Disaster today on the birding scene with the car in dock for MOT and service from this morning till late afternoon. Dropped it off in Halifax early doors then paid £3.00 on the bus back home and another £3.00 back to town to pick it up late afternoon. I would,nt mind but the bus did,nt even have a conductor, or clippy as the females were called, and the door was at the front instead of an opening with a pole at the back which was handy if you were missing the bus as you could launch yourself at the pole and pull yourself on and also jump off as the bus was slowing down so the driver did,nt have to stop.No health and safety in those days.
Luckily , with the gale force SW that would have been blowing at Fly Flatts its unlikely that I would have missed much either on the deck or in the air vis mig wise although there are several Greenshank moving through at the moment so I,ll be checking for those in the morning.
Today just comprised of dog walks around Foxhill and through Old Guy Road to Roper Lane. The cricket field held 2 Wheatear and 7 juv Pied Wagtails whilst a distant Whinchat was in the usual spot down Old Guy Road though everything was very mobile in the strong winds.
No sign of Redstart in the hot spot area below the Roper Lane watch point but not ideal conditions for passerines. A few Swallows battled through all skimming the fields and >S.
The SW wind has to be stronger still tomorrow with some heavy rain which could make things interesting.
Heres a few pics of different stages of the water level at Fly Flatts.
Looking across from the west bank to the islands.
Looking east from the NW banking
The north shore has now taken over the east shore
Imaging scanning this area for a small wader
The drying up SE ponds
Plenty places for waders to hide here
South shore line in the distance
A good spot for a Green Sandpiper , south inlet
East shore below the club house, not very productive here.
looking from the club house to the SW corner.
The islands are a good pick up point.
BS
