Conditions were perfect this morning for reservoir watching with a SE>4 and torrential rain and sleet but this was marred with a large fog bank along the western ridge which soon moved in cutting visibility. Late afternoon and the heavy rain turned to drizzle allowing the fog to thicken up and cutting visibility to a few yards though lower down the hill the skies were clear.
The big overnight wader move did nothing for Fly Flatts with the birds dropping down to the west of the ridge before hitting the wall of fog.
A full walk of the west bank plus scanning as much of the east bank as visibility would allow produced 2 Common Sandpipers and again no sign of the 2 Ringed Plover.
Gulls could be heard on the NE bank but the fog was too dense to see across the water.
On the way up there late afternoon a Cuckoo flew over the wall at Nolstar and quickly u turned back over the wall before hitting the side of the car. It disappeared into the fog in the direction of Slaughter Gap.
Driving back through Mixenden I came to a sudden stop to watch a feeding party of around 20 Swifts over the road and pine trees by the side of the reservoir, my first of the year,just 2 days later than last year whilst the Cuckoo was just 1 day later than last year.
BS