Back to Fly Flatts.

 

                                    5 juv lapwing

                                    Peregrine over the water

                                Swarms of Linnet and Goldfinch.

                                Sand Martins over the water

                                    Several Black Headed gulls >SW

                                    juv Pied Wagtail, 2nd brood

                                            Feeding 3rd brood.

                                    2 Stonechats present

                                    Feeding 2nd brood.

Pleasant weather at Fly Flatts this morning with full cloud other than a few short breaks of sunshine on a light WNW>3 at 13 degrees.

    Nothing new in this morning but plenty activity throughout the watch. A group of 5 juvenile Lapwings were on the shore along with a Common Sandpiper and a juvenile Wheatear with Meadow Pipit, Goldfinch and Linnet numbers growing daily.

   The 2 pairs of Pied Wagtail that have bred here, as they do each year, have raised 19 young between them with 2 broods each and are now both feeding a third brood. A flock of around 50 juv Starlings are very active around the top fields.

   At one point, everything blasted off and the geese started making a real din and I was just in time to pick out a Peregrine low over the water before disappearing over the west bank. I presume that its the same juvenile that I got the other day though I only got it from the rear and low down.

    Plenty Swallows and Swifts over the water as well as, surprisingly, a few Sand Martins, whilst a Kestrel and 2 Ravens were overhead. Several LBB gulls present with Black Headed gulls moving >SW. On the way out, 2 Stonechat were busy feeding a second brood.

      Same weather yet again for tomorrow with a very light NE kicking off at 14 degrees and rising to 21 degrees. More sunshine and cloud. 

  BS

Gull check at Ogden.

 

                                    Extra large count of LBB gulls, 200 +

                                    3 Cormorant in silhouette.

                                        1 CY Herring gull

                                    1 of 3 Heron.

                                    10 Herring gull present

                                Yellow Legged Herring, michahellis 2 CY

                                    Smothered in heat shimmer.

With wall to wall sunshine and already up to 18 degrees on a light WNW>2  I decided to head for the shade at Ogden and do a gull check even though its the school holidays so chance of it being busy.

     On arrival, the water was white with gulls, the most I think I have ever seen here, with over 200 Lesser Black Backed spread right across the reservoir. It was very hard viewing with the bright sun shimmering on the water and a strong heat shimmer all around the shore. Unfortunately, the gulls that were on the west shore were further north than their usual position so were mostly hidden from view with the trees. 

   Besides the LBBs I got a count of 10 Herring, plus several Black Headed, and a brief view of a 2 CY Yellow Legged Herring gull which I believe to be the one I have had recently at this site. Just time for some record shots, which were poor due to heat shimmer and working against sun angle, before some rowdies flushed the lot from the shore.

    Otherwise just the usual 3 Herons, 2m 1f Tufted, 3 Cormorant, 1 Gt Crested Grebe and 17 Canada geese. By 0945 hrs the shop was opening and the ice cream cart arriving so time to get out of there.

     Same forecast for tomorrow with cloudy sunshine and the temp starting off at 14 degrees and peaking at 22 degrees with a very light WNW breeze.

BS

The North wind doth blow, Fly Flatts.

 

                                2 of 8 juv Golden Plover in to land

                                Unusual to get Sand Martin at this site.

                                    Usual 2 Common Sandpipers.

A bitter cold start to the morning, but better than the hot stuff, with a N>3-4 at 11 degrees with early sun then cloud with good visibility.

    A good start off with 8 juvenile Golden Plovers arriving onto the SE shore to join 7 juvenile Lapwings, the sky was, once again, alive with Swifts and Swallows plus a surprise to have 2 Sand Martins feeding with them. 

     The only other waders were the breeding pair of Common Sandpipers still warning their young but the chicks remaining unseen. Several LBB and Black Headed gulls present but all in the distance at the north end.

  The mass of Goldfinch and Linnets are still present, moving around the thistle tops, whilst Meadow Pipits numbers are increasing, getting ready for a start of the big move south next month. Nothing moving overhead as yet in what seemed like perfect conditions for a Marsh Harrier which I usually get around this time.

    The heat looks to be back on for tomorrow with a light NW turning N then NE with cloudy sunshine starting off at 14 degrees and peaking at 21.

 BS