Not that its like me to grumble, much, but half a day of the nasty hot stuff and I,m already starting my rain dance. Fly Flatts had 80% blue sky and wall to wall sunshine on a SW>4, just the combination to kill it dead up there.
The blue skies looked good for a nice Osprey type raptor over but that never happened ,in fact the skies remained empty as well as the water and shoreline. Even the Lapwings and Curlews were quiet lazing on the moor with no signs of Wheatear or Common Sandpiper.
A walk the full length of the west bank plus a check of both feeding stations provided me with a few Canadas, Lapwings, Curlews and a pair of Greylags along with a single Kestrel.
The Nolstar fields are very hard to check for Goldies at the moment as the farmer has scattered tons of Turnips for the sheep, all of which look like Goldies from a distance but none were present.
One of the quietest visits I,ve had to Fly Flatts for a long time and another day of the same forecast for tomorrow.
The final nail in the coffin was as I passed Mixenden reservoir workmen were just on with chopping down all the large Pine trees along the roadside for some strange reason.
Raggalds Flood just held 1 Redshank and 2 Canada geese.
Oh well, at least it can only get better from here. Hope I,ve got better news for you tomorrow.
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).