A late pm visit to Fly Flatts continued todays good run after the Ogden Whooper Swans this morning.
Conditions were good with a W>4 and clear skies though very little on the move. The area was swarming with Meadow Pipits after an overnight fall whilst several were moving over high and >NW only visible by scanning with the bins.
Half way along the west bank I scanned down to the Twite feeding station just in time to see a white rump flying below the banking heading northwards, that had to be Wheatear. With tripod up and camera mounted at the ready I continued further along the banking until there they were in the distance, a pair of Wheatear, my earliest yet by 2 days.
The Wheatears were not that much of a surprise as just before I set off a grapevine text reporting a male in Crimsworth Dean came from DJS and Jen. Well done for spotting yours Jen, pipping Dave and me to the post. Girl power strikes again.
Nothing else untoward other than the usual Goldies, Lapwings and Curlews etc but a good days birding.
Tomorrow morning I,m grounded having to pick the son in law up from Harrogate but I,ll be taking Big Bertha along for the ride just in case of Red Kite around the Pool Bank area.
Note.. 2 more Wheatears on Nab Water Lane and 1 at Leeshaw, B.O.G.
BS