1445 hrs and with blue skies and sunshine all around I thought I was in for a watch with good visibility for a change. That was until I arrived at Fly Flatts to find the usual dark clouds, silhouette visibility and light drizzle on a moderate SW>5.
Despite all that the place was a bit livelier with the wind moving from the south to south west which birds seem to prefer though a good westerly is the preferred one for Fly Flatts.
On at the west bank watch point 12 Goldies were across on the east bank with 61 Mallard around the peninsular along with 2 Teal.
Looking across to the west a group of around 200 Fieldfare were heading >S way out over the western ridge whilst a single Kestrel was on a post on Tatie Pie Hill. Its strange why the west moor is always birdless raptor wise with so much activity over the ridge around Gorple and Walshaw. In over 50 years birding here I,ve just had 1 female and 1 male Hen Harrier moving through and one recent Marsh Harrier. Otherwise its just down to Kestrels , Sparrowhawks and the occasional Short Eared and Barn Owls, the two latter now having left the area as no sightings for several weeks.
The 3 noisy helicopters over flushed a few Red Grouse but numbers are well down this year due to the long dry summer making a poor breeding season.
Back at the south shore in fast fading light a single Lapwing came in to bathe before heading off >W whilst a Reed Bunting was at one of the feeding areas. 4 juv Herring gulls headed >SW whilst 12 Black Headeds moved > NE. Just time to check the shoreline in the boat compound before lights out and head for home.
BS