A blustery Fly Flatts.

 

                                    3 Ringed Plover present

                                    several LBB gulls through

                                    Single Common gull.

                                    1 pr Oystercatchers.

A real blustery wet morning up at Fly Flatts with a moderate WSW>5 gusting 6 with heavy rain and drizzle showers with full cloud at 9 degrees but good visibility.

     A lively morning with a new arrival of 3 Ringed Plovers along with the usual Dunlins, Common Sandpipers, Redshanks and Oystercatchers, as well as a single Snipe.

   A Cuckoo was calling from down in the Dean Head valley, my first heard at this site this year, though it remained unseen. Just a single, very flighty, Wheatear left that I could find along with Stonechats and Mipits. Gulls are starting to show again now with several LBB gulls through >SW and a single Common gull attempting to land on a buoy before heading off >SW.

    Otherwise just down to the usual species, and a bit of a worry now that if we get much more rain my exposed shore will have gone after a dramatic rise in water after the last few days, even though the drain valve is open.

    Another wet and windy start to the morning with a moderate to strong SW with rain and drizzle showers easing after midday at 9 degrees.

BS 

Match Abandoned. !!!

 With heavy rain and thick fog early doors it was forget the birding for this morning. Unusual to have to miss a birding morning in May because of the weather but this is the third time this month. May is usually my best month of the year for Fly Flatts, both weather and bird wise, but not this year. 

   The best I have managed so far this month, wader wise, is Whimbrel, Ruff, Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover, plus the expected common species of Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and Oystercatcher, but these in low numbers and no sign of breeding as yet.

    Just to remind me of what is possible I've put a few special waders together that have visited me during May in the last couple of years or so :-

                                            Ruff

                                    Wood Sandpiper

                                    Black Tailed Godwit

                                    Greenshank, These are usually June/ July/ Aug.

                                   Juv Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin

                                     This pic Aug but had Turnstone in May.

                                        Sanderling. Missed me altogether last year.

                                    Spotted Redshank

                                    Spotted Redshank and Knot

                                    Knot

Another windy showery day tomorrow with sunshine and showers on a stronger SW at 8 degrees.

BS

Another special for Fly Flatts, Ruff.

 

                                    6 Common Sandpipers present

                                    Strange perch for a Snipe

                                    Up in the low cloud.

                                    Best I could get of the Ruff

A murky morning at Fly Flatts with a mix of rain and drizzle throughout on a SSW>4 at 6 degrees with a low cloud base.

    A poor morning with just the usual Redshanks, Dunlins and Common Sandpipers until I picked up a Ruff through the scope, way out on the peninsular. The bird was in with Redshanks and Common Sands but way out of camera range and in the murky drizzle. Bang on time for this species to visit Fly Flatts with the last 2 years producing birds on the 2nd, 4th, 12, and 13th of May.

    A Snipe on the compound fence was an unusual sight with Snipe being a rare species at this site in the last few years. Otherwise, Stonechat, Wheatear and the usual species.

     Showing tomorrow as a washout with cloudy sunshine and heavy rain throughout the day with thunderstorms after midday on a moderate SE.

BS