Another hot, calm birding-less morning so I took the advantage of getting the car in the garage for an early service and warranty work whilst the weather is still poor. With the year almost half gone I,ve just put together the main highlights of the last 6 months .
January, as usual was a poor month at Fly Flatts mainly due to strong winds and low cloud so most of the month was spent around Ogden picking up flocks of Siskin and Redpoll plus the usual woodland species. A drake Shoveler and several Greenfinch were at Wibsey park.
A poor month for skeins of Pink Footed geese with very few large skeins through.
February started to get livelier with an adult Herring gull wearing a leg ring on Soil Hill along with a Black Headed gull at Wainstalls also with a leg ring and both traceable.
A 3 day visit from a Little Egret at Shelf Moor was an unusual venue for this species.
Up at Fly Flatts, several Stonechat were present whilst the usual pair of early Ringed Plover arrived on schedule as they have for the last 4 years.
A good end to February when 3 Barnacle geese appeared at Fly Flatts along with the 2 residents from Cold Edge staying 2 days. A flock of 27 Curlew arrived at Leeshaw.
March saw Oystercatcher numbers peak at 37 along with visiting Wigeon at Leeshaw whilst a Common Scoter was on Mixenden along with Whooper swans.
The 19th at Fly Flatts was undoubtedly the highlight of the 6 month when I came across 3 Pale Bellied Brent geese in among the Canadas. Luckily they stayed long enough for several birders to see.
Otherwise March produced 5 Shelduck and a distant, short staying Ring Ouzel at Fly Flatts as well as Wheatear starting to appear with at least 2 being Greenlands.
April produced 2 adult GBB gulls on the water at Leeshaw as well as Whoopers whilst 8 Common Scoter were on Fly Flatts plus a single Shelduck and by this time waders were arriving or already on site with Dunlin,Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher and more Ringed Plovers.
By June all the waders were breeding with the original pair of Ringed Plover having 2 fledged juvs. At the last count Ringed Plovers peaked at 10. A good month so far for Swifts with record numbers daily over the water. Disappointing that Fly Flatts has missed out on spring, Turnstone, Sanderling and Black Tailed Godwit.
BS