Paul Clough & Fly Flatts

Saturday April 13th a.m.
 On we went with the sun now out & the temperature rising to 7°C towards Fly Flatts
hoping to see some more Wheatear. Turning off the main road from Oxenhope we went up
the steep hill as it leveled out at the top a Red-legged Partridge ran at the edge of the road,
I was well genned up on this bird after recent events, no doubt about this one.We approached
the mast near the top of Paul Clough seeing three Wheatear here before pulling up at Paul Clough.
This is a tree lined steep sided valley well know among local birders as a hot spot for migrants we
soon  saw several more Wheatear, as well as Lapwing & Curlew. We saw another bird through the
bins which we thought we recognized but not being 100% sure decided to let go.
 We moved to Fly Flatts having to negotiate the deep pot holes in the road which are only passable
with great care & fingers crossed! No sign of Wheatear higher up along the road,Canadas were on
the water & an Oystercatcher was seen and again Curlew,Lapwing & Meadow Pipit.With time
running out and my dad having other stuff to do we headed back to Paul Clough.
 Here we saw more Wheatear,then on the skyline a drumming Snipe, pleased with ourselves we
went back to the car.Then just before we set off the bird we saw earlier re-appeared on the fence
20m from the road,this time we were in no doubt as a second bird landed, Stonechat. A first for us
& we managed to get a record snap, did things get even better than our earlier visit to Leeshaw, I
think they did.
c40 - Canada
7 - Curlew
8 - Lapwing
10 - Meadow Pipit
1 - Red-legged Partridge
1 - Snipe
2 - Stonechat
10 - Wheatear

Stonechat

Snipe

female Wheatear

male Wheatear

Paul Clough Wheatear

Paul Clough with Leeming Reservoir in the distance (picture taken last year)

Looking up towards Paul Clough