With a free afternoon it was back up to Fly Flatts where , after a lull in the wind around lunch time, it was back to full power by 1400 hours blowing a near gale E>6-7 though bright and clear.
The hardy wind surfers were out on the water doing the length on the reservoir in seconds at amazing speeds with high waves lashing up the west bank.
Though nothing special was seen there was enough going on to keep the interest going but no Terns and no Swifts amongst a good supply of Swallows all >N.
BTO report that the swifts should pile through mid week when the winds are forecast to turn light and southerly.Three were reported today by DJS over Lee Mount.
Dunlins were the birds of the day with 6 very actively chasing each other around low over the northern ponds along with Common Sandpipers.
Lesser Black Backed gulls were on egg watch with 4 birds present and pleasing to see 6 Herring gull around the waters edge. A Common Tern moment turned out to be a Black Headed moving through >E whilst several Curlews were in the air. A Buzzard headed high and >E well out over Oxenhope.
4 LBB gulls
6 Herring gulls
1 BHG gull
8 Common Sandpiper
6 Dunlin
5 Curlew
1 Redshank
2 Oystercatchers
1 Buzzard....................>E
3 Wheatear
1m Reed Bunting
1 Dunnock
c 18 Swallow...............>N
Home for a bit of tea then off for a quick check of Ogden, just in case.
The wind was still blowing strong across the water and the sun was in a bad position for viewing so it was round to the west bank to get the sun behind me but the wind in my face.
Things were quiet with just 4 Canadas on the water along with the usual Mallards which, unfortunately as last year, the ducklings seem to have gone missing. 2 Heron were present which is part of the problem, the other being the duck feeders chucking piles of bread around which invites Carrion Crows into the area which take the ducklings.
As with Fly Flatts , Swallows were moving through low and North along with at least 3 House Martin whilst the Cormorant was still in its usual position on the depth float.
Oops, almost forgot, a good but windy check of Nolstar on the way back from Fly Flatts found the Golden Plover flock in the second field back all squat under the shelter of the wall out of the wind. Also present, 2 Wheatear and 2 Curlew but as expected, no Dotterel.
BS