1630 hrs Fly Flatts in a brisk ESE>5 decreasing to SE>4 with poor visibility >W due to hazy sunshine. Water level still receding with decent areas of shoreline showing.
Much quieter wader wise this evening with the previous fall of Common Sandpipers and Redshank moved through with just 5 Common Sands and 1 Redshank and no sign of Dunlin.
Three Lapwing chicks were playing dodge the camera , its amazing how these chicks can duck down in the grass and disappear when they,re just feet away from you.
The water held the usual Canadas and Mallards with 2 of the 3 Cold Edge Barnacle geese present. A distant buzzard across the moor followed the ridge >N disappearing towards Oxenhope whilst a Grey Wagtail was down on the waters edge.
The Wheatears have moved out of the area now to their breeding grounds higher up the country so its a wait now until they start to return in their autumn plumage with juvs in tow late July / August time.
Good numbers of Swifts and Swallows were motoring through from over the moor all heading >E.
Next stop was at Knoll farm where several Lapwings and Meadow Pipits were in the fields along with the odd site of a Robin which had me thinking Black Redstart for a split second. Golden Plover were calling from the flat moor.
A quick walk down the Withens track to check the Whinchat area drew a blank but DJSs Cuckoo was calling from down in the plantation.
The Nolstar field was again void of Goldies although it seems this flock move on late afternoon to a roost area. Just 2 Curlew and 3 Pied Wagtail present.
BS