fly into it to stop wear on their feathers.
This Dunlin was facing west briefly in a strong Easterly.
Unfortunately yesterdays weather did,nt hang around long and today was back to the sunshine though a strong E>5 made the visit more pleasant temperature wise late afternoon where surprisingly there were 3 windsurfers breaking the sound barrier but no boats out. Saturday is junior sailing so possibly the wind was too strong for the learners , or 'blown out' in nautical terms .
However, the one day of rain and fog was,nt wasted as apart from wetting me through it brought in the waders with at least 8 Dunlin present as well as 11 Common Sandpipers, 5 Redshank, 3 Snipe and a single Oystercatcher.
Luckily the rain had,nt affected the water level which is continuing to drop leaving some nice areas of peat shore and pebbly beach though most of the Dunlins today stuck to the west back working their way along the cobbles.
Theres enough shore and waders present to tempt passing birds down now so watch this space.
Most birds up there now have young with Mipits and Reed Buntings carrying food and pairs of Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank and Snipe up warning off intruders.
Red Grouse seem to be in very low numbers which will hopefully mean the count won,t be high enough for the sad men to have their fun in August although Red Legged Partridge are bred and brought in to the area.
Several LBB gulls were across in the NE corner hoping for a free meal whilst 8 House Martins flew low over the water >N. Thats the first time I,ve had House Martins out numbering Swift at Fly Flatts.
BS