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

Cold, wet and windy, Fly Flatts.

 

                                    Black rain clouds over Fly Flatts

                                Several Common Sandpipers

                                    As well as Dunlin

                                2 pair of Pied Wagtails feeding young

                                    As well as Stonechat

Another mid winter feeling morning with an icy cold moderate to strong W>5 gusting 6 at 5 degrees with a mix of sunshine and heavy showers.

    Much quieter this morning with the strong cold wind keeping most of the waders to the NE corner and peninsular or actively buzzing around the water and shorelines.

   Dunlin, Common Sandpiper and Redshank up to good numbers, but again, no sign of the Ringed and Little Ringed Plover.

   Wheatears are still hanging on with 4 battling the wind on the west bank whilst raptors were enjoying the wind with 4 Kestrel and 3 Buzzard up hovering into the wind.

    Otherwise, as previous blogs, but no Whimbrel over today.

A forecast of sunshine and showers for tomorrow on a light SE at 6 degrees.

BS

Fly Flatts.

 

                                Usual Common Sandpipers

                                    and Redshank

                                    Greylags growing well

                                    Now 7 white Greylags

                                    Plenty Swifts over

                                        1 of 4 Wheatear

                                    1 pair of Tufted over.

                                    2 Pair of Stonechat feeding young

A slightly milder morning at Fly Flatts with 80 % cloud and some sun on a light W>3 turning WSW>3 at 6 degrees.

    A good start to the morning with 2 Whimbrel high over the water heading >NW. Fortunately they were calling or they would have gone over unseen as I was sweeping the Canada goose poo off the floating jetty at the time ready for this afternoons sailing.

   Quieter on the wader scene this morning with just Common Sandpiper and Redshank with no sign of Dunlin or Plovers although I suspect that they will still be around. A single Buzzard was overhead along with several Swallows and Swifts whilst 4 Wheatear were on the west bank.

    Two pair of Stonechat are now feeding young as well as 2 pair of Pied Wagtails. Around 60 Canada goslings are present as well as around 30 Greylag goslings.

     A chance of windy and wet tomorrow with 50% chance of showers through the day on a moderate westerly at 6 degrees.

BS