Fly Flatts at 1500 hrs in a strong SW> 6 at 27 mph gusting 30 mph with some heavy showers and occasional drizzle. The water level is dropping daily and an interesting meet with Robin from the sailing club today who told me the valve is still open releasing water ready for YW to do a check of the reservoir and repairs if ness. Ideal conditions for birds but getting desperate for boats and wind surfers unfortunately right in the middle of their season.
Nearly being blown off the west banking and dripping with rain I scoped the east bank from near the NW corner only to produce a few Black Headed gulls along the full length of the shoreline but just as depression was setting in 5 white birds flew through the vision of the scope. A quick grab of the bins and then the camera just in time to catch 5 juvenile Shelduck landing way over in the far NE corner.
With big Bertha 2 up on the tripod at the ready I walked further on to get some half decent shots in the dark light and rain but had to crouch half way down the banking to stop the wind from blasting the camera around. After around 5 minutes a couple of hikers walked down the north path which immediately flushed the birds rising high and heading off >NE.
Back on at the south shore I was scanning a Teal when 2 waders appeared on the mud nearby which turned out to be Dunlin which after another photographic session finished the watch off nicely. You can,t beat weather like this for reservoir watching.
BS