Very distant and mobile in the rain
Another day of easterlies meaning another day of fog on the tops. The fog this morning was swirling around giving brief windows of visibility with heavy drizzle throughout on a ENE>3. By late afternoon the watch started off clear with some heavy rain showers until the mist and drizzle crept back in on a E>3.
The water level is rising at a worrying rate with large areas of shoreline now underwater as well as both islands gone. The east and west shore are non existent leaving the south and north shore for waders to use but these areas are rapidly being eaten up. The level should slow down now with the basin being much wider at the top so more water is needed to raise the level. Hopefully some shore or the ponds will remain until the end of September.
A very poor day in the conditions with a low cloud base limiting any sky movement whilst a clear out of waders left just the usual Common Sandpiper plus 2 Oystercatchers which stayed briefly on the shore before heading off >NE along with another 3 fly overs.
The highlight of the day was as I drove through the top gate a single Wheatear flew from the fence into the sheep field and lost from view. After parking up I walked back up the track and relocated it on a distant wall in heavy rain. The bird just gave me time for 1 shot before it dropped into a sheltered gully not to be seen again. This juv is 18 days earlier than the first returning juv last year.
Visible Migration
1 Curlew >W
2 Swifts >S
5 Oystercatchers >NE
1 Juv Wheatear.........blogging
Present
2 Common Sandpipers
+ usual sp.
BS