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Monday, March 27, 2023

Whoopers on the move./Fly Flatts

 

FLY FLATTS            2 Oystercatchers
                                Looks good for Mallard x Shelduck hybrid ?
                                    1 of 5 Redshank
                                    3 Redshank
                                      2 pair Ringed Plover

RAGGALDS            Skein of 64 Whoopers >N






Another satisfying mornings birding in good but cool conditions at 0 degree with early snow flurries on a light NE>2. Early cloud cleared to leave sunshine.
         The 110 Whoopers were still on Mixenden as I passed early morn but reported to have left soon after, along with the Ogden birds, DJB. Another skein of Whooper, believed to be P Grba,s 140 from over Ripponden, passed Fly Flatts but very distant to the west over the wind turbines by Stoodley Pike, looking to me like a string of white cotton in the blue sky.
         As I passed Mixenden again, on the way home,14 Whoopers were present on the water, these either stayed behind as the others left or were new in.
     Finally, for Whoopers, as I neared home a skein of 64 was over the Raggalds heading >N to follow the Aire Valley just giving me time to anchor on and jump out of the car for some photos. Quite a move of Swans yesterday and today.
      Fly Flatts was again lively with more Redshanks arrived and 32 Fieldfare over the west moor heading >N. Still the 4 Ringed Plover present whilst a single Snipe flew fast and low over the water.

Fly Flatts
2 pr Ringed Plover
5 Redshank
2 Oystercatcher
1 Snipe
8 Golden Plover
Sev Lapwings
8 Curlew
Sev Mipits
5 Greylag
c100 Canada
1 Barnacle
32 Fieldfare
+ usual sp.

+ 4 separate skeins of Whoopers at and on route.
BS