0800 hrs at Fly Flatts with an icy cold SE>4 and rain showers. Visibility was restricted to just across the water but by 0900 hrs the fog had rolled in ending the watch.
A scope around the shoreline, before the visibility went, produced a minimum of 8 Common Sandpiper, 5 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers , 1 Snipe and 4 Wheatear.
The highlight of the watch being a good move of Swallows, as the mist was rolling in, all low over the water heading >NE in migration mode reminding me of how we used to see them passing Windy Corner, TMR during autumn vis mig in misty conditions. Around 40 will have gone through with possibly more as visibility was lost.
A fellow in full hiking gear walked past me this morning at the reservoir and stopped to tell me he had seen a Golden Eagle yesterday over Leeshaw, he said he knew Buzzards and this was much bigger and he,d seen plenty Eagles in Scotland. After he,d spoke a few minutes and told me other local sightings he,d seen I quickly came to the conclusion he was a bit lame under t' cap.
BS