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

Fly Flatts. A livelier start to the month

 

                                    3 juv Redshank just fledged.

                                    1 Common Sandpiper

Good conditions this morning after overnight heavy rain with a cool W>3-4 at 14 degrees and 50% cloud with some sunshine.

    Waders were livelier this morning with 3 very mobile home bred Redshanks moving around the shore whilst a Common Sandpiper was on the west bank.

   At least 4 juv Wheatear were present along with a single 2 CY male but very camera shy, moving between the compound and Robin Rocks. One of the juv Wheatear was on the muddy shore of the lagoon but as I raised the camera to get a shot, a weasel appeared a couple of yards behind it with the Wheatear seeming oblivious to its present. It would have made a good photo as the weasel drew closer  but I dare'nt risk it so a loud clap of my hands got the Wheatear to fly off and the Weasel run off in the opposite direction.

    Still plenty Swifts over the water today joined by several Swallows whilst a single Black Headed Gull headed >W.

  Looking dry for tomorrow after overnight rain with cloudy sunshine on a moderate to strong westerly starting off at 12 degrees

BS 

   

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