The Birding day that was,nt meant to be.

It started at 0600 hrs and off to Fly Flatts where on arrival the YWA were working on the gate so on to the north end only to find it heaving with cars, campers and motorbikes with every Druid and Hippy from miles around heading for the sacrifice stones to do a bit of sun worshipping on the longest day, if they found the sun they did better than me.
Next plan was to move on to Leeshaw but just over the ridge from Fly Flatts the single track road was blocked solid with cars from both directions in a stand off with plenty fisticuffs and one car with no windows left.
They did,nt appear to be birder friendly so rather that blow the horn and shout, " get out of the way" it was reverse for 100 yds so I could turn around and head for Cold Edge Dams which was plan C.
On arrival at Cold Edge dams the W>6 drove heavy rain showers over the moor along with low cloud cutting visibility periodically.
After a check of both dams and a walk up the track to the small dam I came away with , 1 Little Grebe, 1 m Tufted going into eclipse and the usual Reed Buntings, Meadow Pipits and Canadas.
By 0830 hrs I was back home getting on with my jobs.

A mountain of jobs at the moment both at home and Shelf Moor which I hope to get as much as possible done during June into July, the quietest months so tea time was a quick check on Soil Hill, once again in a strong W>5 and showers.
Plenty signs of breeding Skylarks and Meadow Pipits but that was about it other than good numbers of LBB gulls over heading for the water at Oxenhope.

   Plenty LBB gulls over in the dark skies

                                        Troubled skies over Cold Edge

                                 Withins from Soil Hill under stormy clouds.

BS