A late afternoon visit to Fly Flatts to get the weekend seed down in a strong W>5-6 with 70% cloud cover and some sunshine.
Two Windsurfers were battling against the elements but there was nothing on the water to disturb which had high waves lashing against the east shoreline.
The usual birds were present with the addition of 3 Raven high over the moor to the west along with a Cormorant high and >E. An RAF Hercules planes flew over the moor which seems to be an every day flight route now for Air Force transport planes and jets.
The SE shoreline is still hanging on in there and being used by 6 Common Sandpipers and occasionally Dunlin but none of the latter seen today.
Only 1 Herring gull and 2 LBB gulls around the water with most chicks now growing well so not an easy target for the gulls anymore and Fly Flatts has never been a suitable habitat to hold gulls due to the peat shoreline as opposed to over the Nab at Oxenhope where the sandy shoreline attracts thousands over the winter.
Its a waiting game now for the middle of July when things start to kick off again. Looking back through records any local Terns and Scoters have been mid July/ August along with returning waders so until then I,ll keep slogging the local waters in anticipation of something out of the ordinary or something out of season turning up.
7 Common Sandpiper .... 6 of them together on the SE shoreline
3 Oystercatcher
1 Cormorant
1 Herring gull
2 LBB gull
1 juv Pied Wagtail
3 Raven
+ usual sp.
BS
WEST YORKSHIRE BIRDING. BRIAN SUMNER. I am based at Queensbury and bird a patch within a 10 mile range of home incorporating 16 stretches of water, several plantations, a belt of woodland, stretches of river and canal and good areas of moorland. I specialize in upland birds, reservoir and sky watching. My local patch is Fly Flatts reservoir. Any reports can be sent by text or call to 07771 705024 or see profile for e mail address. All images on this blog are copyright.(2024).