Another bright day with too much sun, too much heat and too little wind to make a good reservoir watching day but pleasant to be out in apart from the swarms of midges. A very light SW>2 turning SE>3.
Just one Ring Ouzel remains at Fly Flatts now but still giving good views around the boatyard. I expected it gone today but despite it being moved around by the male Blackbird it seemed more settled than yesterday. Two Redshank and 2 Oystercatchers were out on the islands but no sign of the Ringed Plover today.
The temperature at Leeshaw had risen to an uncomfortable 17 degrees on a light SE>3 but very active with good numbers of Greylag and Canadas along with a newcomer in the form of a Bar Headed Goose which was in a distant field but then came down to the water. This species is becoming an annual sighting with possibly the same bird the previous 3 years at both Leeshaw and Fly Flatts but short stays both times. The single Pink Footed goose was also still present in with the Greylags.
A high count of Oystercatchers with 24 present along with 3 Redshank and over 150 Lapwing but only 2 Curlew today.
No shoreline here and Ringstone closed so its going to be down to Fly Flatts for waders unless there are any of the Calderdale reservoirs over the ridge showing shoreline and maybe Ringstone can be viewed from the road? Possibly Keighley Moor reservoir has shoreline which IH will keep us up to date on.
Thanks to Michael Kelly for the shout on the Bar Headed Goose which was well worth going to see.
Fly Flatts
1m Ring Ouzel
2 Redshank
2 Oystercatchers
3 Reed Bunting
1m Blackbird, nesting.
+ usual sp.
Leeshaw
1 Bar Headed Goose
1 Pink Footed goose
3 Redshank
24 Oystercatchers
1 m Tufted
2 Herring gull
1 Lesser Black Backed gull
+ usual sp.
BS