A day of good conditions today with light rain throughout on a light SW>2 turning SE>3 by late pm with full cloud cover at 10 degrees. The rain has given the mud a good soaking bringing it back to life and watering the vegetation that is growing nicely in certain areas which attracts the waders.
Hard to keep tracks on the chicks now with Lapwing, Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper darting around the mud whilst the Redshanks have herded their young up into the fields. The 2 Ringed Plover chicks are amazing to watch at the speed they run about. One minute you are watching them at the south end of the water until they disappear only to re appear way over at the north side a minute later.
Plenty Swifts passing over all >S along with a few Swallows whilst a family party of 5 Raven were over the Nab.
NOTE.. Whilst checking the breeding situation around the shoreline and in the reservoir basin before the water is allowed to rise no active nests are approached and all photography is taken at great distance using a 840 mm to 1344 mm lens creating no disturbance to chicks or adults, as can be seen by the photos.
Fly Flatts
2 Ringed Plover + 2 chicks
4 Common Sandpiper + 2 chicks each
4 Oystercatchers, possible the 4 I saw >W over Bradshaw early a.m.
7 Curlew
5 Raven
sev Swifts...>S
2 Barnacle geese
+ usual sp.
BS