Here endeth March. Leeshaw reservoir

 

                                 Single Pink Footed Goose still present

                                Part of the 28 Oystercatchers

                            Distant pr Goosander

                                Blach Headed and Common

                                    1 cy Herring

As my prediction yesterday, the fog was dense on the tops this morning with Leeshaw just squatting below the cloud base leaving the area misty but workable with full cloud on an E>2 at 4 degrees.

       Nothing exotic to finish off, what has been a very disappointing month, marred by the weather, high water and lack of birds in general.

    A single Pink Footed Goose is still in with the Greylags whilst 28 Oystercatcher are showing no signs of pairing up as yet. Plenty Lapwings and Curlews along with at least 4 Redshank. 

   Gulls are now noticeable by their absence with just 2 Black Headed, 8 Common, 9 LBB and 4 Herring, mostly sticking to the water along with a pair of Goosander well across in the NW corner.

    A promise of rain tomorrow morning on a light >NE fog provider.

BS 

Fly Flatts

 

                                    6 Ringed Plover present

                                    8 Oystercatcher

                                    Difficult walking, legs tied up

                                    Bailing band around 1 leg

                                    9 Greylag

                                    Plus one white

A decent spell of weather at Fly Flatts with a light SW>3 at 4 degrees with good visibility on 50% cloud and some sunshine.

     Good to see 4 Ringed Plover on the east bank plus another 2 on the west bank along with 8 Oystercatchers and 4 Redshank which is a good count to say there is no shore.

     Plenty Lapwings and Curlew on the Flat Moor but no more appearances of  Golden Plover, whilst 9 Greylags are on the water, along with the white job, and Canadas are up to around 250.

     Nothing in the way of small passerines, other than Mipits, and its looking like this could be the first March on record with no Wheatear at this site.

    Back to the dreaded light east wind tomorrow which has a good chance of a foggy morning on the tops.

BS

Ogden, early morn.

 

                                    8 Whooper Swans present

                                    2 Chiffchaff, passerine alley

                                    Single female Goosander

                                    1 Cormorant present

Another miss- told weather forecast with the promised sunshine and blue skies only lasting until 0630 hrs and as I set off for Fly Flatts the drizzle and mist were rolling in over the western moor. A divert to Ogden where it was full cloud but clear and only light drizzle, soon clearing. A light S>3 at 4 degrees.

       Not expecting anything, other than a dog walk, so it was pleasing to see 8 Whooper Swans at the north end of the water very noisy and head bobbing, as if ready to leave, but later settled down so possibly new in this morning.

    A Moorhen was down in the sluice gate area whilst a single female Goosander was on the water along with a Cormorant and 2 Canada geese. A muddy walk part way along the east bank produced 2 Chiffchaff in passerine alley.

   Not even going to mention  weather forecast going by their last 2 efforts so I,ll wait and see what I waken up to.

Had to invest in a new mobile today and with the wisdom of daughter Rachel I,m up and running again.

BS

    

Fly Flatts, p.m. visit.

                                    1 of 4 Redshank

                                Usual 2 Ringed Plover.

                                    Redshank

                                    2 of 4 Oystercatchers.

                                    Plenty Lapwing

                                    Buzzard over the house.

With thick cloud on the tops early morn, and me with a couple of spare hours in the afternoon, I hung fire and went up to Fly Flatts at midday on a low expectancy visit, knowing that after late morning, at this site, everything that is moving has moved and the birds up there are all settled down. Its a bit like autumn vis mig when, come 1030 hrs, the floodgate close and the skies go quiet. One exception is chance of a moving Osprey where most reports come midday on.

        After a completely wrong forecast of heavy rain and strong wind, Fly Flatts as surprisingly pleasant with a cold but light SE>3 at 4 degrees. The sky was clear with 80% cloud and some sun.

     A good start to the visit when a Buzzard flew over the garden as I was just getting the dogs ready to go. As expected, just the norm up at the reservoir with the pair of Ringed Plover on the west bank along with 4 Redshank and 4 Oystercatchers whilst several Curlew and Lapwing were on the Flat Moor.

      A Buzzard was high over Tatty Pie Hill along with 2 Kestrels hunting together and the first, of what will be several, Heron on the moor after the frogs and frog spawn.

     Still no sign of  Wheatear as yet whereas my first back last year was the 17th and then numbers rapidly increased early April.

    Weather for tomorrow looks interesting with a bright morning on a light southerly and then thunderstorms for the afternoon  , which sounds unlikely to me in these low temperatures.

BS

PS Phone out of action, gone onto Emergency calls only and locked screen. Can,t send or receive anything till I,ve been down to 02 in the morning.  Oh no, forgot, its Easter.