At last the weather was back to normality at Fly Flatts today when I arrived at 1530 hrs for a 1 hour session.
The sky had 100 % grey cloud cover with low scud clouds damping in the cool SE>4. Horizontal visibility was good but limited overhead. What I call ideal conditions with no sign of blue sky or sunshine and best of all, not a soul in sight. What a weirdo I hear you say!
The whole area is buzzing with wader activity though only the regular species with Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Oystercatcher , Dunlin, Snipe and Curlew.
It was interesting to watch Common Sandpiper displaying with the pair flying around madly and taking turns at running along the surface of the water. A ritual I,ve never really noticed before.
Most of this species already have young but not managed to get a pic yet as the parent bird calls as you walk along the banking and the young disappear under the shoreline stones.
Very few gulls present with a few LBBs and 2 Herring gulls and a fly past of a single Common gull heading for Oxenhope.
The water just held the usual Canadas along with the 2 Barnacles, the Canada goose count now reaching near on 400 birds much to the disappointment of the lads at the sailing club as they have all the mess to contend with when they come ashore in the compound. They will disperse late summer but the sailing season will be getting near the end by then.
Still no Terns or Scoters as yet but I must be getting near to another mega sighting by now.
BS