A pleasant late afternoon watch at Fly Flatts with near perfect conditions with 100% bright grey cloud cover and a moderate NW> 4 peaking at 17 m.p.h. on the west bank.
A walk on the west bank produced the usual Common Sandpipers and young with a mass of Swifts on a broad front showing as far and as high as I could scan in all directions , several of which were skimming low over the water dodging between the boat masts. Poor George in the rescue boat thought he was going to get one at the back of the neck whilst I, on the west bank, had them skimming past so close you could hear the wind noise through their wings.
When nearing the half way point along the west bank 4 black ducks came skimming from behind me landing on the water around the corner just out of sight. With heart pounding I dashed further along the banking whilst at the same time setting up the tripod and camera but as I rounded the corner, before I could say the words,Common Scoter, I saw they were 4 drake Tufted well on their way to going into eclipse with their white flanks turning dark. A quick check next for tufts to make sure I had,nt got Scaup or Ring Necked but not to be. Oh well, I suppose asking for 9 Scoters in a week was being a little over ambitious.
Back on the south shore 3 Dunlin were raking in the mud around the lagoon with 2 at the back partly hidden in the reeds with 1 out in the open.
1 cock Pheasant and a Red Grouse were on the seed along with a few Mipits whilst just the one LBB went over >SW.
BS