A good guide to seeing birds at Fly Flatts is when you park up and think " Do I really want to get out of the car and walk the banking". Thats what I thought this morning with the rain lashing down on a W>5 and black skies at 10 degrees.
First job, as always ,is a scope around the shoreline from the shelter of the car tailgate and then its decide which way to walk. This morning a second scan found 2 little white jobs way over on the north shore working their way along the tide line. Guessing at Sanderling but could,nt be sure with the heavy rain cutting down visibility there was no choice but to walk the east banking to get a closer look.
Half way on the banking I set up the scope as the rain eased and confirmed 2 Sanderling but slowly moving further towards the NW corner. On at the end of the east bank I took a few record shots which were out of range but identifiable and then the heavens opened with rain like you,ve never seen before. With no shelter and the car 20 minutes away it was bite the bullet and stick it out.
Eventually it stopped for a short period but by now the birds were near the NW inlet so after wringing the dogs out I headed back to the car picking up the usual 2 Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper on the way.
Another scope from the back of the car found the Sanderlings back on the north shore near the centre.
Late afternoon and still showery but longer dry spells in between and a turn of luck finding the 2 Sanderling on the shore beyond the ponds in the SE area where I was able to get some shots from behind the floating jetty at 600mm in better light.
Dan B was on the top road and I was able to direct him onto the birds ,though proving you can,t beat young eyes ,he saw them on the waters edge before he,d even stopped the car from that distance away. Well done to DJS who scoped them midday from the top road in horrific conditions. Keep the bad weather coming !
All quiet otherwise although 10 Osprey could have flown over whilst I was busy with the Sanderling.
Visible Migration
2 ad Sanderling
1m 1 juv Ringed Plover
1 Common Sandpiper
6 juv Wheatear
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