Wader morning, Fly Flatts

 

                                    1 pair Tufted duck

                                    6 Wheatear

                                2 birds, not a mirror image

                                    Several Common Sandpipers

                                    Redshanks

                                    and Dunlins

A decent morning at Fly Flatts with full light cloud on a light S>3 at 8 degrees with broken cloud and sunshine by 0930 hrs.

   Apologies for yesterdays missing blog, which is now below tonight's. Once again I got watching a lifeboat launch on live web cam and then forgot to publish the blog which was ready and waiting.

     A pleasing wader morning with several Redshank, Common Sandpiper and Dunlin but no sign of yesterdays Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers. A Snipe was up drumming, a rare species for this site over the last couple of years.

   At least 6 Wheatear were present, a couple of which looked good for Greenland, whilst a pair of Tufted duck were on the lagoon before moving off onto the reservoir. Otherwise down to the usual species with now 5 adult white Greylags.

    Once again, the forecast for tomorrow is 50% chance of rain, though they have said that for the last 2 days with nothing developing. A light NE wind is forecast at 8 degrees.

BS

     

    

Fly Flatts. Thursday 7/5/26

 

                                    Stonechat busy feeding young

                                    Pink footed goose

                                    1 Oystercatcher

                            Waders way out on the peninsular obscured by heat shimmer

                                Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover

                                    Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover

An ideal morning, weather wise, with full light cloud and good visibility on a light SSE> at  4 degrees.

   Waders were buzzing this morning but very distant on the peninsular and badly obscured by heat shimmer. At least 4 Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Common Sandpiper and 2 Dunlin as well as the usual Curlew, Oystercatcher and Lapwing.

   A Pink Footed goose was in with the Greylags before heading off towards Cold Edge dams whilst small passerines were 2 Stonechat, 3 Reed Bunting 3 Wheatear, 4 Pied Wagtails and several Mipits. Plenty Swallows skimming low over the water but nothing moving skyward.

    A light SW for morning at 9 degrees with some thick cloud and 50% chance of rain throughout the day.

BS

Fly Flatts back on track

 

                                        Fewer Curlews breeding

                                        5 Wheatear present

                                    4 Common Sandpiper

                                2 Stonechat feeding young

                                        At least 6 Redshank

                                    Who said Redshank can't swim.

                                    1 of 4 distant Dunlin

                                    Several Reed Buntings

                                    Redshank

A cool ENE>4 this morning at Fly Flatts but clear with good visibility at 5 degrees. Around 30% cloud and sunshine starting to cloud over mid morning.

    After the respite at Fly Flatts yesterday things were back on track this morning with 4 Dunlin way out on the NE peninsular and in the heat shimmer. Redshanks and Common Sandpipers were very active whilst 5 Wheatear were at the south end around the lagoon area.

   A pair of Stonechat are now feeding young and a new arrival of Reed Buntings was apparent. The water is still slowly going down though slowed off slightly with the weekends rain.

  It was odd to see a Redshank swim well out on the water and back to where it set off. I've seen Oystercatchers do it but never Redshank.

   A cloudy morning tomorrow on a light southerly veering SW then SE at 8 degrees and rain by late morning.

BS