No two days alike, Fly Flatts

 

                                    18 LBB gulls >SE

                                Single Ringed Plover in the lagoon

                                Very worn plumage.

                                Swarms of Swifts

                                    1 of 2 Common Sandpipers.

                                1 of 2 juv Pied Wagtails

Good conditions to start with a SW>3 on full cloud at 12 degrees bringing light rain and drizzle until 0930 hrs when mist and fog rolled in bringing heavy drizzle and cutting visibility.

         Though conditions were much the same as yesterday birding was just the opposite with the good count of waders not to be found, leaving just 1 Ringed Plover and 2 Common Sandpipers on the shoreline. Possibly yesterdays birds were over on the mud at the north end but nothing showing through the scope.

        Curlews and Lapwings are still present but down to 2 or 3 of each whilst 4 Oystercatchers were in the top fields along with a single juv not yet flying. Meadow Pipit numbers are increasing, partly due to post breeding young as well as birds moving in preparing for migration.

        Once again Swifts were in uncountable numbers over the water with an estimated 200 + along with several Swallows whilst 18 LBB gulls headed >SE.

        As I was driving up there a probable Cuckoo dropped into a nettle patch near to Nolstar  but unfortunately not to re appear so will have to let that go for now.

See what July provides.

BS

      

Waders Galore, Fly Flatts.

 

                                f  Ringed Plover and Dunlin

                            Redshank, Dunlin and juv Lapwing

                                Juv Lapwing

                            Common Sand, 3 Ringed Plover

                                    Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover

                                Juv Ringed Plover

                                Near white Greylag gosling.

A nice healthy morning at Fly Flatts with a cold NW>3 at 13 degrees and 50% cloud with sunshine.

             The shoreline was alive with waders this morning but still struggling to get a different wader species other than the usuals. Dunlins were back in force as well as Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher along with Curlew and Lapwing.

             Swifts were still over the water in swarms but strangely not getting any over Foxhill park as I usually do on an evening. Otherwise just a single Kestrel and a juv Pied Wagtail plus the usual species.

7 Dunlin

4 Ringed Plover

8 Common Sandpiper

4 Redshank

3 Curlew

12 Lapwing, 1 fledged juv

juv Pied Wagtail

1 Kestrel

sev Swifts

+ usual sp.

BS

Leeshaw Reservoir

 

                                Plenty resident Goldfinch

                                Good numbers of Lapwings

                            A few BH gulls starting to show.

                                    as well as LBBs

                                    BHGs

                                Several Sand Martin.

With thick fog on the tops early doors I ventured to Leeshaw reservoir which was just below the cloud base with full low cloud on a light SW>2 at 13 degrees and drizzle throughout.

                 The first 30 minutes were spent watching a dispersal move, in an area not renown for small passerines, with several juv Blue and Great Tits moving through >S following the brook downstream. Also moving were Chaffinch, Meadow Pipits and a single Whitethroat. By 0830 hrs all had gone through leaving just the resident Goldfinches on the Thistles and Foxgloves.

               No sign of the Little Ringed Plover today and no other small waders though plenty Oystercatchers, Curlews and Lapwings, the latter having several small chicks.

                 Strangely, no Swallows or Swifts but several House and Sand Martin with double figures of each feeding throughout the watch, over the water and tree tops.

Gulls are slowly creeping back with Black Headed starting to settle on the shore plus a few Lesser Black Backed on the water.

                Otherwise, 1 Heron, 1 Little Owl plus the usual species.

BS

                

Fly Flatts, Wader partial clear out.

 

                                Swarms of Swallows

                                and Swifts

                                   4 Common Sandpiper.

                                Female Ringed Plover

                                Family party of 6 Raven

                                    Just 8 LBB gulls

                                Oystercatcher bath time.

                                juv Ringed Plover photo bombing

                                ad male Ringed Plover

Another pleasing weather morning at Fly Flatts with full cloud on a light SW>2 at 12 degrees and light rain throughout.

                      Much quieter on the waders with a partial clear out of  Dunlin and Ringed Plover with just the breeding pair of Dunlin found along with the original pair of Ringed Plover plus one juv.

Still 2 Curlew and 2 Redshank present along with 4 Oystercatchers plus a single juv.

               Busy skies this morning with, once again, swarms of Swallow and Swift plus 8 LBB gulls whilst the highlight was a family party of 6 Raven over, heading >S and being mobbed by Crows, Curlews and Lapwings.

BS.