Leeshaw Reservoir, a.m.

 

                                       1 pair of Goosander present

                                              A mobile flock of 54 Lapwing plus several in fields.

                                                 Oystercatchers up to 10 now.

                                           2 Little Owl in usual area.

Unfortunately February went out the way it came in with strong winds and heavy rain.

Leeshaw this morning had a moderate S>4 and heavy rain which cleared by 0930 hrs only to return midday for the rest of the afternoon. Much milder than yesterday with a temperature of 6 degrees.

                                        A special bird would have been nice to end the month but only the usuals at Leeshaw with a count of 10 Oystercatchers along with 8 Curlew and a good count of Lapwing, some of which are now holding territory in the fields.

                                        Gull numbers are well down now with around 50 on the water but all Black Headed and Commons with no signs of Herring or LBB whilst a pair of Goosander arrived on the water from the east.

                      A few days of light winds with some east in them, both from the north and south as well as direct east which may bring something in, hopefully not the usual fog at Fly Flatts which is usual with a low wind with some east in it.

                        March tomorrow so bring on the birds.

BS

Signs of Spring, Fly Flatts, (permit only)

 

                                             2 Oystercatchers pairing up.

                                       Back to just the original pair of Ringed Plovers now.

                                                No shortage of Curlew now.

                                           Oyks and Ringed Plovers on the east bank.

A bright spring like morning at Fly Flatts but an icy SE>3 with very slippery roads on the way up there at 0 degree. A thick bank of cloud was over the west bank restricting visibility to the west.

                                 It seems the original pair of Ringed Plovers have seen off their rival, or rivals, with just the two present along with 2 Oystercatchers and several Curlew.

                                The full complement of Canada geese are now back on and around the water and, with the noise from them and calling Curlews, it made it feel more like the active Fly Flatts.

                                 A trickle of LBB gulls headed into the wind >SE totaling 11 over in around 30 minutes whilst a flock of 8 Meadow Pipits were very mobile.

                               On the way back I stopped to check Nolstar for Golden Plovers just in time to see at least 15 Curlew flushed by mountain bikes around the top of  Slaughter Gap. These were probably some of the birds that NK reported recently at Stod Fold.

BS

                  

Then there were 3. Fly Flatts. (permit only)

 

                                       Male Ringed Plover

                                                      female Ringed Plover

                                              3 now present

                                                               2 female

                                                Plenty arguing going on.

                               Possibly 2 pair present if these two are males,looks that way.

                                                                 Down on the slipway.

A better morning at Fly Flatts but icy cold before sun up at 2 degrees on a biting S>4 increasing 5 with 

40 % cloud and sunshine.

                                         A much more active visit today with a new arrival Ringed Plover, possibly two, but very mobile darting about feeding at distance and in and out of the reed bed. A definite male and 2 female with probably a second male.

                                        A couple of Curlew were present up in the top fields as well as a single Oystercatcher and 3 Lapwing.

                                     Other new arrivals were Meadow Pipits with a group of 12 around the boatyard and several more Canadas on the water along with the usual Mallards whilst a single Raven was over the quarry.

                Plenty Skylarks about now in the usual field on Cold Edge Road.

A calm and sunny day forecast for tomorrow but with the breeze from the SE it could mean fog for the top.

BS

Fly Flatts p.m. ( permit only)

 Icy roads and snow early morn so left the Fly Flatts visit until mid afternoon in pleasant conditions with a W>5 at 6 degrees and 80% cloud.

                                                      A walk along the west bank in hopes of a nearly last chance Snow Bunting but not to be. This looks like yet another winter with no sightings at this site when, at one time, I was guaranteed at least a once a year sighting.

                                                      The Ringed Plover pair were way across on the east bank as well as a single Oystercatcher all probing between the cobbles , this seems to be a favourite feeding area for them.

Canada goose numbers are still building with several now paired up and on territory either on the moor or the top fields.

                     No Curlew today with just a couple of calls from the wind turbine area despite NK getting a good count at Ogden. The skies were empty apart from a single Raven and a few Carrion Crow.

                      The weekend is looking good so see what another day produces.

BS

A no go, none birding day.

 With a good covering of snow early morning up here in the gods, then still the strong wind and squally showers mid afternoon I put it as a pointless task out looking for birds so spent my birding time today out in the workshop with an on going project.

                                                  Its looking like the winds are due to drop by Sunday so hopefully things will get back to normal and we can start expecting the first Wheatear and Redshank on the tops.

                                                 I was told today of  nuggets panic buying petrol with long queues at several filling stations due to the Russian job, they,ll be back stock piling toilet rolls again next !!

                                                  Despite the winds, tomorrow looks like it may be a Fly Flatts day weather wise.

BS.

A gale force Fly Flatts, (permit only)

 

                                              Single Oystercatcher sheltering on the west bank.

                                                      Male Ringed Plover

                                                            female

Fly Flatts this morning had a howling SW>7 blowing at 37 m.p.h. but clear blue skies with sunshine just easing the cold 3 degrees.

                                        Just walked half way on the west bank before the increasing wind started trying to take my legs from under me but got far enough on to find a single Oystercatcher sheltering from the wind whilst the pair of Ringed Plover were still present but moving bank to bank continuously.

                                         Two noisy Raven were over the Nab but hard to pick up any bird calls with the noise from the wind, water and whistling from the boat masts.

A few Canadas and Mallard on the high seas whilst any gulls were sticking to the low fields near Wainstalls but only Black Headed and Common.

                                A promise of high winds with rain and snow tomorrow throughout the day, just for a change. This has got to be the windiest, wettest February on record.

BS

Leeshaw Reservoir washout.

 With a bright sky but strong wind I headed to Leeshaw reservoir early morn but as I was driving there, through flooded roads, I watched the weather deteriorating and on arrival the heavens opened with torrential rain driven across on a strong SW>5 at 6 degrees.

                                              Unfortunately the rain never eased throughout so after a very wet dog walk, it was up stumps by 0900 hrs and head for home.

Just Mallards on the water and Canadas, Greylags and Lapwings in the fields whilst 2  1st winter Herring gulls flew >W overhead. A very poor morning without the bins and camera even being taken out of the car.  Maybe tomorrow !!!

BS

Back to Fly Flatts at last.

                                       Some nice ponds formed in the Skylark field.

                                       Could be productive if they last.

                                                     Buzzard mobbed by Rook.

                                      Then there were 2,  Ringed Plovers

                                         ad female in breeding plumage just arrived.

                                               ad male in breeding plumage.

                                            white horses on the water

                                            High tide, right over the track.

 Winds still at gale force early morn but dropped considerably by mid afternoon prompting a well overdue visit to Fly Flatts. The wind was still a moderate NW>5 with light rain showers at 6 degrees.

                                    The water was still very rough and the highest I,ve seen it, to the top of the south banking and over the track. The overflow was like the Grand Rapids.

                                   A check to see if the Ringed Plover had weathered the 3 storms and , not only survived, but found itself a mate over the weekend with a, new in, adult female in full breeding plumage.

This has got to be the same breeding pair from the last 2 years, hopefully they will have more luck this year if they go on to breed.

            Nothing else of note other than Red Grouse and a few Black Headed gulls but on the way back

a Buzzard was over Cold Edge Rd being mobbed by a Carrion Crow and the Skylark field ponds held several Mallards and BH gulls ass well as Lapwing.

BS