On arrival at Fly Flatts at an earlier time of 1430 hrs it was damp and foggy with a slight NE>3 and feeling good to get back to some healthy fresh weather with no sign of sun and blue sky.
The fog was thick but my main objective was checking the shoreline for waders so that was,nt a problem to me although each time the rain came on heavier the fog cleared before rolling back in again.
The cool wet conditions had done the trick livening the birds up and driving down the track it was amazing to see 9 Snipe flying from the fence posts probably keeping watch over their young.
Down by the waters edge, around the boat compound ,Common Sandpipers were very active along with 2 Dunlin and 3 Redshank whilst Reed Buntings were constantly carrying food for their young. Several more Snipe were chipping in the juncus area although down out of sight.
A walk along the west banking just produced more Common Sandpipers and several Meadow Pipits along the waters edge with very limited visibility over the water. Half way along, the heavens opened with torrential rain coming down in stair rods giving us a real good dowsing before we got back to the car so the last half hour was spent under the shelter of the tail gate
hoping for some exotic to pass through. At least the rain shifted the fog for a period so I was able to scan across the water.
Ideal Tern moving conditions but this is looking like another Tern less year other than the Sandwich Tern which appeared in March.
BS