Fly Flatts hits an all time low and remembering the Soil Hill Snow Buntings.

 Another disappointing visit to Fly Flatts this morning producing 2 Canada geese, 2 Carrion Crow and a few Red Grouse after 2 hours of walking the west bank, scanning the water and sky watching , whatever has happened to this venue?

                                      On a brighter note, with Dan B reporting 2 brief sightings of Snow Bunting on Soil Hill in the last few days Ive put together a reminder of the Snow Bunts that used to be on the hill regular from November to March each winter. The photos are mostly from the winter of 2012/2013/2014.

                                                 4 of 9 together on one day

                                     digging in the snow

                 counts of 5, 6 and 7 were regular

                                           relaxing in the sun.

  A special bird.  A rarity of the Icelandic race 'insulae' 

   The nominate Snow Bunts being 'nivalis' breeding in Scandinavia and Greenland.

All photos taken with a Canon 7d Mk1 with a Canon 100-400 i.s. Mk1 in the days before Big Bertha.

BS