Early morn at Fly Flatts gave better weather conditions with full cloud cover and a brisk E>4 at
5 degrees but the wind dropping and back to the sun by mid afternoon.
As soon as I arrived it was apparent that there had been an overnight arrival of passerines in the area with Wheatear lining the entrance track as well as Reed Bunting and Blackbirds.
A Whinchat was briefly by the lagoon before flying across onto the Flat Moor. Several reports today of Whinchats arriving which is a week later than previous years, this species usually starts showing at Fly Flatts around the 16th April although I had one 2 years back at the end of March, coinciding with other early reports in the B.O.G. area.
Also a count of 5 Swallows, another late arrival this spring. Otherwise it was just down to the usual species with quiet skies.
A late afternoon visit to Leeshaw was aborted after sitting in traffic for 10 minutes by the Raggalds with no sign of movement so I swung round and headed for Mixenden reservoir instead.
The bit of exposed shore at this site has attracted all the no hopers leaving a pile of bottles , plastic, gas cartridges and wakky baccy ends. This is the same all around the banking now which is probably normal to the lowlife that have even gone to the trouble of pulling large sections of wall down to gain access.
The water held a pair of Gt Crested Grebe, 2 Mallard and a Moorhen whilst the waterside trees held Gt and Blue Tit, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. As this morning the skies were quiet.
Fly Flatts
9 Wheatear
1 Whinchat
2 Stonechat
6 LBB gull
5 Swallow
2 Snipe
13 Goldies..................Nolstar
2 Ringed Plover
3 Redshank
Mixenden
1pr Gt Crested Grebe
1pr Mallard
1 Moorhen
Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs etc
Missed out on Leeshaw but CK confirmed that the 3 Dunlin were still present today.
Swifts are now being reported at MCs site in Oxon.
BS