A free afternoon so up to Fly Flatts before the strong winds dropped which are ideal at this time of year for blowing in the maritime gulls as proved by yesterdays unfortunate find of a dead Kittiwake.
On arrival at 1330 hrs it was one of those days where you don,t want to get out of the car, with very dark clouds , 100 % cloud cover and light drizzle on a near gale force WNW > 6 gusting 7 but once you,re geared up and out there the weather takes a back seat and the birding head takes over. Apart from that I met a man and his wife at the top gate who are members of the sailing club and were just leaving after doing some work in the clubhouse and she informed me she had just had a Tern type bird past with very pointed wings. Although its early for Terns it certainly boosted my enthusiasm somewhat.
As with yesterday the wind was keeping the birds at bay with quiet skies and just a few Curlew calling across the moor although bird calls were very hard to hear over the sound of the wind. The water held the usual Canadas and Mallards with a few Red Grouse along the banking whilst a Skylark and a single Lapwing were on the seed at the feeding station.
As I was half way along the west banking a single small gull came into view , which at Fly Flatts always sets alarm bells ringing, flying NE over Fly Delph quarry towards the Bumps. Even at this distance I could see the plain head, bright yellow bill and black legs, Bingo, another Kittiwake or the resurrection of yesterdays bird.
With the wind blasting it was hard to even stand on the banking without trying to hand hold the camera for such a distant shot but Bertha had it sussed and managed to capture 1 recognizable photo showing legs, head and bill out of several blasted off.
I,d left the tripod in the car because of the wind but even if I had it with me I would,nt have had time to get the camera up on the sticks before the bird disappeared over the Nab.
On the way back I was pleased to see the Golden Plover were returning to the original field at Nolstar with 6 present, this makes it easier to pick out the Dotterel when they arrive at the end of next month !!!
A quick dash to Cold Edge Dams just gave me time to check the goose field with around 200 mixed Canada and Greylags present spread across 4 fields and way up the hillside towards Cold Edge Road with the 2 Barnacles near the top.
A stonking 2 hours up in the gales with Fly Flatts once again producing the goods.
BS