First stop was Fly Flatts in an icy cold WNW>4 but plenty sunshine. Unfortunately , several Bank Holiday Barmpots were down by the shoreline in the se and sw corners along with dog walkers on the banking plus a few bikes so a quick change of plan and headed on to the north end to walk down the track to the water. Looking down there several other people had got the same idea so with plan A and B scuppered it was back to Slaughter Gap in hopes of Redstart, Ring Ouzel , Cuckoo and of course Dotterel in the Nolstar fields. Unfortunately I came away with a 4 out of 4 dip having found neither of the target birds.
Admittedly I did,nt go down to the Redstart area as well as the Ring Ouzel tree but just scanned from half way down as the area you walk through was full of cows so I did,nt think it wise to venture through there with 3 dogs in tow. The dogs would be no bother but theres something about cows where dogs seem to wind them up and get their backs up and I didnt fancy running up Slaughter Gap with a herd of wild beasts on my tail. I came away with a single Raven, 3 Wheatear, a few Mipits and a distant Buzzard.
Next was a walk down the track opposite, by Nolstar, to look over the north east corner of Cold Edge Dams where there are several Hawthorn bushes but only a single Willow Warbler and a handful of Mipits around the area although there were plenty Swallows overhead.
A stop off of Mixenden reservoir just produced a pair of Tufted duck on the water along with around 60 mixed Sand and House Martin low over the surface. With a poor afternoon behind me I thought it best if I called it a do and tried with a fresh start in the morning so by 1545 hrs I was home tending the garden.
No news on CKs TMR Avocet from yesterday and unfortunately it was,nt waiting for me at Fly Flatts this morning. I know this has nothing what so ever to do with me but I find it very disappointing , and an insult to Chris, that his report, of what will be the bird of the year and the best Bradford bird found for many years, has not even made the Bradford blog with the weekends reports being a walk round St Ives and birding at Stockbridge. Other than that not a single comment for his achievement on my blog .
Going back years , when a bird such as this came to light , there was a mass exodus of birders dashed to the location to see it and it was talked about for weeks, even years after but not anymore. Sadly this seems to be the way local birding is now going.
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.(2024).