A 2nd Whinchat for this site this year was a nice surprise with one appearing through the mist at distance but quickly dropping down into the heather for shelter. No signs of the bird at this afternoons visit.
Another surprise was the first Swallow of the year over the water although it was heading >S probably back where it came from after reaching Fly Flatts.
Otherwise it was down to the usual species with still no sign of Common Sandpiper or Ring Ouzel.
And now for the bombshell.
My old boss at the garage was very negative and some of his many favourite sayings was , " As one door closes another door shuts", as well as " if it was,nt for bad luck I,d have no luck at all".
Well today these sayings came true . YW have suddenly amended my permit for Fly Flatts by saying no dogs allowed and on site I must wear a hi vis vest at all times.
This they say is due to trespasses walking the reservoir with dogs off the lead and not picking up any fouling. Although they appreciate my dogs are on leads at all times and any fouling cleared up, as stressed on my permit, they say it sends out the wrong message to people with dogs as they argue when approached by officials, which never happens, and say why can he bring dogs and not us. I cant see a problem with arguments of this nature as the signs say,
Private land No public access, whether they have a dog or not. The person concerned is simply trespassing and are illegal being there. It would be different if it said no dogs allowed.
The annoying part is, I have gone down all the right lines to get a permit and even join the boat club and now I,m the one that has to leave whilst the trespasses continue as before. Who said it pays to be honest.
Strange how after all my time there this has just arose since I put in a concern about them emptying the reservoir in July leaving 300+ Canada and Greylag geese with young unable to fly till mid September and needing the water for safety from predators. A team of Ornithologists are now investigating this case which could throw a spanner in the works ????
Its a case of love me love my dogs , and part of the pleasure of my birding is involving the dogs, apart from that they would,nt let me out of the house without them and I,m certainly not birding in a hi vis vest. Another knock down but I,ll bounce back up and be back tomorrow from a change of venue. All good things come to an end.
BS