Fly Flatts/Ogden

 

FLY FLATTS            Resident Kestrel on boat mast

                                  Later on fence post

OGDEN                2 pr Teal present

                                Several Goldcrest in the dark wood

                                    Great Tit foraging in the leaves, one of many.

                                3 Herring gulls on the water

Another poor morning at Fly Flatts with more low cloud and drizzle on a N>3 at 6 degrees.

     Once again birds were very limited with near empty skies other than a squadron of 10 Starling in migration mode >SE as well as 2 Herring gull >NE.

                   Just 3 Canadas on the water whilst 2 Kestrel, 2 Stonechat and a single Mipit were in the compound.

                Ogden mid p.m. was much livelier but dark conditions for searching through the Alders.

The Chaffinch flock seems to be increasing daily and today they were all in the Alders rather than ground feeding on the banking weeds. Several Siskin were mixed in with them but no Redpoll found. 

             Further on the west bank a large tit flock was very mobile in the waterside trees as well as ground feeding in the leaves on the track. Several Goldcrests were in with the Great, Coal and Blue tits but no Long Tailed.

                           No collection of big gulls now that their favourite piece of shore is under water so just down to a handful of Common and Black Headed along with 2 adult and a 1cy Herring on the water.

                          Nice to see 2 pair of Teal out on the water before going up to the north end to feed on the weeds with the Mallards.

Promise of a wet and windy morning tomorrow.

BS

The dreaded fog from the East, Fly Flatts

 

     Fog in the valley, looking over Cold Edge. 0800 hrs

                    I knew this lot was destined for Fly Flatts.

                And here it comes. 0915 hrs

                    1 of 3 hardy Stonechat.

                                    Lights out, 0930 hrs.

A bright clear start to the morning at Fly Flatts at 0800 hrs after an icy drive up there.

Thick fog was hanging down in the valleys but Fly Flatts was above the cloud line with light full cloud cover on a light SE>3 at a cool 1 degree. By 0915 hrs the expected fog started to arrive with full blank out by 0930 hrs.

                        Despite the good clear conditions for the first hour the area was near bird less, compared to yesterdays busy morning, with just 1 Kestrel, 1 Wren and 3 Stonechat throughout. The early skies looked good for a continuation of yesterdays Pinkies movement but the geese obviously thought different.

             Hopefully tomorrows forecast north wind will keep the fog at bay and bring the birds back.

BS

Birds at last, Fly Flatts.

 

               Trans Pennine Pinkies heading West to East.

                               Early morn in the dark skies

                            5 Skeins over to the north of me. 

                        Buzzard hovering over the quarry

                                Few Herring gulls over >NE

                                    2 Reed Bunting present.

A very dark start to the morning with black clouds and very heavy rain showers on a W>4 at 4 degrees.

By 0845 hrs the clouds broke up leaving some blue sky and patches of sun.

                                As I was approaching the Withins a large skein of Pinks were heading >E over the wind farm so a quick stop and jumped out of the car just in time to get a shot before they disappeared into the cloud. This was followed by 4 more skeins as I parked up at the boatyard but these were further to the north of me and all coming through in heavy rain. 

                        A single female Goosander flew >N very high and fast whilst a few Herring gulls headed >NE. Several small squadrons of Starling headed fast and direct in migration mode >NW whilst a single Buzzard and 2 Kestrel were having a hovering competition over the quarry in the brisk west wind.

                        Nothing on the water other than 2 BH gull and a few Mallard whilst the compound held a single pair of Stonechat and 2 Reed Bunting plus the usual 3 long staying Meadow Pipits.

A good shout from MP late afternoon with 2 Shoveler on Doe Park after the heavy afternoon rain.

                   Tomorrows weather could go either way with light rain a.m. along with a light east breeze which is usually the provider of fog.

Pink Footed Geese.. 5 skeins   >E.......152, 118, 86, 94, 130.

BS

                          

Weather good while it lasted, Fly Flatts.

 

                                      As good as it got, camera wise. 2 of 4 Canadas

                                          Possible over-wintering Meadow Pipits.

A glorious early morn at Fly Flatts with clear blue skies, sunshine and 100% visibility at 4 degrees

on a light NE>2.

By 0830 hrs cloud started drifting in from the NE and by 0900 hrs it was back to the usual full cloud cover , low cloud base and drizzle.

                      Just 15 Mallard and 4 Canadas on the water with a single LBB gull >SW, while it was clear, as well as 3 Meadow Pipits in the compound.

                     Once the cloud had taken over I just had a strip of bright clear sky to the west above the horizon up to the first bank of cloud but very distant well beyond the west ridge, so all viewing was by scope only.

                 That strip of sky was very active to the SW of me towards Stoodley Pike with several Woodpigs >NW, a group of 8 Wigeon >S and 3 small skeins of Pink Footed Geese >NW with around 40 to 50 per skein. Otherwise 2 Buzzard and a few unidentifiable gulls in the far distance.

             Try again tomorrow with more rain forecast on a light westerly. Dense fog at the moment up here in the heavens.

BS

Wild and wet at Fly Flatts

 

                                 White Horses across the water.

                                   Buzzard high above the quarry

                                    A few Herring gulls through

                                    Floating jetty floats again

                                 Water up to the slipway now.

                                  Jetty was on dry land 3 weeks ago.

                                    Herring gulls

                                Very little shore now but not required till next March.

                                    Kestrel and Crow in a tussle 

                                Stonechats in the gloom.

                                Another short sunrise over Queensbury.

Another gloomy wet and windy morning at Fly Flatts with better visibility other than a low cloud base.

A moderate W>5 increasing 6 was blowing bringing white horses across the water, which is nearly up to the overflow, with drizzle and rain showers at 5 degrees.

             A raptor morning with 2 Kestrel, 2 Buzzard, a Peregrine and an unexpected visit from a Red Kite which was low over the east ridge but dive bombed by 2 Crows before I could get the camera on it, sending it to the east side of the ridge and out of sight. It never re appeared so must have gone low east through the wind farm towards Ogden.

           No geese today with just 8 Herring gull >NW along with 2 Fieldfare and a single Meadow Pipit>W whilst 3 Canadas were on the water.

               Just 2 Stonechat in the compound today along with 4 Wrens.

                The bright sunny forecast on a low westerly for tomorrow has now been updated for rain and light wind from several directions including east which smells like fog to me.

BS