A clear start to the morning at Fly Flatts giving me just time to walk the length of the east bank before dense fog rolled in for the 7th morning in a row. The fog swirled about but never really cleared all morning with a light SE>3. By late afternoon the wind had at last turned to a SW>4 which cleared the fog by bringing in the rain which isnt a problem for reservoir viewing. I find the worst the weather the more the waders enjoy it, all either feeding on the wet mud and shoreline or flying around the reservoir. The rain was constant throughout,ranging from torrential thunder rain , to light rain , to drizzle, but creating a hectic afternoon.
A check on the Ringed Plover chicks soon located them in good health at 20 days old. Hopefully they will be fledged within the next few days then I can stop scoping the area for them to see if they are ok.
The 4 female Ringed Plovers and 3 Dunlin had left the area whilst 9 Golden Plover were in the top field.
All the usual waders were out on the mud or shoreline whilst 3 Snipe were up in the air together.
A steady flow of Swifts was apparent with 43 >SW into the wind in heavy rain whilst 28 Herring gull moved over >W.
With the wind now away from the east we should get a fog less morning tomorrow.
Fly Flatts
2 Ringed Plover + 2 chicks now 20 days old.
9 Common Sandpiper
2 Oystercatcher
7 Redshank
6 Snipe
9 Golden Plover
1 pr Pied Wagtail
2 m Tufted duck
43 Swift..................>SW
28 Herring gull......>W
BS