Although it is cheating a bit without the weight
of an outboard on.
1530 hours at Fly Flatts in my ideal weather with a cold moderate W>4 to 5 and 100% cloud cover with very dark clouds to the west and drizzle coming over the moor later turning to light rain. Really pleasant to get back to normal with the hot stuff gone.
The birds were much livelier with several Curlew and Lapwing in the air along with occasional Golden Plover and Snipe whilst Swallows were moving well low over the water >N with around 30 counted but still no sign of Swift though HC informs me he is getting them over Oxenhope now.
Still only 3 Wheatear showing plus a quick glimpse of the Whinchat before it dropped into the heather.
A walk the full length of the west banking gave me a count of at least 18 Common Sandpiper and 2 Redshank but Dunlins not yet appeared.
An interesting e mail from I.H. saying that the Pink Footed Goose had been at Keighley Moor reservoir along with the 2 Greylag so it was probably the same trio that I had at Leeshaw a few weeks back. Ian is finding it about the same as me on his Keighley Moor reservoir patch with a very slow start.
Half way along the banking in the heaviest of the rain a very pale Buzzard appeared from over the west ridge above Tatie Pie Hill, what a cracking name that is, and continued high and fast on the regular flight path here of >NE through the gap to the north of the Nab.
An enjoyable hour up there and good to get the big coat back out of the car.
BS