with crow tucking in.
As expected, a terrible day at Fly Flatts with some cloud cover and a decent SW>3 early morn then
28 degrees and full sun p.m. though still a fresh SW>3.
Before I could get access through the top gate this morning I was 15 minutes clearing dumped rubbish away so I could drive through. These scumbags are dumping ever night now along Cold Edge Road.
The mornings watch was spoilt, not with the weather ,but with the juv Peregrine constantly patrolling the east and north shore throughout, leaving the shore clear of bird life other than the geese. This bird is proving to be a real setback at a vital wader time.
A single Ringed Plover was on the south shore, this probably being yesterdays bird.
A good passage of LBB gulls was apparent all >SW whilst 7 were on the shore as well as 2 first year Herrings. The area is alive with Meadow Pipits at the moment.
The late afternoon visit lasted about 15 minutes as I arrived at Nuggetville with the strange people that only come out when the sun shines. A beach party was goilng on in the SW corner and 2 male type plonkers were laid on towels on the dried mud on the east shore before walking along the shore, past the boatyard and away. I hate this weather.
BUT, as they say, Every cloud has a silver lining, and the day was saved by the efforts of DJS and AT with a grapevine message of Black Redstart just a few minutes away from Fly Flatts so on the way this afternoon I thought it worth a dabble.
After a phone call to Hawkeye Dave, the Black Red specialist, and 10 minutes searching I pick the bird up though very flighty in and out of the buildings and sometime disappearing for quite a while. Getting photos was a nightmare working on a high ISO setting due to the bright sun being directly behind the bird so I was getting a dark shadowed bird with a bright background. A cracking bird and a chance in a million to pick it up so well done to DJS and AT.
BS