A rewarding morning at Fly Flatts today though conditions were not great with bright sunshine and a very light S>3 improving late afternoon with 8/8 okts and a healthy SE>4.
An early scope around found it quiet but a walk on towards the NW corner proved a good idea with 2 Stonechat and 3 Wheatear near the feeding station then on near the end of the west bank a white blob stood out on the cobbles. Up with the scope to reveal a juvenile Greenshank relaxing on the waters edge. This bird had probably come down in the heavy rain the previous evening. A few photos with the bird hardly moving its head then it tucked its head in and went back to sleep as I headed back the other way so as not to disturb it.
A small number of Swifts and Swallows were moving as I headed back to the south shore where I met DP looking for the bird. I located it in my scope for him and then made the mistake of locating it in his scope, what a difference looking through Daves scope to mine, the clarity was amazing. When I look through mine I think the fogs coming in.
DP then walked along the west bank to get a closer view and I scoped it from the east bank past the boat yard. The bird had now woken up and was in the waters edge preening before eventually flying across to the east bank where it seemed content feeding among the Canadas.
At one point I had my scope on it when 6 Dunlin flew passed low over the water but following them in the scope they ignored the south shore and ponds by gaining height and continuing >S.
I half expected re locating the Greenshank during the late afternoon watch but things were much quieter with just a few gulls present.
BS