Just a reminder. Dotterel at Nolstar 1/5/2017

            Dotterel in the Nolstar fields, 1st/2nd May 2017.

                 Can it happen again this year.?

BS

Back to the Arctic, Fly Flatts p.m.

             The hardy sailors were not put off by the cold.

                                             A good tail wind

                                             Nolstar Golden Plover.

1500 hrs and a freezing E>5 with 100 % dark cloud cover and some light snow flurries. The lagoon was still frozen over. Despite the conditions the hardy sailors were out on the water.
                                                             The continuous cold wind has just killed the job up there with still no sign of Common Sandpipers, Ring Ouzels or hirundines and just a low number of Wheatear trapped there reluctant to move on. The temperatures are set to rise towards the weekend but the east and south east winds are to continue into next week. If this was autumn time we,d all be heading for Spurn Point watching for Sibes coming in but unfortunately its spring and the wind is having an adverse effect.
                       Just the usual birds present with Stonechat, Wheatear ,Redshank ,Oystercatchers plus resident summer birds.
Just 12 Golden Plovers that could be seen in the Nolstar fields.
BS

Fly Flatts a.m.

                                        Male Wheatear

                                         Golden Plover at Nolstar

                                           1 of 2 Northern

A bitter cold morning at Fly Flatts with early sun but clouded over by 0845 hrs leaving the icy E>4 in a temperature of 1 degree and frozen lagoon and reservoir edges.
                                                   Despite the cold I managed to scrape up a few birds but only gulls were on the move.
1pr Wheatear
3 Redshank
2 Oystercatchers
1 Heron
1 Buzzard
2 Teal
1 Snipe
 Back at Nolstar 42 Goldies were present in 2 seperate fields opposite the kennels but a check through  one group failed to pick out a Dotterel whilst the other mobile group landed over the wall out of sight.
A good report from Andy Huyton this morning with an Avocet at Hollingworth Lake. The last local bird I had was one at Horton Bank Top country park 29/4/1995.
BS

Fly Flatts p.m. Stonechats and Goldies.

                                              Female Stonechat

                                           male Stonechat

    A cracking male  Golden Plover. ( Northern , altifrons)

                                                 female southern

Fly Flatts p.m. with an increased E>5-6 and 40% cloud cover.
                                                     The same bird wise as this mornings visit but the pair of Stonechat were out and showing well although keeping their distance.
Back at the Nolstar field 25 Golden Plover were present with a stonking male northern variant .
These fields need checking daily now whilst they are holding Goldies as Dotterel could drop in with them.
        The Dotterel I found up on Soil Hill many moons ago was on 17/4/2008 whilst the Nolstar 3 Dotterel were found on the 1/5/2017.  Watch this space.
BS

An icy Fly Flatts a.m.

                                              Male Wheatear

                                           Several Curlews present

An icy cold Fly Flatts this morning with 60 % cloud cover and the wind back to a moderate E>5 showing good visibility in a temperature of 2 degrees and the lagoon frozen over solid.
                                                          Not surprisingly things were quiet with the Teal and Gt Crested Grebes from yesterday moved on leaving just the Canadas, Greylags and Mallards on the water.
2 male and 1 female Wheatear were present below the west bank whilst 4 Redshank and 18 Lapwing were sheltering below the east bank. Curlews and 2 Kestrels were the only birds in the air.
                                                         Another drive around Thornton viaduct failed to turn up the Ring Necked Parakeet although the feeders down there were alive with House Sparrows and Tits.
BS

Fly Flatts p.m.

                                        8 Teal still present

                         way over on the east bank

  Gt Crested Grebes also still present but slept throughout.

   Keeping out of range in the centre of the water.

A milder afternoon despite the 100% cloud cover and SE>4.
                                             Things were quiet being similar to this mornings watch with the Teal resting up on the east shore and the 2 Great Crested Grebe keeping out of range in the centre of the water and sleeping throughout the watch.
                                           Scoping the shorelines just produced 5 Redshank , 2 Snipe, 15 Lapwing and 2 Golden Plover. Still waiting for a passing Osprey over and Ring Ouzel arrival.
                                            Grapevine numbers rose to 52 today with Chris King joining the gang.
Chris is a very experienced birder and member of the Bradford Group. Over the weekend Chris turned up a Black Redstart on a foggy morning just over the other side of the Nab at Oxenhope. Welcome aboard Chris.
BS