Maybe next time.
A deteriorating morning with a SW>3 with rain and drizzle throughout at 10 degrees. Mid watch the sky dropped to a very low cloud base cutting down visibility with heavier rain.
By late afternoon the sky was clear and dry but the wind got up to moderate SW>6 at 30 m.p.h.
Swallows were on the move all flying low in the lee of the Nab and all heading >SW whilst 3 Snipe went high and >W. Again no waders and just 2 juv Wheatear remaining in the pond area.
Late afternoon in a howling wind and another walk on the east bank, now getting desperate for a good bird. A scan with the bins found a bird that I thought to be a Tern way over in the NW corner at the side of a LBB gull. It was squat down facing the wind in the waters edge just as Terns do but the excitement came to a sudden halt as I peered through a wind blown scope to find a juv Black Headed gull. It took off and headed south and could still be mistaken for a Tern for the way it was zig zagging into the wind. Terns are very rare at Fly Flatts with just 1 Common Tern through last year in July and a Sandwich Tern in March 2018. I,ll have to make do with a Black Headed gull which is also a rare bird for this site.
More rain and strong SW winds for tomorrow but anything can happen at this time of year.
Visible Migration
c 80 Swallow..............>SW
3 Snipe.......................>W
2 juv Wheatear...........blogging
Present
12 LBB gull
1 BH gull
5 Kestrel
+ usual sp.
BS