Worry of contamination through oil and diesel spillage.
Especially when the engine gets nicked.
Arrived at Fly Flatts late afternoon to find the track blocked with contractors digging out the trenches and repairing the track . This looks as if it could go on a few days but I,ll have to wait and see.
On then to plan B so parked up at the northern end and walked down to check the pond area and northern shoreline hoping my windows would still be intact on my return which surprisingly they were.
The shoreline down there is amazing with the ponds mainly dried up but plenty sticky mud as well as large areas of peat shoreline , a long muddy spit out into the water and a large area of shingle beach half way along the east bank.
The 4 Dunlin were showing well , two of which were in full breeding plumage, these possibly being the remaining birds viewed at the south end. The birds were very mobile between the ponds and the shingle beach along with Common Sandpipers and Redshanks.
The Redshanks, Curlews and Lapwings have quietened down now not aggravated by my presence as I walked along the track, obviously with chicks well grown by now.
A female Stonechat flipped onto a distant wall before dropping down the other side not to be re located.
A few LBB gulls drifted >SW whilst 3 Kestrels hovered in the strong W>5 and a single Red Legged Partridge ran along the roadside. This is the first year I,ve not had Oystercatcher breeding at the northern end.
BS