A Yellow Legged Herring gull for Fly Flatts (permit only)

 

                                                     1 of 12 Wheatear

                                          Big gulls in the NE corner

                                    2s Yellow Legged Herring gull, rear

                                                         centre, michahellis

                                          Common Sandpiper on the floating jetty

                          The 2 Ringed Plover turned up today after gone missing yesterday.

                                                   Balancing act for a Herring gull

                                                         Herring

                                           Herrings on the water facing the wind.

                                        Hercules giving off heat distortion.

A milder day at Fly Flatts with a NNE>3 this morning, rising to a moderate E>4 this afternoon. Cloudy sunshine at 4 degrees but remaining dry for both watches.

                                A bit of a lull with the waders today with the first wave of Common Sandpipers moved through leaving just 6 behind which seem to be paired up. The Ringed Plovers were back in situ after being missing yesterday so, as suspected, they must have been at the north end of the water sheltering from the snow showers.

                            A good count of big gulls over on the NE bank with a 2nd summer Yellow Legged Herring gull in with them which is usual at this site from now until August. These gulls always appear at this time of year invited in with the presence of eggs and chicks.

                          Another wave of Wheatear were passing through and my first 3 Linnets of the year were by the entrance track.

Fly Flatts

6 Common Sandpiper

3 Redshank

2 Ringed Plover

2 Oyks

1 pr Pied Wagtail

12 Wheatear

3 Linnet

67 Herring gull

14 LBB gull

1 BH gull

1 YL Herring gull, michahellis,  2s

1 Raven

+ usual sp

BS

Snowstorms and waders,Fly Flatts/ Swallows for Mixenden.

 

     Fly Flatts                                 Several Herring gulls

                                                   1 of 2 Raven

                                               Curlew with missing primary

                                              Single Dunlin on the east bank

                                            Common Sandpiper in the boatyard.

MIXENDEN                        1 of 2 Moorhen

                                               Single LBB gull

                                            Just the one Gt Crested Grebe with the other 2 gone

                                         Several swallows feeding over the water.

                    Could only find 1 of DJSs 2 Common Sandpipers.

                  Distant on the west shore. Same place as I found the Green Sandpiper

                                                         a couple of weeks wash.

                                         6 of 8 Mallard bumblies.

Some heavy snow blizzards at Fly Flatts this morning on an icy cold N>4 at 2 degrees with a few brief sightings of the sun in between. 

                                                Not too much about today but the Herring gulls were back in the NE corner along with 3 LBBs on the water.Common Sandpipers were still showing well whilst a new in Dunlin was on the east back inside the compound along with Redshanks. 

                                              No sign of the Ringed Plovers today which is the first day they have gone unseen since the 28th of February. Maybe moved on or just sheltering from the snow showers under the north banking.

                       Just time late afternoon for a quick check of Mixenden reservoir where 1 of DJSs 2 Common Sandpipers remained and only 1 of the earlier 3 Gt Crested Grebe was on the water.

Just 1 adult LBB on the water as well as 1  2s Herring gull. Several Swallows were feeding over the water but no other hirundines.

BS

Swallows and Gulls, Fly Flatts, (permit only).

 

                                           2 of 4 Pied Wagtails.

                                         Greylags with 4 young

                                          At least 5 Common Sandpipers still present

                                   First of the Canadas to have young,(4)

                                          Gulls arriving at egg and chick time.

                                         Way over on the NE bank.

An icy cold morning at Fly Flatts with bright clear skies and a moderate NE>4 rising to NE>5 by late afternoon with a few light showers.

                                               Big gulls and Swallows were the birds of the day with Swallows heading >N skimming low over the water whilst Herring gulls were back in the NE corner along with a few Lesser Black Backed mid afternoon but well out of camera i.d. range and in the heat haze of the shoreline. A good scope through them failed to find anything suspicious though most were snooked down in the grass and facing the wind , away from me.

                                                 No new waders in today but 7 Wheatear present and a pair of Teal.

Conditions seemed ideal for Terns but not to be even though MCs area at Oxon are being inundated with Little gulls and Arctic Terns.

Fly Flatts

1 pr Teal

7 Wheatear

5 Common Sandpiper

2 Ringed Plover

2 Redshank

75 Herring gull

7 LBB gull

23 Swallow................ >N

4 Pied Wagtail

BS