Another day and another 2 soakings at Fly Flatts with sunshine and showers, more of the latter, on a moderate SW>4 with good visibility.
Snipe were the bird of the day with 4 present in the morning all up drumming in the rain whilst the east shore, what is left of it, held 4 Common Sandpipers with 3 young along with the long staying Ringed Plover , which I failed to find yesterday, plus the usual Redshanks and gulls. A good scope around the edges again failed to find any Dunlin although the south shore, which they favoured, is now under water. Two Oystercatchers were present and whilst driving back up the track a family party of 6 Raven flew over the Flat Moor.
This afternoon was again very showery and produced the same waders although it was somewhat spoilt when a family of Sunday nuggets , a couple with 4 young kids and an off the lead dog , walked from the north path, across the marshy breeding area and scrambled down onto the east bank below the vertical fence continuing to walk all along the east bank shoreline despite keep sinking in the mud.!
Walking back to the boatyard a familiar sounding plane was heard then a Spitfire appeared flying N> past the turbines. With Lancaster yesterday and a Spitfire today, I only need a Hurricane tomorrow to complete the set.
Good to see Fly Flatts drawing some interest with JM up on the top road this morning and MH and wife scoping the gulls from the west bank this afternoon for the second day running. He told me an Intermedius LBB was present yesterday and one evening as he passed on the way from work at 2130 hrs near on 700 gulls were present.
BS