The Nab , dividing east from west.
The Bumps, a continuation southwards of the Nab
That looks like CK up on the top road busy scoping.
Yesterday afternoon I visited Sentry Hill on the east side of the Nab above Oxenhope reservoir and experienced the nightly occurrence of thousands of gulls and jackdaws going to roost as well as many ducks and geese and this was in poor weather with a near gale force icy wind.
All the birds seen were either coming from or going east.
This afternoon I visited Fly Flatts in better conditions with 90 % cloud cover and hazy sunshine with a SW> 4 which seemed ideal . The time was just the same as yesterdays visit to Sentry Hill.
Sentry Hill is just half a mile away from Fly Flatts divided apart from each other by a high ridge running north to southwards, the North end being the Nab and the hillocks continuing south the Bumps.
The 1 hours birding at Fly Flatts produced 2 Black Headed gulls on the water and 3 Red Grouse and that was it. You could even hear the gulls on the Oxenhope roost just over the ridge.
What is it with this east west divide making birds reluctant to come over the ridge from the east to the west side. It is,nt shelter from the westerlies because its just the same scenario when a strong easterly is blowing and although gulls dont like the peaty water at Fly other birds also stick to the east. I ve had several mornings during vis mig when the skies were empty over me yet HC on the east side of the ridge had experience birds piling through including passerines.
I can,t knock Fly Flatts, a place I love and providing me with a species list of 110 over the years including some real special birds but it would be a lot livelier place if the Nab was,nt there.
Theres something for you to chew over.
BS