Late afternoon at Fly Flatts in great conditions for movers but not very good for me with the soaking of the year twice over but well worth it. Torrential showers constantly moving over but getting the resident birds out feeding and waders dropping from the sky in the rain.
A count of 31 Dunlin just at the south end and several more along the east shoreline. During the heaviest of the rain 11 Dunlin dropped out of the sky from the SE landing on the south end pools. Whether these 11 are new in or just coming from the moor I dont know until I get to do a count tomorrow dependent on the weather.If they are new birds in it will take the Dunlin count to over 50. Swifts were once again piling through >N.
On at the NW corner I was occupied scoping the east and north shoreline not thinking about the showers as it had brightened up a bit since the last downpour but as I turned around, the biggest pile of rain was ploughing across the moor with my name on it. Just time to tackle up, get Bertha under my coat and get the dogs coats on before it hit like someone using a hose pipe. By the time we got back near the car we were dripping but as we arrived near the car 7 small white looking waders dropped down in the SW corner.
By the time we,d had a wipe down and dried the gear the rain stopped and it brightened up again so out with the scope to check what had dropped in. The 7 small waders were Ringed Plover and were on the south shoreline near the corner.
Off again with tripod up and Bertha primed and ready for action and just time to get some shots before the heavens opened and we got dunked on with a second dose.
Despite the wet, a cracking day at Fly Flatts in ideal weather for reservoir watchers. Rain forecast again tomorrow but less windy and from the >NE turning>N so could be another interesting day.
BS