side tree whilst 2 Wheatear were in the north field where they were yesterday. Everything too distant and in the heat shimmer for half decent photos.

    A pair of Dippers were in the beck plus Grey and Pied Wagtails. The 3 long staying Pink Footed geese were in with the Greylags, the Greylags having several sets of goslings now.

    An early p.m. dog walk on Ned Hill track provided 5 Willow Warblers but no Whitethroat back in the usual area as yet. A surprise to see 4 Greenfinch in with Chaffinch, Goldfinch and House Sparrows on feeders on Perseverance Road, my first Greenfinch seen since June 2023.

    Looking like a cloudy start for the morning before brightening to cloudy sunshine on a light easterly, which could mean fog. A start temperature of 6 degrees.

BS

Double header, Fly Flatts/ Leeshaw.

 

   FLY FLATTS            5 of 10 Redshank, distant north shore.

                                    Common Sandpiper and Oystercatchers

                                        1 of 5 Pied Wagtail

LEESHAW                    Female Common Scoter.

                                    A busy shore

                                    Redshank in the rocks.

The overnight fog cleared by 0630 hrs so by the time I arrived at Fly Flatts the last dregs of mist were clearing. By 0800 hrs it was cloudy sunshine on a light WSW>3 at 6 degrees.

     Quite a lively morning with a small flock of 5 Redshank dropping in onto the far north coast before spreading along the shoreline, adding to the 5 already present.

  A check of the west bank produced 4 Oystercatchers along with 4 Common Sandpipers and 5 Pied Wagtail adding to the breeding pair now sitting eggs.

   The south bank held 2 very flighty female Wheatear and 2 Red Legged Partridge whilst several Curlew and Lapwing were in the air.

    Just after I arrived this morning I got a text from BV who had just locate a female Common Scoter at Leeshaw reservoir so, early afternoon, Lynda full of cold and not wanting to go out, I threw the dogs in the back of the car and headed for Leeshaw.

    As soon as I arrived I spotted the Scoter but keeping well out on the water and just beyond the 400mm lens range so just more record shots. A couple of Redshank were present as well as Oystercatchers, Curlews and Lapwings but still no Common Sandpipers.

    A few Swallows headed >E whilst a female Wheatear was on a broken wall and a Willow Warbler in a nearby tree. Just 4 LBB, 3 Herring and 2 Black Headed gulls whilst a Cuckoo called as I was leaving.

   Thanks to BV for the Scoter call.

A light to moderate ENE for morning with cloud and possible breaks of sunshine starting off at 5 degrees. Visibility shown as good.

BS

The ups and downs of birding. Leeshaw

 

                                Several Blackbirds moving through

                                    Oystercatcher and Lapwings

                                        Usual Heron

A murky morning at Leeshaw with thick fog on the tops leaving it slightly misty at Leeshaw but visibility do-able. A very light E>2 with full cloud at 6 degrees and light showers.

    I thought there may be a slim chance of yesterdays Bar Tailed Godwit being held down with overnight fog but no sign of it this morning, which was a shame as conditions for photos was much better with very little heat distortion.

   The Cuckoo was still present across the far side of the water, but as yesterday, went quiet after 0830 hrs. A less lively morning with just 10 Herring and 4 LBB gulls through >W whilst a move of Blackbirds was apparent with 8 ground hopping through >E as well as several Swallows.

    No new waders yet with just 4 Redshank and 6 Oystercatchers and still awaiting the first Common Sandpiper at this site.

A report to me this morning from YW of a Merlin taking out a Jay at Castle Carr on Friday.

   Otherwise, the usual species along with 2 Grey and 2 Pied Wagtail.

A brighter morning tomorrow with chance of light rain showers at 6 degrees with the wind in variable directions S,SE and SW. Visibility said to be good.

BS

   

A mega and a Cuckoo for Leeshaw Reservoir.

                                Mega bird, Bar Tailed Godwit
 

                                    Winter plumage

                                Way out of camera range

                                plus heat shimmer

                                    so record shots only

                                        Still present when I left.

A cloudy but clear morning at Leeshaw on a light E>3 at 4 degrees. Full cloud throughout but good visibility though photography marred by heat shimmer even at the low temperature.

     One of those long awaited extra special mornings with the first call I heard when getting out of the car was a Cuckoo across on the north hillside showing briefly on a wall top, once I had got the scope up on sticks.

    Things looked reasonably quiet so a dog walk down to the beck and back by which time 9 LBB and 3 Herring gull were on the water with the usual Oystercatchers and Redshanks around as well as Curlews and Lapwings etc.

    The Cuckoo had now gone quiet and not heard again throughout the watch whilst several Swallows headed >S into the breeze.

    Whilst on the SW end of the track I scanned the shore through the bins and picked out a wader walking among the Canadas. It was a large looking light job and first thought was Greenshank, though wrong time of year for this area. A dash back to the scope behind the car and a surprise to find a winter plumaged Bar Tailed Godwit, a mega for this area, unlike the Black Tailed Godwit which are scarce but much more common.

    It was suddenly flushed with a LBB gull and flew low over the wall and landed in a field alongside a Lapwing. This was a lucky move for me as I got the white V up its back, positively identifying it from a Black Tailed as the view on the shore was very iffy through the scope due to the distance and heat shimmer. It is also an early date for a species that usually moves in late May.

   After a while it returned to the shore where it buried its head and went to sleep, where it remained till I left. 

   The last local sightings I have had of Bar Tailed Godwit were, 2/5/2011 at Fly Flatts where DJS got the same bird on the 5/5/2011. Then another single at TMR 3/11/2012 followed by a near miss dip on a bird found down Ten Yards Lane, Thornton, 6/10/2022, found by M.P.

   An Easter Sunday to remember.

Another day of light easterlies in the morning with a rainy forecast and morning fog at 6 degrees.

BS