Strange place for a Woodpig but a good reason for it, read on..
Fly Flatts 6 Wheatear present
18 Reed Bunting present before moving off >SE
2 of 5 Greylags in from the east
Ravens scuffling with Sparrowhawk
Foreshaw Bottom Lane At least 11 Stonechat present
Early morn mist in the valley below Fly Flatts.
- A bright morning with blue sky and sunshine at 8 degrees on a light NW>2 to 3 with banks of mist down in the valleys.
- Much livelier at Fly Flatts this morning both in the air and on the ground with a good variety of species but no high numbers and no more geese as yet. Driving there this morning 5 Swallows were on the wires in Bradshaw with another 4 over the water mid morn.
- A single Green Woodpecker briefly on the wall then off west was unusual for this site whilst 18 Reed Buntings were in the single tree by the lagoon before moving off >SE.
- First signs of Woodpigeons moving today which is a little early , this species usually being amongst the last to leave. A single Woodpig was in the reeds at the SE corner sat partly in the water which seemed strange but as it eventually came out into the open the reason became apparent with ruffled feathers and most of its tail ragged off. My guess is it had a near to death experience with the local Peregrine and dropped down into the reeds for safety.
- Luckily it could fly but keeping low and rather wobbly.
- Late afternoon I did one of my old Bradford area stomping grounds to see if I could pick up Ring Ouzel , which never happened but Foreside Bottom Lane is such a vast area of moorland and impossible to do a thorough search.
- One area alone held at least 11 Stonechats and 4 Wheatear as well as several Mipits and Reed Buntings. Big gulls were overhead heading towards the Oxenhope roost. An interesting area and a good Visible Migration area.
- Visible Migration
- 1 Green Woodpecker...........>W
- 4 Swallow...........................>S
- 87 Mipits...........................>S
- 16 Woodpigs.....................>S
- 18 Reed Bunting..............>SE
- 3 LBB gull.......................>NE
- 1 Snipe.............................>NW
- 1 Buzzard.........................>S
- 5 Chaffinch......................>SE
- 8 Jackdaws......................>S
- PRESENT
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Raven
- 6 Wheatear
- 3 Stonechat
- 5 Greylag geese
- FORESIDE BOTTOM LANE
- 11 Stonechat
- 4 Wheatear
- sev Mipits
- + usual sp.
- BS
