Leeshaw Reservoir

 

                                               Looking like springtime at Leeshaw now.

                                         1 of 5 Redshank

An horrendous morning at Leeshaw weather wise but good prospects of  something unusual showing.

Near gale force SW>6 with torrential rain, sleet and snow throughout at 5 degrees.

                                                           Plenty activity this morning with all the birds lively in the conditions moving around from field to field and skimming over the water. Several Lapwings are now sitting eggs whilst Oystercatcher numbers are up to 29 along with 5 Redshank.

                                                       Gull season is about at an end now, other than non breeders, with none at all present in the area, the only gulls found were about 40 in a field at Denholme Gate whilst a few Common gulls are still around Foxhill park.

Several Greylag , Canadas and Mallards on the water, the latter being all males with the females probably sitting eggs.

                                 Some overnight snow promised up here in the gods tonight which is no surprise as we have been snowed in several times at Easter and even had snow in May.

Leeshaw

29 Oyks

5 Redshank

+ usual Curlew, Geese, Mipits , etc.

BS 

Very little written in the note book today, Fly Flatts/ Mixenden.

 

FLY FLATTS                       4 Ringed Plover showing today

MIXENDEN                              Single Buzzard high over the water.

A foggy start to the morning at Fly Flatts but very soon cleared to leave a bright day with blue skies and sunshine but still that cold SW>4 wind at 6 degrees plus the wind chill.

                                                          A very hard days work birding today with things at a standstill until the temperature risers slightly.

Ringed Plovers were up to 4 but no Wheatear or Redshank today although I didnt get as far as the north end of the water. A good year for Curlew up there with around 12 present in the area as well as Lapwings and Golden Plover.

                                              A single Grey Wagtail flew over the boatyard whilst 3 Raven were over the quarry.

           Late afternoon at Mixenden was very disappointing with not a single gull present and just 7 Canadas plus a Cormorant on the water, the Cormorant having full courtship plumage with the white hood. A full circuit of the water just found 5 Meadow Pipits on the east bank, an unusual species for this sight, plus 2 Grey Wagtail fly overs >N. 

               Whilst tackling up ready to leave a single Buzzard flew high over the water >SW.

A Swallow was seen today in MCs area of Oxford so they are on their way.

Fly Flatts

4 Ringed Plover

3 Raven

1 Grey Wagtail

+ usual sp.

Mixenden

7 Canadas

5 Mallard

1 Buzzard

2 Grey Wagtail

5 Mipits.

+ usual sp.

BS

Wheatear return to Fly Flatts/ Back to the gulls Oxenhope Reservoir( B.O.G. members only)

OXENHOPE RESERVOIR             Red Legged Partridge

                                             Plenty Herring gulls

                                                    Gulls coming in

                                                  On the water

                                                       and banking

FLY FLATTS                                    2 of 5 Redshank

                                                   3 Ringed Plover still present

                                              Redshank over Barnacle

                                                        Few big gulls

                                        1 of 2 male Wheatear at distance

                                      Sheltering from the wind, Ringed Plovers

Bright and breezy at Fly Flatts this morning with still that chill in the W>4 inc 5 with 90% cloud and some sunshine at 6 degrees. Late afternoon the sun shone and the wind blew W>5 gusting 6.

                                                        Wheatears appeared at last with 2 on the Robin rocks so more should be on their way along with Ring Ouzels. The 3 Ringed Plovers were still present as well as 5 Redshank and 3 Oystercatchers.

                                Gulls were gathering on egg watch with 9 Herring and 2 LBB on the east banking with several Lapwing lining the edge of the water.

Otherwise just the usual stuff as well as 2 Kestrel, 1 Merlin and 3 Raven.

                                Late afternoon at Oxenhope reservoir found big gulls still coming in but only to preen pre roost before heading off >E towards Eccup. Plenty Herring but no sign of the Icelands which will probably have moved on by now.

                          Wader wise, just 2 Redshank present whilst a single drake Goldeneye and Tufted were on the water with the Canadas and Greylags.

A single Grey Partridge was by the parking area with several Red Legged whilst Meadow Pipits were everywhere.

Fly Flatts

3 Ringed Plover

5 Redshank

9 Herring gull

2 LBB gull

2 Kestrel

1 Merlin

2 Wheatear

+ usual sp.

Oxenhope Reservoir

c 350 Herring gull

36 LBB gull

c 200 BH gull

c 100 Common gull

1m Goldeneye

1m Tufted

4 Teal

2 Redshank

1 Grey Partridge

sev Red Legged Partridge

+ usual sp.

BS

 

Fly Flatts, You can,t get too many Ringed Plover photos.

 

 FLY FLATTS                                               1 of 5 Herring gulls over

                                                   f. Ringed Plover

                                                  3 present today

                                 These little waders are amazing.

MIXENDEN                        Ring Necked Parakeet.   male.

 FLY FLATTS                             First 2 Redshank back at this site.                                 

Another bright clear morning at Fly Flatts with 100% cloud cover on a bitterly cold SW>5 rising to moderate SW>6 late afternoon. The morning temperature was reading 4 degrees but feeling much colder in a 'lazy wind', ( old Yorkshire saying when the wind goes through you being too lazy to go round.)

                                                       Ringed Plover were back down to 3 with 5 missing. Not sure if I,m getting new waves of Plovers moving through or the same birds that I,m not being able to find some days. The usual 2 Oystercatchers were present whilst the first 2 returning Redshanks arrived back at the north end of the reservoir.

                                         A Merlin skimmed low over the water near to the Ringed Plovers but either did,nt see them or had already eaten. Otherwise it was down to the usual species plus a single Raven, 5 Herring gulls, a Kestrel and a Buzzard.

                                       On the way home, a stop off at Mixenden found a single Ring Necked Parakeet in its usual tree.

Good to meet DJS on the west bank at Fly Flatts whilst we watched the waders.

Fly Flatts

3 Ringed Plover

2 Oystercatcher

2 Redshank

1 Buzzard

1 Kestrel

1 Raven

5 Herring gull

+ usual sp.

Mixenden

1 Ring Necked Parakeet

BS

More Ringed Plover arrivals at Fly Flatts.

 

                                           8 Ringed Plover present today.

                                                          male

                                                  female Pied Wagtail

                                                    Plover and Wag.

                                                             female

A cold W>4 -5 at Fly Flatts this morning with 100% cloud cover and good visibility at 5 degrees but feeling much colder in the wind.

                                                   Lots of aerial activity but only with the usual species with several Curlew, Lapwing and Golden Plover in the area. A 4 species raptor day with Kestrel, Sparrowhawk,

Buzzard and Merlin along with a very noisy Raven.

                                                 Waders ruled the roost again with 2 Oystercatchers and 8 Ringed Plover which is amazing for the small amount of shoreline showing with most of the birds confined to the cobbled banking.

                           Nothing on the wildfowl scene other than Canadas, Greylags, Barnacles and Mallards and no gulls present today.

Fly Flatts

8 Ringed Plover

2 Oyks

7 Curlew

17 Lapwing

8 Golden Plover

1 Snipe

1 Raven

1 Sparrowhawk

1 Kestrel

1 Buzzard

1 f Pied Wagtail

+ usual sp.

BS