A day as expected. Fly Flatts

 

                                        Theres always the Barnacle geese to fall back on

                                              Plenty Curlews in the area

                                   2 ad LBBs on the water was unusual.

Terrible conditions today with a very light SW>2 turning NE>3 mid afternoon. Hazy visibility with full sun and 30% cloud at 19 degrees.

                                                     As expected in the conditions, Fly Flatts came to a stand still today with very little to report. Ringed Plovers were down to 3 and very flighty due to a Merlin in the morning and canoes on the water late afternoon. Interesting to see how they lost the Merlin each time by flying up very high and nearly out of sight with the Merlin sticking to a lower altitude.

                                            The Robin Rocks held 2 Wheatear whilst 2 adult Lesser Black Backed were on the water. 

                   A good drop in temperature tomorrow down to 8 degrees with a light NE turning E which may improve things hopefully.

BS

Fall of Wheatear, Fly Flatts

 

                                   Up to 14 Wheatear on arrival this morning.

                                        Ringed Plover back to 7

A cool and breezy start to the morning with a SW>4 and the sun just breaking through at a temperature of 7 degrees.

                    As I drove into the boatyard it soon became apparent that there had been an overnight fall of Wheatear with at least 14 just around the compound and east bank all typical newcomers very flighty and unapproachable. By the time I,d walked the west bank and got back to the compound there was not a Wheatear in sight so obviously just dropped in on their way through.

                         Meadow Pipits were again flying overhead >N whilst 4 Redshank were below the west bank at the north end. A surprise to get 2 Sand Martin over the west moor >N and only spotted due to a Merlin making unsuccessful swoops at them. Very rare I get a Sand Martin until autumn vis mig.

                      A group of 7 Ringed Plover were very mobile skimming over the water from bank to bank

occasionally landing on the top of the west bank track luckily not spotted by the Merlin or 3 Kestrels up there.

A Robin in the boatyard was an unusual visitor.

                        After returning from a shopping spree in Brighouse mid afternoon the temperature was up to 20 degrees with solid blue sky, sunshine and little wind which was a cue for me to opt out from the definitely not reservoir watching conditions and catch up on some jobs.

                      I took the car down Girlington to get it re shod so in the time I had to pass whilst waiting for it I checked around the Seabrook Crisp factory which is a winter hot spot for big gulls but most had left for breeding grounds now with just a few LBBs and Herrings left.

                  Another day of the hot stuff to face tomorrow then back to some decent winds and low temperatures.

Fly Flatts

7 Ringed Plover

4 Redshank

2 Sand Martin

3 Kestrel

1 Merlin

1 Robin

2 Herring gull

+ usual sp.

BS

More good reservoir weather, Leeshaw/Fly Flatts.

 

LEESHAW              Another active morning in the strong SW wind, Redshank

FLY FLATTS                      Sailing club back in action

                                       Still 4 Ringed Plovers.   Female, head to wind

                                                           Male

                                             2 Oystercatchers present.

Another good day to be watching the water with a strong SW>6 gusting 7 with 80% cloud at 9 degrees.

                                                                 Leeshaw was very lively as always in windy conditions with birds frantically moving around the area, never settling for long.

                                 Oystercatchers gave a count of 32, just one below last years record count of 33, but will soon be moving off to their own breeding areas.

                                 Meadow Pipits were on the move both morning and afternoon with birds piling through >NW whilst gulls headed west into the wind. Out of 47 Herrings only 2 were adults, the rest being 1w.

                The wind was howling mid afternoon at Fly Flatts which didnt deter the hardy windsurfers on the first day of the club re opening after a 12 month absence due to repairs to the reservoir and Covid regulations.

                No Kittiwake or Terns but a nice selection of gulls including a single Great Black Backed and ,as this morning, Meadow Pipits heading through >NW.

Unfortunately , this is the last day of the strong wind with a threat of the nasty calm and hot stuff tomorrow which is not what I,d pick but beggars can,t be choosers. 

Leeshaw

32 Oystercatchers

3 Redshank

1m Goosander

2 Cormorant

c 100 Mipits................>NW

45  1w Herrings..........>W

2 ad Herring...............>W

+ usual sp

Fly Flatts

23  1w Herrings.............>SW

6 ad LBB.......................>SW

4 BH gull......................>NE

1 GBB..........................>NW

c 80 Mipit....................>NW

4 Ringed Plover

2 Redshank

2 Oystercatcher

1 Reed Bunting

2 Raven

+ usual sp.

BS

Windswept and interesting, Leeshaw/Fly Flatts.

 

LEESHAW                                      A few 1w Herrings coming through.

                                              Single Pink Footed Goose

                                               Around 100 Greylag

                                        Oystercatchers will soon be dispersing.

                                            Redshanks will probably breed

FLY FLATTS                            Up to 3m and 1f Ringed Plover.

                                                      Rough water

                                              A few Mistle Thrush present.

A blasting WNW>7, near gale at Leeshaw this morning with some light showers and patches of sunshine at 8 degrees. By late afternoon the wind at Fly Flatts had increased to SW>8 gale force blowing at 42 m.p.h. with white horses racing across the water and waves crashing over the east bank.

                                                  Ideal reservoir conditions with a high expectancy of Kittiwake or Osprey through though neither happened but a near miss this afternoon when an Osprey was spotted just to the west of Fly Flatts heading >NW over Green Withins,TW.

                                                 Herring gulls were moving well in the conditions at both venues all >W and all first winter birds apart from 2 adults. At the end of April these gulls will be classed as 1st summer.

             Nothing out of the ordinary at Leeshaw other than 9 Stock Dove in the goose field and 2 Cormorants were newcomers, one being in courtship plumage. Birds were very active in the wind and the area was alive with Oystercatchers, Redshank, Lapwings and geese with around 100 Greylag and 

80 Canadas as well as the single Pink Footed.

               Fly Flatts late pm was interesting to see the water stirred up with the wind and looking more like the North sea. The sailing club reopens tomorrow but its unlikely there will be any boats out with the gales to continue throughout tomorrow.

               Back to 4 Ringed Plovers now with 3m and 1f  alternating between the east and west bank whilst Redshanks are taking up territory at both the north and south ends of the reservoir with Curlews settling in the top fields.

               With the winds keeping up tomorrow the reservoirs need watching. Most of my Kittiwakes at Fly Flatts has been late March and 30/3/2018 produced me a Sandwich Tern on one of the buoys.

Leeshaw

9 Stock Dove

2 Cormorant

11 Herring gull......................>W

1 PF Goose

c100 Greylag

c80 Canada

2 Cormorant

+ usual Oyks, Lapwing, Redshank etc.

Fly Flatts

4 Ringed Plover

18 Herring gull...................>W

+ usual sp.

BS

Leeshaw/Fly Flatts.

 

LEESHAW                              Pink Footed Goose

                                      Unusual visitor, Raven

                                           A few big gulls moving today in the strong westerly

                                                     Herring gull

                                       A count of 26 Oystercatchers, probably more.

                                                        Pinkie

                                             Redshanks

                                             Lapwings looking very smart

                                            Herrings on the water, nearly all 2 cys now

                                        gulls on the move

                                                             Oyks

FLY FLATTS                                   female Pied Wagtail

                                             Just 2 Ringed Plovers today.

                       Herring gull still in 1st winter plumage

Overnight snow left a covering on the tops but very little evidence at Leeshaw with a moderate W>5 at 4 degrees feeling bitterly cold despite some sunshine.

                               A very active morning with the west wind bringing some Herrings and LBBs through>W but very few adults now but nothing else on the move.

                             Three new visitors this morning were a single Red Legged Partridge, a Raven and a Pink Footed goose in with the Canadas. Oystercatchers were in good numbers as well as Redshank and a Moorhen was a species seldom seen at this site.

                            Fly Flatts was very windy but bright and good visibility but very little of notable value.

Just 2 Ringed Plovers today which had moved over to the east bank away from the usual weekend disturbances up there plus a few Lapwing around the boatyard , as well as the nesting birds on Fill Belly Flat. Just a single 1w Herring gull over >N.

                             Gale force winds from the SW tomorrow and heavy rain forecast which could be interesting.  Don.t forget your clocks forward tonight.

Leeshaw

26 Oyks

6 Redshank

1 PF goose

1 Raven

1 RL Partridge

1 Moorhen

38 Herring gull

3 LBB gull

+ usual sp.

Fly Flatts

2 Ringed Plover

1 Herring gull

several Golden Plover calling

+ usual sp.

BS