1500 hrs and a dark, damp and drizzly Fly Flatts although very mild on a light NE>3. The weather was reversed tonight with clear to the west and banks of fog drifting across from the east but even though the wind turbines were blanked out the reservoir area and moors across to the western ridge remained clear.
Not much better bird wise with just 14 Mallard and a new in female Tufted on the water. Two Stonechat were present along with a single Reed Bunting down by the feeding station and a Blackbird was a rare find down by the stream.
Around 9 LBB gulls flew overhead >NW but otherwise poor with such a low cloud base. Nice to talk to DJS on the phone who was trekking the moor well to the SW of me but spied my car through his bins as I arrived at Fly Flatts.
It will be nice to get the moors back to life with the call of the Curlew, Golden Plover and Redshank along with the drumming of Snipe but first weve got to get the returning Pink Footed Geese and Whooper Swans so plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks.
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).