A cold SE>3 was blowing at Fly Flatts early morn at 3 degrees and light mist over the moor but blues skies and sunshine above.
On the way to Fly Flatts I always check Mixenden reservoir from the top road which overlooks the water and this morning I struck lucky with 27 Whoopers present. These are the first Whoopers recorded on this stretch of water this year whereas in previous years it has been a Whooper hot spot.
Fly Flatts was disappointing with birds keeping down from the cold wind, even the Curlews remained quiet on the deck.
Just the usual waders with 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plover and 2 Redshank as well as the usual Canadas , Mallards and Meadow Pipits. The only birds above were 3 Herring gull >SE and a single LBB >SW.
I spoke to Sue at the boatyard, a sailing trainer, who was sorry she had missed the last 2 lots of visiting Whoopers on the water but then, just as I got home, she informed me that around 40 had just landed on the water. These would be the birds that were reported over Jay House Lane earlier by JM.
BS