and heat shimmer off the warm rooftop.
The morning started off poor with low cloud, drizzle and a W>4 at 12 degrees but the cloud soon broke up to 6/8 cloud cover with periods of sunshine. The late afternoon watch was horrendous with near gale force W>6 gusting 7 at 32 m.p.h. with torrential rain showers moving through from the SW with only 10 minutes dry interval between them. The horizontal rain came down in white sheets cutting visibility down to a few yards. After struggling for 1 hour the place was unworkable so yet another early finish.
The morning started with Mipits moving through in good numbers until 0915 hrs when they dried up and Swallows took over. These were the only 2 species moving during the morning watch with just gulls in the afternoon whilst a Sparrowhawk was harassing Mipits in the rain.
One the way home this morning I stopped off at Withins Head farm to try relocate DJSs Black Redstart and after about 10 minutes scanning I found it on the farm roof enjoying the suns warmth off the slates. Unfortunately, the suns warmth brings with it heat distortion so with that and the mega distance all I could achieve was a few record shots.
I tried again for the bird on the way home at tea time between showers but nothing showing in the strong winds.
Vis Mig
Mipit..............................172 >S
Swallow.........................28 >S
LBB gull.......................17 >SW
Herring gull..................10 >S
Bloggers
6 Tufted duck
sev Mipits
4 Wheatear
1 ad m Black Redstart ....................Withins Head farm.
PS..... Several reports on Trektellen of Pink Footed Geese on the move.
My earliest were 18th Sept so any time now.
BS