A terrible morning at Fly Flatts with a moderate to strong SW>5 gusting >6 at 31 mph with early fog then a very low cloud base at 9 degrees with drizzle showers.
As usual up there in a strong SW the birds were mostly bunkered down with even the geese sheltering in the long grassy fields and keeping away from the water. The only active wader was Common Sandpiper but even these were very flighty feeding briefly before moving to another spot.
Redshank and Dunlin could be seen on the distant peninsular, which needs a few dry days now to stop it disappearing under the water, whilst 2 Oystercatchers were on in the NW corner.
Kestrels were up in the air with 3 present, not bothering about the wind, whilst a good move of LBB gulls >SW with around 50 keeping low below the clag.
Only small passerines present were 1 Wheatear, 3 Stonechat and several Mipits.
A scare on the way home on Cold Edge Road when 4 large waders lifted up from a field on my right and flew behind the car over the Nolstar field and disappeared down Slaughter Gap. By the time I had anchored on and jumped out of the car they were out of sight over the far wall near to the quarry.
By the size and jizz of them I'd have said 90% Black Tailed Godwits, but one I'll have to let go.
An unusual weather system for tomorrow bart wind and rain, with full sun in the morning, clouding slightly after midday, on a light southerly starting off at 10 degrees, though I'm not holding my breath, this is Fly Flatts we're talking about.
BS
