4 males present. very distant.
A bright afternoon following a morning of rain and snow showers but a cold NW> 5 blowing.
First off was a check of Mixenden for Whoopers then on to Cold Edge Dams to see if yesterdays Whooper had got on its way ok which it had leaving a field full of 133 Canadas, 24 Greylag, 2 Barnacles, 8 Curlew and 4 Redshank.
Next stop Fly Flatts with target bird Wheatear. A walk down to the water checking the usual hot spots failed to produce but who could blame them in the bitter cold NW wind and frequent snow showers. The northern ponds are holding plenty water with 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Redshank down there along with 6 Curlew, 2 Red Legged Partridge and 5 LBB gulls on the banking but no sign of Wheatear. Around 30 Meadow Pipits looked fresh arrivals whilst 3 Kestrels were hovering around the Nab area.
A steady drive back along the top road found plenty Lapwings and Curlews in the sheep fields but still no Wheatear.
A scan across the Slade area produced around 40 very distant Golden Plover on the flat moor but again no Wheatear.
The last stopping place was by the farm opposite the wind farm and after 10 minutes scanning, Bingo, a single male Wheatear on a very distant wall and soon nearby another 3 were found, all males, A few record snaps then head for home with a massive storm cloud appearing.
By the time I got to Mixenden the hailstones were coming down like half crowns and the roads were already close to being at a standstill . A real struggle to climb up out of Mixenden and again out of Bradshaw but well worth the effort with the first Wheatears under my belt. By the weekend we should have them back at all the local sites.
An e mail this tea time from IH reporting the first Wheatear back today on his patch at Slippery Ford, Keighley Moor whilst Gordon at Barden today reported a House Martin and an Osprey.
BS