A second full day of continuous rain with a N>4 this morning turning NE>4 late afternoon.
A site meeting at Fly Flatts this morning at 1000 hrs so it gave me a couple of hours previous to that to do a bit of Tern watching with Black Tern being the target bird. Part way through the watch I lowered the bar to be satisfied with Arctic Tern then getting desperate Common Tern, none of which appeared. There was a continual flow of Black Headed gulls
both morning and afternoon keeping me on my toes as several Black Headeds can look like Terns from a distance in bad conditions.
Very quiet this morning on waders with just a couple of Common Sandpipers but this afternoon was livelier with 9 Common Sands, 4 Redshank and 5 Dunlin whilst 54 mixed LBB and Herring gulls were on the north shore, all these being 1st year birds to sub adults, non breeders.
The meeting this morning was interesting to find out just what Bentleys plans are but the main aspect being health and safety. The water is to be fully drained starting July and taking 4 week but they are hoping to keep some water at the north end.
Work commences July with work rebuilding the north shore taking 2 weeks during which time the public footpath at that end will be closed.
The rest of the work is along the west bank taking about 9 months during which time all that area will be out of bounds to permit holders.
The north ponds and breeding area , along with all the east banking ,will be left undisturbed as well as the south and south east shore which is good news.
I can still bird there throughout the work period as long as I report to the site manager each time I arrive and leave and must stick to the se corner and boat yard which suits me as I can scope the east bank from there with there only being a few coves hidden from view which can be picked up from the top road.
The main losers in all this is the Sailing club who are again, for the second year running, losing half their seasons sailing plus if its a bad winter the work could go on well into next spring and then the reservoir has to fill which can only be done by rainfall.
BS