A very wet and dark morning with heavy rain throughout on a NW>3 with very black clouds and low cloud base hiding the tops of the wind turbines. By late afternoon the wind had turned to NE>4 bringing with it the usual easterly mist which luckily kept just above the level of the Nab.
The usual waders present with a pair of Common Sandpipers bred in the boatyard and pleasingly the 2 tiny Ringed Plover chicks are still dashing around the area like mice.
The 2 Barnacle geese were back on the shoreline along with 9 Greylag which I spotted on the way home midday in the Nolstar field.
A low count of Common Sandpipers this year with my highest count of 16 but several have moved on leaving about 7 breeding pair whereas last year I had a count of 24 in May. Their south bank nesting area in the large stones has been covered with mud and the banking raised with the ongoing work so very few have stayed to breed.
As I got out of the car to unlock the top gate on my way home late afternoon a Buzzard flew low overhead being mobbed with Lapwings. Unfortunately I had broke rule number one, never bag your camera up until you get away from the area, so by the time I,d got the camera out and fitted the
lens the bird was some distance away.
How many time have I done this, even though I can get it back in action in a few seconds its enough to miss a shot. The problem is, if I just leave it ready on the seat I tend to forget and half way home,if I brake a bit sharp, it flies off the seat and into the footwell, which doesnt do it any good.
Fly Flatts
5 Redshank
1 pr Ringed Plover + 2 chicks
7 Common Sandpiper
3 Dunlin
3 Snipe
1 Oyk
9 Greylag
2 Barnacle
1 Buzzard
+ usual sp.
BS