Last of the month, Fly Flatts.

 

                                1 of 5 Wheatear

                                    1 of 2 Common Sandpiper

                                    LBB being protective of 2 juvs

                                    Wheatear over the water

                                    1 of 4 juv Pied Wagtail

                                Roper Lane LBB gulls

                                Several juvs being fed

                                Black Headed with juv

A decent start to the morning weather -wise with near full cloud and a decent cooling E>2 at 15 degrees. By 0915 hrs it all went pear shaped with the clouds clearing leaving hot sunshine and a rise in temperature. To add to that, 2 van loads of canoers appeared so it was job over.

      The peninsular is showing well now but only held Canadas and 2 Common Sandpipers whilst an adult LBB gull was on the west bank and being very protective over its 2 juveniles nearby.

   The juv Wheatear is still present and now joined by 4 adults in autumn plumage but all very mobile.

Meadow Pipits were the only migrants whilst 4 juv Pied Wagtails were moving along the shoreline.

   Very quiet otherwise apart from 8 Black Headed gulls on the water and a group of 6 very small Mallard ducklings unaccompanied across the water with no sign of adults.

    On the way home, a check through the 30+ gulls on the Raggalds ploughed field but all LBBs and Black Headed with several juv LBBs still being fed by the adults.

    Rain promised for overnight, though I've still watered my gardens just in case it stays dry. Possible thunderstorms early morn on a light south easterly.

BS

 

Leeshaw and gulls

 

                                    Gulls in the Dog and Gun field

                                        Only 2 Herring present

                                    Black headed losing their hood now.

                                    Leeshaw, 1 of 2 Oystercatchers

                                    LBBs on the north shore

A nasty hot sticky morning with a light NW>2 at 17 degrees with some shade from the 50% cloud. Leeshaw, was expected, stagnant in the poor conditions with very little to report. A few LBB gulls were on the north shore along with around 50 Black Headed and a few Lapwing as well as 2 Oystercatchers but everything reluctant to move.

    The only small migrants were Linnets and Meadow Pipits whilst a single female Goosander was on the water along with the geese and Mallards.

  On both journeys past the Dog and Gun field around 40 LBBs were present as well as 2 Herring and a few Black Headed but no sign of the Yellow Legged today.

    Another disappointing forecast for tomorrow with more heat and sunshine on a low south easterly, bring back the wind and drizzle.

BS

A dabble at Fly Flatts

 

                                    Few LBB gulls present

                                Unusual visitor here, Dipper.

                                    Single male Wheatear in moult.

Full sun at FlyFlatts this morning but a pleasing cool SW>3 at 16 degrees but feeling cooler with the wind factor.

    First spot this morning was a Dipper on the slipway as I arrived which did'nt hang around. This is only the 3rd sighting of this species at Fly Flatts, the other two sightings being below the west bank in the overflow.

    The water level has dropped enough to show some decent areas of shore and the east bank peninsular is now well exposed but the only wader present was a single Common Sandpiper. I was hoping for something special this morning to get my Fly Flatts head back on but this never happened with a poor session and very few birds.

    Canada geese are now down to around 100, plus 1 non flying Greylag and a few Mallard whilst 5 adult and 3 juv LBBs were on and around the water. No small migrants in the compound bushes other than 2 Mipits and 2 Wrens whilst a single male Wheatear was on the south bank moulting into autumn plumage. One Swallow overhead and that was it for a 2 hour watch.

      The road through Hebble Brook is going to be closed from the 2nd to the 16th of August and the diversion is a 2 mile detour on narrow roads through the bottom of Mixenden so I'll be giving this venue a miss until mid August. This road closure also cuts off the route to Mixenden but this is'nt a problem as I only use Mixenden as a late autumn/winter venue for wildfowl and gulls.

      Another bright sunny day tomorrow but promising to be slightly cooler in a light NW wind.

BS

    

The heat is on. Leeshaw.

 

                                    LBBs on the water

                                Yellow Legged Herring flushed by LBBs, LH bird.

                                    A busy corner

                               Single Buzzard enjoying the thermals

As expected this morning, too sunny, too warm, too dry and not enough wind at Leeshaw with a starting temp of 14 degrees rising to 20 degrees by 1000 hrs. Just 20% cloud on a light WSW>2 with visibility restricted with heat shimmer.

      Despite the conditions birding turned out better than expected with the Yellow Legged Herring gull returning to the water but as soon as it started to go ashore it was mobbed by Lesser Black Backed so immediately moved on. Several juv LBBs were on the far north shore as well as 8 adults along with around 60 Black Headed.

     Very little in the way of small migrants other than Mipits and Linnets but several Swallow, House and Sand Martin were skimming the water whilst a Raven and Buzzard were overhead, the first Buzzard I've seen this year at this site.

     Around the water were 4 Heron, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher and 2 Cormorant and on the water were the usual 2 female Goosander, Mallards and geese whilst 2 Curlew were still present.

    A hot and sunny one tomorrow on a light sou'wester. At least this coming week of dry and hot will get the water down at Fly Flatts so I can get up there and count all the waders !!

BS