West is best, Dunlin for Leeshaw.

 

                                    1 pr Pied Wagtails

                                    Just 6 Oystercatchers remaining.

                                    Pink Footed Goose

                                    1st returning Dunlin.

A decent westerly wind W>4 gusting 5 at Leeshaw with cloudy sunshine and a touch of early drizzle but much colder at 5 degrees.

    Better, weather-wise, at the reservoir this morning bringing in a single Dunlin on the spit. I picked it out with the Redshanks but very difficult before I could I.D. it from the sleeping position it was in and only part showing among the boulders but I knew it was something different. After 30 minutes struggling through the scope from different angles it eventually came on show briefly before a Lapwing flushed it back to its original position. One half decent photo out of 30 deletes due to bad views and heat shimmer.

     Otherwise 3 Redshank and 6 Oystercatchers plus the usual Curlews and Lapwings whilst 15 LBB gulls were briefly on the water along with 2 Herring gull.

   At least 12 Curlew were in a field opposite TMR on Long Causeway whilst a phone call from a Denholme Gate birder reported a Ring Ouzel off Black Edge Lane leading to TMR.

    A bright morning forecast for tomorrow with a moderate S turning SW>4 increasing midday. A start off temperature at 4 degrees.

BS

The heat is on, Leeshaw.

                                    Several Swallows
 

                                2 Pink Footed geese

                                  Star prize, Little Egret

                                    Heron enjoying the sun

A heated morning at Leeshaw with a temperature of 10 degrees with clear blue skies and not a breath of wind sending me and the dogs to the shade behind the car tailgate. Certainly not reservoir birding weather but a nice change from the icy cold easterly.

     Several Swallows about over the water but no return of the House Martins to their nest site as yet. The two Pink Footed geese look like remaining here over the summer and possibly trying to mate up with 2 Greylags. Just the same waders with 3 Redshank and 6 Oystercatchers plus the Curlews and Lapwings, the latter having very few sitting since the disturbance in the fields.

    At around 0900 hrs a Heron dropped in to the SW corner flushing a Little Egret from a hidden part of the banking where it must have stayed overnight from yesterday when it was reported by BV. It flew across and landed on the bank below the dam wall briefly before climbing high and heading off >N.

     Very few gulls now with just 7 LBB and 2 Herring on the far shore as well as a single Cormorant.

A few Mipits and a Wren were the only small passerines present.

   A light westerly for morning with cloud and chance of some rain at 8 degrees, the wind set to increase moderate to strong p.m.

BS

     

Fly Flatts, 1st Common Sandpiper back.

 

                                    Single Wheatear

                                1st Common Sandpiper back

A too hot to handle morning at Fly Flatts with the temperature going from one extreme to the other overnight with a 5 degrees start quickly rising to 10 degrees with full blue sky and sunshine on a light WNW>3.

    Bang on time, the first Common Sandpiper had arrived but sticking at distance on the west bank along with 6 Redshank and 2 Oystercatchers as well as the usual Curlews and Lapwings. Next expected wader is Dunlin near the end of the month or first few days in May, although I have had them mid April in the past.

     A single Wheatear was working the top of the west bank whilst the 2 LBB gulls were again on the peninsular on egg watch whilst 8 LBB gull flew over heading >NE. A few Mipits were the only small passerines present. Yesterdays Mute Swan was still on Mixenden as I passed this morning.

  A light SSW for morning with sunshine but clouding in the afternoon. A starting temperature of  10 degrees.

BS

Spring weather arrives. Leeshaw.

 

                                        Single Herring gull

                                    1 of 17 Lesser Black Backed

                                Pink Footed with Greylags.

The change of wind direction made a change to the recent fog and cold winds with a light WNW>2 increasing 3 at 5 degrees. Full cloudless skies and sunshine making me leave mine and the dogs coats in the car.

     The wind is more or less in the right direction now, and the time of year is right for Little gull but that's probably being over optimistic. A group of 17 LBBs were on the water and just a single Herring gull 1cy which will soon be a 2cy.

     The Pink Footed goose was in with the Canadas and Greylags but no sign of the other two previously seen. Still waiting for a new wader with plenty exposed shore, but as of now, just 4 Redshank and Oystercatchers down to 5, whilst its looking like a poor year for Curlew and Lapwing with numbers well below average for this site.

    The only small passerines were Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail and a single Sand Martin motoring through >E in migration mode. Otherwise, down to the usual species.

    Same forecast for tomorrow as today. 

BS

 

An icy cold Fly Flatts

 

2 LBB gull and Redshank on the peninsular                             

                                    2 Oystercatchers

                                        Several Curlew.

An icy cold morning at Fly Flatts with early mist and fog clearing by 0815 hrs leaving part cloudy sky and sunshine. A cold NE>4 was blowing with a temp of 2 degrees.

    Hard work this morning with most birds sheltering from the cold wind on the north shore so a lot of scope work involved and hampered by heat shimmer along the shore, even at this low temperature.

    A single female Wheatear was on the west bank NW corner whilst 2 female Goosander were on the north banking, not a common visitor to this site. At least 5 Redshank showing along with 2 LBB gull out on the peninsular.

    Several Curlew were in the top fields as well as 2 Oystercatchers and a few Lapwing and Meadow Pipits. Nothing moving skyward and awaiting the first Common Sandpiper to return.

    At last, a change of wind for tomorrow with a light WNW eventually turning W, with sunshine, after a cloudy start. Temperature still starting off at 2 degrees.

BS

A livelier Fly Flatts.

 

                                    Redshank count up to 8

                                    Displaying

                                    2f 1m Teal

                                    Headed across to the north shore

                                    Plenty Mipits present

A glorious morning at Fly Flatts with thick fog down below in the Aire Valley but cloudless blue skies and sunshine on the tops with the wind turned to a very light ESE>1 at a frosty 2 degrees but soon warming up in the sun.

    A bit of a better morning bird-wise with at least 8 Redshank now present as well as 2 Oystercatchers plus the usual Curlews and Lapwings. A Snipe over the Flat Moor was a rare sighting at this site when I used to get around 6 every visit a few years ago.

    Two LBB gulls were on the water at the north end and good to get 2 female and 1 male Teal below the south bank before moving onto the water beneath the north banking.

    A pair of Red Legged Partridge ran across the track and into the top field whilst Meadow Pipits are slowly increasing. 

   Common Sandpiper should be arriving anytime now, my earliest being the 7th but usually around the 14th of this month.

    Still no Golden Plover in the Nolstar fields so looking sad for Dotterel unless we get some heavy rain in the next few weeks. The problem now is that most farmers have fancy digging equipment which are used for draining their fields so dry fields mean no waders.

   Another sunny day tomorrow with a light NE but still an early morn temperature of 2 degrees.

BS

     

The lull continues at Fly Flatts./ Enjoying the gulls at Ogden.

 OGDEN.

1 pair of Tufted present                                                               

                                    15 Herring gull

                                        9 Lesser Black Backed

                                Above and below, same LBB, different light.

An icy cold start at Fly Flatts with a heavy ground frost on a light SE>3 at 2 degrees with clear blue skies and sunshine.

     Another disappointing morning at Fly Flatts with the only new development being 6 Redshank on the far west bank along with 2 Oystercatchers as well as the usual Lapwings and Curlews. The only sky movement was a single Herring gull >SE. A single male Wheatear was by the valve box. All scope work this morning so not a photo taken.

     Hoping to make amends I did an extended dog walk at Ogden early p.m. not realizing that several schools are now on holiday so the place was heaving. With too many people walking around the water I just spent the time checking the water from the promenade area with a pair of Tufted in with the Mallards and a decent show of 15 Herring and 9 Lesser Black Backed gulls in the centre of the reservoir whilst a Heron was on the NW shore.

     Another frosty morning forecast for tomorrow starting off at 1 degree on a very light easterly but plenty sunshine.

BS