A terrible morning for upland birding with the fog gone and replaced with gale force winds.
Fly Flatts was almost unworkable with a gale force SW>7 gusting 8 making it near impossible to stand up, especially on the banking, with large waves and white horses making the reservoir look like the north sea.
Two Wheatears were briefly near the feeding station but soon gone in the wind so it was head for lower ground after a quick scout round.
Driving on the top road above the reservoir a single Swallow flew over >W and a male Ring Ouzel was on a wall about half way on the reservoir but as I stopped and grabbed the camera it took off and disappeared at 100mph across the moor in the wind.
Paul Clough was no better and birdless in the conditions other than a few Meadow Pipits battling up the valley and >W low over the moor.
Down a bit further to Leeshaw which was slightly better but rain showers in amongst the sunshine and very little in the blustery skies.
Fly Flatts
1m Ring Ouzel
1 Swallow
2 Wheatear
+ usual sp.
Leeshaw reservoir
3 Redshank
2 Oystercatchers
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Hare
+ usual sp.
NOTE..
Fly Flatts has now been made private with the small access gate from the road blocked off along with the way through the second gate with signs by the second gate of no public access.
Will get in touch with the Water Board and see what the crack is but will still bird it and put down Twite seed. Birded there since 1965 so not going to stop now.
If either BOG or Calderbirds have anyone with weight behind them using the Twite feeding station as support
it would be good for them to write to Yorkshire Water.
Someone I met up there is getting on to the Highways who are in charge of the footpaths and he is also looking into the right to roam laws.
BS