How many B.O.G. veterans remember the old toilet at TMR where we kept
the record book before the hide was built.
A perfect morning weather wise at Fly Flatts with 50% cloud and blue sky with sunshine on a cold N>5
at 2 degrees.
Birding once again was a joke at this location with 4 Canadas on the water and 2 Black Headed gulls over after a 2 hour session and a walk the full length of the west bank.
Mid afternoon and I set off for Redcar Tarn to pick up KMs Caspian gull which was seen there the last 2 days but, after 15 minutes queuing at road works in Denholme and still nowhere near the temporary lights, I turned round and headed towards Leeshaw but ended up at Oxenhope reservoir instead, just in way of a change.
It was a bit like going home or back in time feeling strange stood on windy corner where
HC, DCB and myself, as well as others, had stood 30 years ago on visible migration watch.
The reservoir used to be well watched in those days but is now badly under watched, probably due to the long walk from the car parking area to the hide ,usually in bad weather very much like Fly Flatts.
There is also 3 gates to open, 2 being locked but well worth it when you get up on the east bank where the view across to the east is breathtaking being able to see the Humber bridge on a clear day.
Also clearly visible is York Minster and Malham Cove to mention but a few of the distant landmarks visible.
Oxenhope reservoir has always had a winter gull roost building up to enormous numbers of gulls as they come in from the fields late afternoon. As I arrived there were around 3000 gulls on the water but viewing was very difficult looking right into the low sun reflecting on the water.
Gulls were piling in throughout my time there with every bird coming from the NE,E and SE which is why nothing appears over Fly Flatts which is only 2 minutes away over the Nab to the west.
If I remember right the gulls also leave the roost in the morning to the east again missing Fly Flatts.
By 1530 hrs I estimated 12,000 gulls on the water with groups of up to 50 + still coming in as I drove up the track and along Long Causeway which must have taken the numbers up to in excess of 15,000 gulls. The majority were Commons and Black Headed but hundreds of Herring and Lesser Black Backed with several Great Black Backed. What a mind boggling spectacle to see. I wonder how many Yellow Legged, Med gulls and Caspians there were in among them.
Very little otherwise on the water, which was by now white with gulls, with just Goosanders, Teal and Mallard. A venue I,ll be reinstating in future. MC and brother PC used to think they were in heaven when we were up there scoping through the gulls until darkness. Happy days.
Oxenhope reservoir. Members only.
Estimated at 15,000 gulls
4f Goosander
3 Teal
13 Mallard
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
6 Mistle Thrush
+ usual sp.
BS