This is my Ring Ouzel story for Fly Flatts, March 2020.
It all started when I kept having quick sightings of a male Blackbird from 11th March which I half suspected possible Ring Ouzel as Fly Flatts is an unusual site for Blackbird.
The bird was very flighty and only showed briefly over the next few days as it darted for cover under the containers in the boat yard.
On the 16th I was tackling up at the back of the car and answering a call on my phone when a male Ring Ouzel suddenly appeared between the boats and not very far from me.
Being convinced that the Blackbird sightings had actually been a Ring Ouzel I went up next morning to find 2 male Blackbird, 1 female Blackbird and the male Ring Ouzel still in the boat yard area along with a single male Wheatear which was also in the group.
By the 19th I had 4 Male Ring Ouzel with one at nearby Slade, 1 by the top gate and 2 in the boatyard. The Slade bird had also been seen earlier by DJS, HC and DP.
On arrival at Fly Flatts on the 23rd there were 3 male Ring Ouzel down the entrance track and 2 in the boatyard with a record of 5 birds all together.
By the next day I was back to 2 birds in the boatyard whilst the pair of Blackbirds were now breeding, with the male being very aggressive towards the Ouzels seeing off the other male Blackbird and eventually one of the 2 Ouzels.
The last remaining Ring Ouzel, which I believe to be the first to arrive as it was much more confining whereas all the others did the usual luck duck and vanish act, stayed on until at least the 26th , after which I was grounded by the Corona virus lock down laws stopping me from visiting Fly Flatts. I reckoned that I had 8 different Ring Ouzels moving through and this was without checking the hot spot below the west bank where there was no access due to groundwork in progress.
This was by far the best experience I have ever had with Ring Ouzels and I,m sure several more birds will have been missed in my absence. It was pleasing that so many local birders got to see them as they were often view able from the top road.
A cooler day ,still with full sun but a cold E>4.
Same walks as usual with same birds as usual, Willow Warblers, Skylarks, Mipits, Buzzards and Sparrowhawks. Hence the above report.
With another 3 weeks lock down at the very least I,d better be sorting out some new walks.
BS