under the east shore banking.
the photos.
One that got away. Bottom bird Buzzard, top raptor ???
Miles away over the western ridge.
At last, perfect conditions at Fly Flatts late afternoon with 100 % cloud cover and a cool W>4 with the clouds not breaking until the end of the watch when the sun came through.
The whole area was buzzing with bird life in the cool conditions with over 50 Meadow Pipits along the banking as well as 4 Reed Bunting.
6 LBB gulls were on the east banking with 12 Black Headed present, all carefully checked for Med gull, KM has already had 2 adults and several Yellow Legged Herring at Keighleys Redcar Tarn.
Walking along the west banking 2 small dark ducks shot out from the waters edge and flew fast and low across the water disappearing below the east bank. I quickly blasted a few shots off without knowing what they were although I knew they had to be Teal or Tufted which the pics revealed them to be Teal even though in the light they looked to be black.
Overhead ,Swifts were piling through >SW all in head down migration mode, obviously a first wave of movers , another few weeks and all but the stragglers will be gone.
Just the one Common Sandpiper left having to wait until its late young is ready to fly whilst a Mallard has just appeared with 6 very late bumblies.
As I was back at the car a last scan with the bins revealed a Buzzard miles away over the western ridge then just above it another raptor appeared and after a slight tussle the raptor continued >N. It didnt look Buzzard like with deeper elbows and a longer tail but at the distance and heat shimmer over the moor the photos dont show enough to get a positive i.d. on the bird.
I always leave Big Bertha primed and ready on the seat at the side of me just in case, even though several times I,ve hit the brake a bit hard and sent her flying into the footwell, but several times its paid off like it did today. Driving away from Fly I saw a large bird disappear behind a mound on the moor so hitting the brake I threw myself out of the car in time to blast a few shots at a Short Eared Owl flying over north. A good finish to a good hours birding.
BS