Note the 2 tail feathers used to make the drumming noise.
A walk on the west bank found 2m and 1f Wheatear along with a male Stonechat and up to 20 Meadow Pipits all around the feeding area but soon moved to the moor when the heavy rain started. As I reached the NW corner, the furthest point away from the car, the heavens opened with heavy to torrential rain pounding down with a distant clap or two of thunder thrown in.
Back at the car, like a drowned rat I set my stall up under the half shelter of the tailgate and spent the next hour watching and waiting. Curlews, Lapwings and Golden Plovers kept flying in the rain but the birds of the day were Snipe which were everywhere either up drumming or chipping on the ground which kept me entertained even though the rain never eased throughout. Two Herring gulls flew west along with a stonking Peregrine which made half an attempt at the Snipe before gaining height and disappearing NW over the western ridge.
The bird can be see sporting a red leg ring but not readable.
A single Skylark was up singing with a second one on the seed, not a common bird for Fly Flatts.
As I was leaving the rain stopped and the sky brightened, typical. Good to bump into DJS at the top gate who had the same ideal as me thinking what good Tern moving weather it was. Hope you got your Wheatear on the top road Dave.
BS