A dry morning with full cloud cover on a light SE>4 but by late afternoon the wind had swung around to the east and increased E>5 with heavy rain throughout.
A bit of a lull at the moment waiting for another special wader with just the usual species present making this mornings watch a matter of just going through the motions checking all the shorelines etc then hoping for something new to drop in.
The late afternoon watch was a different story in ideal reservoir watching conditions with rain lashing down throughout. On arrival at 1430 hrs I just managed to get the usual walk in before the heavens opened but luckily, with the wind blowing from the east, I could
position the car by the water in the boatyard facing the wind so I could stand in the shelter of the tailgate looking directly over the water whilst the team curled up and went to sleep in the back.
Its amazing how the rain gets the waders moving with 10 Dunlins, 1 Ringed Plover, 8 Common Sandpipers and 3 Redshank feeding in the pools and on the waters edge regularly flying over the water from one shoreline to another and squabbling with each other.
Apart from this Lapwings and Curlews kept coming down to the shoreline to bathe and preen.
At the NE corner 92 big gulls were present along with 2 Common gulls whilst 3 Black Headeds flew through >N making me think of Tern but not to be. Another early Scoter was expected but never materialized even though conditions were ideal for movers.
A really enjoyable hours watch with action all the way.
A few days of rain forecast now which should produce something although at the moment Queensbury is shrouded in thick fog which doesnt look good for morning.
As I tackled up ready to go I put all the equipment in the car and took off my coat, priding myself on keeping dry, that was until I pulled the tailgate down , not thinking about all the rain collecting in the number plate well, and I got the lot straight down the front of me. I may as well have stood out in the rain all the time. Thats what you get for not thinking and acting ' a bit lame under t' cap.
BS