Another visit in ideal conditions with 100 % light grey cloud cover with black clouds to the west on a light W>3 increasing W>4 with periods of light rain.
With 360 degrees of shoreline around the water I force myself to take the scope which is a bit of a bind along with a heavy tripod, Big Bertha camera , bins and a bag of camera accessories , not to mention 3 dogs , but today it paid off.
First scan of the water with the bins revealed the female Tufted with its 6 chicks way over to the North end of the reservoir along with what I thought was a second Tufted nearby, possibly the male although it seemed to be diving far too much for a Tufted.
Up with the tripod and scope to reveal a drake Common Scoter, my sixth this year at this site with
5 males and 1 female. As I got near the north end the bird was diving continuously and as usual well out in the water but with good grey lighting and no blinding sun causing heat shimmer Bertha did her job good enough.
Its not usual for big gulls to collect at this site but with adequate shoreline and islands it seems to be tempting them in with 9 LBBs along with 1 Common and 16 BHGs.
A Short Eared Owl landed briefly on the distant moor before heading off over the western ridge whilst Swallows piled through >N and Swifts piled through >S.
The 2 Barnacles have returned after a couple of months absence but no waders today though I did,nt check the boat compound area as it was sailing day with several boats out on the water as well as the rescue boat , none of which seemed to bother the Scoter, but I suppose being a sea duck they are used to boats.
Only one day of the weekend left to fulfill my prediction of Wheatear back at Fly Flatts, what a strange year this has been for this species.
BS