A low expectancy visit to Fly Flatts this pm in 23 deg sun on a light S>3-4.
Scanning the east shore was a nightmare with heat shimmer distorting the banking. 30 minutes of searching produced nothing but scanning a back pond where the Teal were hanging out suddenly produced a large wader but only its head and back were visible. I could make out the orange neck and mottled back putting it as a Black Tailed Godwit but I couldnt get a bill length due to the dark background.
The bird came out briefly swaying me towards Ruff then as I was leaving it appeared on the shoreline showing its short bill and profile, RUFF. This was soon confirmed by DF and NCD from the top road and later DJS.
The pics are distant and shimmery but good enough for a record.
My first Ruff for Fly Flatts although I,ve had them previous years over the hill at TMR. This is the 15th wader species so far this year at this location.
BS