I missed out on the good weather this morning through work and as I arrived at Fly Flatts at 1500 hrs I was once again met with dark clouds and drizzle soon turning to heavy rain as I walked the west bank. The wind was a moderate S>4 with the whole area in silhouette.
With grapevine reports today of Sanderling, Black Tailed Godwit and Ruff at Ringstone I had high hopes of a wader or two on the east banking but quite the reverse with empty shorelines and not even a Golden Plover in sight. Only birds in the area were 20 Mallard in the NW corner otherwise nothing.
Back at the car on the south shore the last 15 minutes were spent sky watching before lights out at 1600 hrs which saved the visit slightly with several large flocks of Fieldfare at distance over the moor towards Castle Carr to roost whilst a Kestrel flew overhead with a large frog dangling from its talons.
Large flocks of gulls flew >SW way over the west ridge looking like Pinkies through the bins with around 300 counted but way too distant to i.d. Around 100 were overhead barely visible to the naked eye. Back on the water around 30 LBBs had come down into the centre of the reservoir before heading off to roost. By now it was light out and head for home.
BS