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Sunday, July 19, 2020

On a run, a prize every time, Fly Flatts, (no public access)

                           Adult male Ringed Plover still present

  New arrivals, 2 adult Dunlin in breeding plumage
                                          Showing signs of  starting to moult.
                                   Very distant in the SW corner.

Luckily the promised heatwave never happened and the morning sun was short lived with a cool NNW>5 at 12 degrees in the morning then clouded over late afternoon at 16 degrees though it was enough to create heat shimmer on the shore, as can be seen with the Dunlin pics.
                                                             Despite the clear bright morning, movement was active both on the ground and in the air. A walk the full length of the west bank produced a count of at least 11 juv Wheatear plus a good move of LBB gulls >NW, one of which was a very dark Intermedius.
                                                             Near the NW corner 3 Dunlin surprised me as they flew below me low over the water then skimmed over the banking gaining height and away >NW.
                                                            Late afternoon a scope around the shoreline found 2 more Dunlin in a small pool in the SW corner but were soon moved on by the long staying Ringed Plover which is now holding territory again, despite the females being long gone. The Dunlin left >NW on the same route as the morning birds.
                                                        A group of LBBs were on the shore along with 4 Herring gull but no return of the Yellow Legged as yet, but I,m sure more will be showing up.

Visible Migration
5 Dunlin....................>NW, 2 stayed briefly on the shore.
87 LBB gull.............>NW  (graellsii)
1  LBB gull.............>NW  ( intermedius)
1 Snipe....................>W
2 Lapwing...............>W
7 Swift....................>S
1 Ringed Plover.................blogging
11 juv Wheatear................blogging

Present
1 BH gull
14 LBB gull
4 Herring gull
+ usual sp.
BS