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Sunday, March 31, 2013

Fly Flatts

                                               The road to Fly Flatts
                                  One pocket of water
                                    The frozen north
                                             Solid ice
                                                Siberia
                                    Plenty Curlew established
                                     Greylags settling on the moor

                                   Good move of LBB gulls

                                         Meadow Pipit in the snow
                                                    Red Grouse

Fly Flatts   0700-1015hrs,  Slight E>3 Sunshine
Set off for Fly Flatts not really expecting to be able to get there but drove to the wind farm then on foot the rest of the way. Fly Flatts area and moor were suprisingly clear of snow , as DCB remarked it will all have been blown across into Lancashire, although the reservoir was 95 % froze over with just one small pocket of water in the SE corner where Canadas were congregating.
The moors were alive with calls from Canada and Greylag geese, Curlew and Golden Plover with several Meadow Pipits in the area.
A full scan round the walls and rocks etc from Withens Gap to Fly failed to turn up any Wheatear.
A good passage of LBB gulls was underway all >NE so at least things seem to be getting into the spring mode at last.

38 LBB gull.............................>NE
9 Red Grouse
2 Greylag
26 Canada..............Many more on moor
16 Curlew
11 Meadow Pipit
Sev Carrion Crow.
BS