Leeming, Leeshaw, Dog and Gun fields Oxenhope.

 

                                    15 Oystercatchers at Leeshaw

    If you don't like gulls, scroll no further.

                                    Good influx of Herrings, all 3 sites.

                                  Possible Caspian . Centre, to left of flying gulls

                                 the one looking up at the gulls.   Leeming.       

                                    Leeming gantry alive with Herring

                                As well as the tower

                                1 of 3 Dog and Gun fields

                                    More LBBs appearing now.

A cloudy morning but good visibility on a milder, light W>3 at 3 degrees.

    Gulls were the highlight of the morning at all three locations with counts of around 100 Herrings and 10 LBBs plus c 200 small gulls at Leeming at 0815 hrs so stopped off and checked those first before going on to Leeshaw. A count of over 50 Herrings at Leeshaw along with 5 LBBs and around 250 small gulls.

    Other than the gulls, Leeshaw held 15 Oystercatchers, c50 Lapwing, and 3 Curlew whilst a pair of Teal were under the far north bank as well as the usual geese, Cormorant, Little Owl etc.

   On the way back the Dog and Gun fields also held a good supply of gulls with 24 Herring, 4 LBB and c100 small gulls. 

A good gull morning but still awaiting Iceland. Should be getting a good blast off of Whoopers mid week on.

    About the same forecast for morning with a light WSW and good visibility kicking off at 3 degrees.

 PS  The 9th photo down shows what I believe to be the same Caspian as I had previously at this site.

BS.

Good start to the month. Fly Flatts. (permit only)

 

                                        Single Stonechat

                                    Ringed Plover

                                        On the slipway

                                        South Bank

                                        East bank

                                        Plenty noisy Canadas

                                        A busy West bank

                                    LBB >SW

                                    Prize of the morning, distant Shelduck

Another cracking weather morning at Fly Flatts with just 40% cloud with good visibility and sunshine on a very light W>1 at 2 degrees.

    The first of the month strikes again with a Red Necked Grebe on the 1st of Jan, a skein of 150 Pinks on the 1st of Feb and today a Shelduck on the 1st of March. It was very distant on the north shore and I nearly dismissed it as one of the Canadas but it looked whiter than the rest. I got the scope up and discovered it to be a Shelduck. It was flushed by a runner but just slid into the water before going back onto the north shore where it seemed settled.

   The Ringed Plover is settling down now and starting to move around more seeing it on the east and south bank and also on the boat slipway. If it goes as previous years it should be joined by another any day now. Curlews are slowly returning with 4 present this morning along with 6 Oystercatcher and 15 Lapwing. 

   A world of difference gull wise from Leeshaw with just 1 Black Headed >SE and 1 LBB >SW. Its believed that the peat makes the water so acidic, keeping the gulls away, the water is very brown.

    Otherwise, 3 Greylag among the Canadas whilst a single Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail were around the boatyard plus a noisy Raven overhead.

    Still looking good for tomorrow with cloudy sunshine on a light WSW turning SW and kicking off at 3 degrees.

BS