Some of my local highlights from March.
Theres no better place to be locally than Queensbury and the uplands when the visibility is clear with views to the east overlooking York Minster, the North Yorkshire moors White Horse and beyond to the Humber Bridge. Views north show Malham Cove and beyond, the 3 peaks, with Ingleborough standing out on the horizon. West gives views into Lancashire showing Pendle Hill and well beyond to Southport with the view coast to coast on an exceptionally clear day. Then finally, south beyond the Emley Moor mast,M62, and beyond Saddleworth Moor.
But, come the mild temperatures, light rain and a light wind with anything east in it, we,re the first to get fogged off ,as I predicted for today, with a real pea souper.
March has been a reasonable month weather wise with just a few days low cloud making me drop down to Leeshaw, with just 3 days non birding due to snow and today with fog.
A reasonable month for birds with the undoubtable highlight of 3 pale bellied Brent geese in with Canadas at Fly Flatts and stopping all day giving plenty birders chance to see these mega rare geese for this area. The 26th and 27th saw a big move of Whooper Swans with 110 on Mixenden followed by 14 and then 6 whilst around 50 were on Ogden. Several moving skeins were sighted from Fly Flatts, Northowram, Soil Hill, Bradshaw and Queensbury whilst 6 remaining Whoopers were on Lower Laithe, Oxenhope yesterday, 30th, by BV. A drake Common Scoter and 2 Teal were also present on Mixenden.
A flock of 27 Curlew and 37 Oystercatchers were at Leeshaw along with 2 drake Wigeon and 2 Grey Partridge plus Dipper and Kingfisher, both scarce at this site whilst a single Swallow headed over the water.
Fly Flatts produced a single Sand Martin, a good bird for here, whilst Ringed Plovers peaked at 5m and 2f as well as 3 Redshank and several Golden Plover.
The last skein of Pink Footed geese went over >NW on the 2nd of the month and later in the month a Red Kite headed >SW over the western ridge.
The 30th provided a male Ring Ouzel and 2 Wheatear plus a pair of Stonechat.
Ogden failed to provide, other than 2 Oystercatchers as well as returning Chiffchaffs and Song Thrush.
April should prove to be the big one !!!
BS.