Arrived at Oxenhope res at 1500 hrs to find it like old times with KM and BV up on the banking raking through the c600 gulls.
As expected CKs Black Tailed Godwit had moved on which is normal here for waders, the problem being, with such a vast number of gulls, which are spooked easily, the whole flock regularly take to the air with any waders lifting off with them. The majority of gulls usually fly around before landing back on the water then returning to shore whereas the waders usually keep going.
Unfortunately , just before I arrived, a Med gull which was being watched by Keith lifted up with the gulls not to be re located. Likewise , the Lapwing flock were spooked and as they flew Keith picked out a wader amongst them which was probably a female Ruff going by its size and trailing legs but instead of circling and relanding the flock flew off returning 30 minutes later minus the wader.
So that was a good start for me with 2 birds just missed but still a good session scoping through the crowds of BH gulls for the Med and sifting through a record count of 51 Herring gulls for Yellow Legged and Caspian. No Caspian but a cracking ad Yellow Legged along with a 3rd summer bird. As Keith remarked, who would have ever thought that Yellow Legged Herring gulls would be commoner than Gt Black Backed.
Brian Vickers says Whinchats and Wheatears are on the move with several sightings around the area.
Back home and a dog walk up Foxhill park produced a very high Buzzard heading >S over the mill towards Northowram so a quick alert to NK and AC who were in the line of fire and just chance of one record shot before it was into the glare of the sun and out of site. Once again, carrying the bridge camera everywhere in my pocket proved worthwhile.
BS