A poor day condition weather wise and threatened to last until late next week which won,t help wader watching as the clear blue skies sends the majority of birds straight over.
The light wind started at NW>3 turning N>3 then NE>4 by midday. Very little cloud and the temperature rising from 13 degrees to 23 degrees by late afternoon. This morning was workable though not acceptable whilst this afternoon was a quick check round then an early finish and back to dog grooming with 1 now down and 2 to go. Scanning the shoreline p.m. was like looking at a mirage with everything shimmering and distorted with the heat from the mud and water.
A decent tot up of birds this morning with a good count of 18 Dunlin and 16 Common Sandpipers as well as Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and Redshank.
A female Merlin gave a quick fly past without doing any damage whilst a new arrived female Wheatear looked good for another Greenland, leucorhoa, with a full deep buff breast and very long looking legs.
Around 150 Herring/LBB gulls were out on the peninsular in the afternoon session which I scoped through the best I could in the conditions with nothing standing out as special although 7 Black Headeds on the water was unusual.
Fly Flatts
18 Dunlin
5 Redshank
6 Oystercatchers
1m 1f Ringed Plover
16 Common Sandpiper
5 Golden Plover.............Nolstar field
1 f Merlin
4 Raven
1 Kestrel
1 Reed Bunting
1pr Pied Wagtail
1 f Greenland Wheatear, leucorhoa.
c150 Herring/LBB gull
7 Black Headed gulls, unusual this time of year for this site.
+ usual sp.
Stay safe, B.S.