A boost to my morale, Leeshaw.

 

                                Swarms of Starling

                                  Oystercatchers up to 28

                                    Starling and Lapwing

                                 Oystercatchers lined up.

                                    2 CY  Herring gull

                                    Very few small gulls

                                Bonus time,  96 Whoopers >NW

                            

Keeping below the usual morning fog it was back to Leeshaw where it was clear with a low cloud base of mist and an icy cold E>4 at 1 degree but feeling colder with the wind chill, though this is no problem to the birding.

      Oystercatcher numbers are still slowly rising with a minimum of 28, though possibly more in the fields. A pair of Redshank still present but no signs of the 3rd bird this morning. Otherwise the usual species with the skies alive with Lapwing, Curlew and Starlings whilst Canadas and Greylags were scattered around several fields.

     Looking like the winter gull season is coming to a close after a very poor winter with once again very few small gulls and only 2 Herring, with the usual gull fields remaining empty. Next thing, gull wise, now should be July Yellow Legged Herrings.

      By 0930 hrs I was thinking I,d got all I was going to get and just watching a couple of Kestrels hovering over the moor when I got contact calls followed by a skein of Whooper Swans right overhead with 96 birds. I had the Canon 300mm fixed lens on so could'nt get the full skein in and by the time they were far enough away to get them in the frame they disappeared into the mist.

       For the rest of the month I'll be taking the Canon 7d mk 1 with the Canon 70-200 zoom as a second camera just so I don't get caught out again. At least the Whoopers boosted the birding enthusiasm somewhat.

      Another forecast of a moderate east wind and scattered showers for tomorrow on a slightly higher temperature, although todays forecast of wintery showers never materialized.

BS

     

      

Another weather knockback.

 This morning fog is getting ridiculous with yet another dense, foggy morning and drizzle on a light E>3 at 1 degree. 

       A pointless task turning out this morning so took advantage of the morning off and got one of the dogs bathed and groomed. Lynda did'nt want to go out midday so got our second done also so a full day of dog grooming taking nearly 4 hours each but a saving of £40 per dog every 6 weeks so well worth it.

    A check round the lifeboat stations via live web cam, whilst dog cutting, was sickening to see decent clear weather down the east coast with plenty Turnstone, Redshank, Purple Sandpiper and Oystercatcher scurrying about feeding as the tide came in at Whitby, Filey and Redcar.

    If anyone else out there is interested in the RNLI I,ve put a link on the right showing all the up to date lifeboat launches around the country, another passion of mine, and rapidly taking over birding at the moment.

     Talking of which, tomorrow and the weekend look to be heading for more abandoned mornings with wintery showers on a moderate easterly, though the strong wind could keep the fog at bay.

BS.

Dodging the fog. Leeshaw

 

                                    2 pr Goosander present

                                    2 of 3 Redshank

Dense fog to start the day and even Leeshaw had very heavy mist not clearing until 0830 hrs leaving it dark and full cloud on a light E>2 at 3 degrees.

     An addition of a third Redshank since yesterday but otherwise the usual species with 2 pair of Goosander along with 22 Oystercatchers, several Curlew plus around 50 small gulls and 2 Herring gull as well as all the usual species.

    An Oxenhope farmer today reported a Wheatear ( or White Arse) as he called it, in the Dog and Gun gull field below TMR.

   Another day of light easterlies tomorrow starting at 3 degrees and another capful of fog.

BS

   

  

Birding bar't coat. Leeshaw.

 

                                    1 of 2 Redshank

                                    Oystercatchers in the goose field

                                    25 Oyks present

                                    Goosanders on the water

                                        

Another stonking birding morning weather-wise at Leeshaw with the scourge of  Fly Flatts up on the tops with thick fog. Leeshaw was 50% cloud with hazy sunshine on a light SE>2 and a mild 4 degrees making me remove my top coat, the first time in 6 months.

     Similar to the last visit, with 19 Curlew and Oystercatcher numbers up to 25, along with a mass of Lapwing, several now nesting. In addition to the last visit, a second Redshank has arrived and 3 female and 2 male Goosander were on the water.

    Again, only a small number of Black Headed and Common gull plus a single Herring. A very poor winter for gulls and a real absence of Caspian, Med and Iceland gulls locally.

    A report this afternoon, by a reliable source, of a single Wheatear in a field just across from the cricket pitch on Old Guy Road. He was watching a Skylark when the white rump of the Wheatear caught his eye. I walked on there late afternoon but only managed 3 Skylark . This Wheatear is just 2 weeks earlier than my first at Fly Flatts last year.

    A very light easterly tomorrow starting at 4 degrees but keeping dry. Fly Flatts ,of course, will no doubt be smothered in fog.

Just got another report from Andrew K with a Wheatear seen in the Hebden Bridge area.

BS

Blue sky, blue water, Fly Flatts.

 

                                Rarity for Fly Flatts, female Goldeneye

                                    male Ringed Plover

                                    female Ringed Plover

A stonking morning up on the tops with the below freezing temperature keeping the fog and mist confined to he valleys. Full, blue clear skies and sunshine on a cool SE>2 at minus one degree but feeling warmer in the sun.

    First bird as I drove down the track was a male Stonechat on the fence and as I got to the water a pair of Mallard had a smaller duck with them. Thinking Teal I jumped out of the car just in time to get some quick shots of a female Goldeneye which flew onto the water at the north end but disappeared shortly afterwards. A very rare visitor to this site and todays bird being only my 6th sighting here with 1 male in 2016, 3 females in 2017 and a female last year, all March, October and November sightings.

       The water and banking was alive with Canada geese plus a few Greylags including the white job, along with a group of  Lapwing on the east bank.

   The pair of Ringed Plover were present but no sign of the first year bird, whilst Curlew and Oystercatcher were very vocal. Just 2 Pied Wagtails and 2 Reed Bunting, small passerine wise and raptors included Kestrel, Peregrine and Buzzard.

   Only 2 Herring gull >SW and 4 Black Headed > NE.

A single Skylark was in the Nolstar field but still awaiting the arrival of Meadow Pipits which are due anytime now and will no doubt arrive in their normal spring type fashion with none one day and alive with them the next. Unlike the autumn, when birds are seen in massive flocks leaving, the returning birds follow the rivers inland and are rarely seen until they arrive on site.

 Unusual to see 17 Magpies in a single tree in Foxhill park p.m. before moving off >W.

      A similar forecast tomorrow and still the light south easterly but temperature up to 3 degrees early morn which may just let the fog get up into my area.

Fly Flatts

1 f Goldeneye

23 Mallard

c 200 Canada geese

12 Greylag geese

28 Lapwing

1pr Ringed Plover

7 Oystercatcher

5 Curlew

1 Buzzard

1 Peregrine

1 Kestrel

2 Reed Bunting

1pr Pied Wagtail

1m Stonechat

2 Herring gull > SW

4 BH Gull   >NE

1 Skylark

2 Red Grouse

+ usual sp.

BS

 

Upland birding at its best, Leeshaw.

 

                                        A good count of Oystercatchers

                                    As well as Curlew

                                    Still just the one Redshank

                                    Swarms of Lapwing

                                    Poor count of gulls

                            Several Black Headed with hoods now.

As per usual, thick fog on the tops but Leeshaw in the clear with a drizzly start to the morning but clearing with a light S>2 at 1 degree and 60% cloud. Even blessed with a bit of sunshine which made it nice for the camera settings.

      Leeshaw, at the moment, is buzzing with bird-life with a good count of Oystercatchers and Curlew along with a large Lapwing flock. Plenty Canada and Greylag geese adding to the noise of the waders whilst the single Redshank is still awaiting a partner, usually ending up with 3 breeding pair.

       A large flock of Starling are working the fields alongside Woodpigeon and Stock Dove but only a Cormorant and Mallards on the water plus a low count of small gulls, mostly Black Headed.

    Hopefully this is the start of a week of mostly dry weather which should get the water down slightly. The bad news is a full week of light east and south east wind which doesn't sound promising for visibility at Fly Flatts in the mornings.

Leeshaw

28 Oystercatcher

17 Curlew

1 Redshank

c 200 Lapwing

c 150 Canada goose

c 100 Greylag goose

1 Cormorant

c 100 Starling

5 Stockdove

1 Kestrel

c 80 small gulls

+ usual sp.

BS

      

Weather, not fit for purpose.

                                The March 2023 Brent Geese.

 Dense fog this morning with heavy rain and snow so yet again it was match abandoned. It was clear down below when we went to Keighley p.m. but very heavy rain. Queensbury brightened up by mid afternoon when it was too late.

               Another disappointing day with more rain, just as a bit of banking was beginning to show at Fly Flatts and now it will be back over the overflow. Its going to take a long period of dry weather from now for any reservoirs to be inviting for spring waders. Fly Flatts and Leeshaw have the best chance for me as both are being drained continuously to keep the becks flowing and neither can be topped up artificially, its all down to the weather.

            If the weather ever improves, last March brought me several good sightings at Fly Flatts, the highlight being 3 pale bellied Brent geese on the 19th along with the 1st Wheatear on the 17th, Chiffchaff on the 18th, Sand Martin on the 23rd, Common Scoter on the 26th, several visits and fly-overs of Whooper Swan, 1st Swallow on the 29th and Ring Ouzel on the 30th plus several Ringed Plover, Redshank, Golden Plover, Curlew and Lapwing etc.

     Looking dry tomorrow but a very light southerly starting at 1 degree so I,m expecting , you guessed it, FOG.!!!!

BS

A disappointing start to March. Ogden.

 A cloudy morning on a SE>3 at 1 degrees but fine with mist on the tops. Taking heed to the threat of snow, plus the deep, heavy clouds to the west and not wanting to risk getting stranded at Oxenhope, I reluctantly headed for the nearest port of call, Ogden. Luckily the snow held off until 0945 hrs when it came down thick and fast till around 1300 hrs giving a good covering but very wet, and soon started thawing.

       After a check of the water at Ogden, plus the west bank Alders, it soon became apparent that the area was bird-less with just 4 BH gulls on the water and the Kingfisher down in the sluice gate area.

     Next move was a walk up Back Lane to the moor and plantation to check for Crossbill etc which also drew a blank although there was more signs of bird life than down below.

    A good size flock of Goldfinch were mobile over the plantation top whilst around 40 Woodpigeons and 30 Black Headed gulls were in the field along with 4 Curlew.

    A single Buzzard spooked everything as it headed beyond the plantation as well as 2 Raven.

      Whilst up on the moor I could hear sirens blasting nearby and as I got back by the car park there was a mass of blue lights with 5 fire engines, several fire brigade special rescue units, police cars and paramedics. Other emergency vehicles were down by the info centre with firemen going along the promenade. No idea what was going on but absolute chaos in the car park and a real problem getting out of there. I should'nt moan as it was the only exciting thing of the morning.

    The good thing now is March can only get better, if I stay away from Ogden!

Looking like the same for tomorrow with another capful of rain and snow but with the wind turned >NE.

BS