full grown now as well as the Tufted.
Rough Legged.
A pleasant hour at Fly Flatts with 80% cloud cover and SW>3 at 21 deg though not moving weather
and all the birds present lazing in the warmth. Scanning the east shoreline was hampered by the dreaded heat haze but it was obvious, as predicted, that the wader group had moved on after 9 days at this location but I,m sure we,ve more to come yet.
Snipe were the bird of the day with several around the ponds at the back of the east banking but only visible through the scope whilst 5 flew over fast and high >W.
A Dunlin reluctant to move and half hidden by a log caused a bit of an id problem but got it in the end and verified by the photo.
A higher count of 9 Teal today which is unusual for this species at Fly Flatts whilst the 2 female Tufted and 12 fully grown young are still present but should be off anytime now. I,ll be glad when they move on as I,m fed up of going through them checking for Scoter.
Pleasing in a way to have a day without waders as after a good scan of the shoreline I could concentrate on a bit of sky watching and a check around for passerines which produced 2 Wheatear on the moor but very little movement in the sky other than BHG and LBB gulls along with 2 Kestrels and a distant Buzzard which seemed to be in competition with the Kestrels for hovering and reminded me of a twitch to Timble Ings one winter for a Rough Legged Buzzard which are renowned for hovering.
Good to see so much interest at Fly Flatts lately with DJS and his gang on merry men up there this morning giving it a coat of looking at, plenty pairs of eyes are needed around the area at this time of year, well done lads.
BS