With waders on the move and the 6 Dunlin flying around yesterday I thought I d better get back to Fly Flatts at 1530 hrs to check out the northern end and ponds.
Dark clouds and lightly damping as I arrived but as I got out of the car the wind felt to have dropped. That was until I got out of the lee of the Nab where once again that icy cold easterly blew but slightly less than yesterday blowing E>5.
The water was quiet after an afternoon of sailing boats but the moor around the ponds was active with several noisy Lapwings up creating at my presence . 3 Redshank were along the east shore along with 4 Common Sandpipers an a single Oystercatcher. Scanning the ponds failed to produce Dunlin until 2 flew fast and low disappearing below the banking remaining out of sight.
Wheatear numbers are well down now with just 5 seen and no Greenlands or Whinchat.
Swifts were motoring through >N very fast, some up through the wind turbines and some skimming the water but all heading out under the lee of the Nab. I counted at least 18 but some will undoubtedly have been missed coming through below the sky line. With winds forecast to drop overnight tomorrow could see a good push of this species.
The Nolstar field was deserted this evening.
BS