Fly Flatts 1500 - 1600 hrs. 50 % cloud cover, sunshine, strong W>5-6.
Its not often you come away from Fly Flatts with an unused camera but today was one of them. The skies were unbelievably quiet with not even a corvid in them and the water was just the same.
I walked the full length of the west banking without seeing a single bird of any description until 3 Mallards flew over and broke my duck, so to speak. A few Canadas were keeping their heads down in the long grass on the east bank and a single Mipit was in the solitary tree on the way back. Theres actually 2 trees but close together, just for the record.
This has got to be one of the quietest visits I,ve ever had at this location and the only excuse I can come up with is the strong west wind.
Back up on Cold Edge road things were better with several Swallows >W along with plenty gulls and corvids in the fields. The magic mushroom harvest must be ready for picking now as several hippy looking types were wandering through the fields searching for them. After a visit like I,d just had at Fly Flatts I would,nt have minded a few magic mushrooms myself.
Bradshaw was alive with House Martins congregating ready for the big push >S.
HC/BV clocked one of the first juv Cuckoos through the area today at Fly Flatts, Nab Water Lane.
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.(2025).