Another afternoon with the gulls, Redcar Tarn,Keighley.

 

  Redcar Tarn, Keighley.          A belting Yellow legged Herring gull ( Michahellis)

                This bird was first found by Keith Moir a couple of days ago.

                                            summer plumage

                 Lesser Black Backed, 3rd summer. still brown tinge to coverts

                                                 adult LBB

                                           Adult Black Headed gull with rings.  2R55

Gull from British NW BH gull study.  Killington Reservoir. Will apply for more info.

                                                 YL Herring.

     Probably female with P10 mirror not fully covering primary tip, if that is reliable info eh Mick !!

A good grey morning at Fly Flatts with rolling mist and light drizzle at 12 degrees then hot and sunny p.m. up to 19 degrees.

                                   A terribly boring morning at Fly Flatts with just the usual species around the water and half a dozen LBB gulls over >NE. A bad finish to the month at this site.

                                   Late afternoon and the pull of the gulls found me back at Keighleys Redcar Tarn, thats a good thing about gulls, the weather never affects them, come rain or shine, although they do move better in wet and windy conditions.

                                    As soon as I arrived it was apparent that there were several more gulls than yesterday with around 120 LBBs on the water and in the opposite field whilst ,right before my eyes, the Yellow Legged Herring gull was stood in shallow water and showing well. It was the only adult Herring present with around 7 sub adults. About 100 Black Headeds were there and the Tufted ducks were back on the water with 15 showing. Possibly they were on the island at my yesterdays visit.

                               I hurriedly took some shots before the inevitable happened, people started arriving with bread which put everything up in the air.

Luckily the YL resettled on the water each time it was disturbed and was present throughout the watch.

                                 One of the BH gulls had a blue ring on its right leg, 2R55, which traces back to being ringed in Britain in the NW BH gull study at Killington Reservoir, Cumbria and most of these birds return to winter at Preston docks.

                                 So once again gulls saved the day and its amazing to be in amongst them ,although only 1 local and 1 distant birder would agree with me.

BS

Fly Flatts flop and up amongst the gulls, Redcar Tarn, Keighley.

 

                                       Adult Lesser Black Backed

                                         Very young Black Headed gull, right

                                                 Ad Herring at the rear

                                         LBB and 2nd summer Herring

                                                                         LBBs

                                          very vocal Herring

                                               1st summer Herring.

                                                  juv Black Headed

Poor conditions for Fly Flatts a.m. with only 30% cloud , sunshine and a very light NE>3 at 12 degrees.

By late afternoon it was hot and sticky at 21 degrees with a NE>2.

                                                     A real disappointing morning up at the res with nothing much showing and just a few LBBs on the move. I thought the overnight fog and rain could have dropped me something in but just wishful thinking . MC text at 0600 hrs to warn me of a move of Black Tailed Godwits but a bird I never expect to see at Fly Flatts. I had one at Leeshaw in July 2002 and 4 at Cold Edge Dams in June 2004 with just 2 Bar Tailed Godwits at Fly Flatts, both early May 2011 or possibly the same bird within 3 days of each other.

                                                  For some unknown reason Fly Flatts rarely attracts long legged waders other than the occasional Greenshank and Ruff. Even last year with little water and acres of mud nothing appeared other than the usual small waders, autumn being much quieter than spring.

                                                Late afternoon and still needing a fix I thought of MC finding a mid summer Caspian gull at Oxon and KM finding a Yellow Legged Herring at Redcar Tarn so off I went in search of the gulls. Oxford was a bit far for an hours birding so I settled for Redcar Tarn, Keighley although with the traffic to Keighley I could probably have got to Oxford as quick.

                                                As always at this site,I wasnt disappointed with the gulls with mostly Black Headed and Lesser Black Backed in immaculate summer plumage. Gulls of all ages were present but mainly adults whilst just 8 Herring gulls were showing but no sign of the Yellow Legged.

                                          A very young juv Black Headed was in the field along with several other gulls but none in the cemetery field with the ponds now dried up.

                                          Very little on the water other than the gulls with Mallards, Coot and Moorhen and strangely no Tufted which are usually present in big numbers. Good to get back among the gulls again although none showing in their favourite fields around Cullingworth and Thornton as yet.

Fly Flatts

2 Ringed Plover

3 Common Sandpiper

9 LBB gulls

+ usual sp.

Redcar Tarn

80 + LBB gull

8 Herring gull

c 150 BH gull

BS

                                         

Roll on mid July. Fly Flatts (permit only).

 

                                 Common Sandpiper, only 2 small wader species seen today.

                                    The other being the ever present Ringed Plovers

                               Pair of Tufted still present with the female posing for the camera.  

                                     The peninsular from the NE corner

                                                    A good count of Canadas

                                    Peninsular from the SE corner.

                                   3 of 4 young Greylag. Getting hard to tell them from the adults now.

A day of good conditions with full cloud at 10 degrees but a disappointing lack of wind at E>2.

The expected rain did,nt appear until 1800 hrs which should freshen things up a bit as well as do my garden good.

                     Although always pleasant to be at Fly Flatts today was exceedingly quiet with only Common Sandpipers and the pair of Ringed Plovers representing the waders. 

With the water level down I now have access to the east bank and peninsular so this morning I walked the full length of the west bank then late afternoon I did the full length of the east bank yet still produced next to nothing. 

                                        A group of 18 LBB gulls came over high and >NE but no Herrings today.

The full mashing of Canada geese were on the water this afternoon so to break the boredom I had a count up with 345 and only 18 young not yet in adult plumage. The  rest of this years young are looking very adultish and must be about ready for flying. A single Barnacle was in with the group.

                              I,m just going to have to be happy with what I,ve got for the next couple of weeks till things start moving, although theres always chance of something special turning up.

Fly Flatts

4 Common Sandpiper

1 pr Ringed Plover

18 LBB gull...............>NE

1 pr Tufted

345 Canada

1 Barnacle

6 Greylag.

+ usual sp.

BS

Fly Flatts, (permit only)

 

                                            Only 3 pair of Curlew left now at Fly Flatts.

                                           Some Meadow Pipits still feeding young

                               The pair of Ringed Plovers have been at Fly for 4 months now

                                         Very few LBBs today.

A good day weather wise morning and afternoon with full grey cloud cover on an E>3 at 10 degrees.

                                  Unfortunately the birds did,nt think the same with a much quieter day than yesterday. Very few waders showing with only 1 Dunlin plus the usual Common Sandpipers, Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers.

                                   The Ringed Plover pair arrived on site the last day of February making their stay 4 months to date and losing 1 brood of at least 1 chick at 2 days old. The male birds plumage is now looking very washed out and worn with signs of primary moult. Its legs have also lost the brilliant orange of full breeding plumage.  Still no signs of going for a second brood although they can breed right into August.

                           Just 7 LBB gulls in the area and 4 Herring gulls flew over >NE late afternoon. A few Swifts over the water but nothing near the numbers that should be showing now with none over Foxhill Park on an evening.

                           On the way home midday 2 Buzzards were soaring over the top end of Ogden golf course but soon disappeared into the low clouds.

A good forecast for Common Scoters tomorrow with rain and a NE wind.

Fly Flatts

3 Oyks

2 Ringed Plover

1 Dunlin

3 Common Sandpiper

7 LBB gull

4 Herring gull......>NE

1 Snipe

few Swifts

2 Buzzard

+ usual sp.

BS