1500 hrs and out in the sweltering heat at 24 degrees on a light SSW>3.
Arriving at Fly Flatts was a disaster where, I knew there were boats on the water which is no problem, but the SW and SE corners and islands had sun seekers picnicking and paddling in the water so that was game over.
With plan B in operation I parked up at Slaughter Gap with thoughts of Ring Ouzel, Redstart and Black Redstart along with Cuckoo , all of which I managed to dip on.
Slaughter Gap is one of those very steep valleys where you scramble down thinking I,ll just go a bit further, not thinking you,ve to scramble all the way back up again, and in the heat at that.
The problem is , the ruined buildings for Black Redstart are near the top whilst the Redstart and Ring Ouzel trees are at the bottom. Cuckoo isnt a problem if one is present because you hear it from anywhere.
After a real good scan around the trees, fence posts and wall tops I had to admit to a dip and struggle back up to the top letting the dogs help pull me up.
A single Raven was present as well as 1 Kestrel, 3 Wheatear, several Mipits and around 50 Jackdaws but the Golden Plovers seem to have vacated the surrounding fields for now.
Another couple of days and the weather is due to break where roles are reversed and the sun seekers go back indoors and the birds come out to play.
BS