A reasonable morning until the sun appeared just before I left. A cool NNE>3 with the temp up to 12 degrees and full cloud which slowly started breaking up allowing the sun to come through.
By late afternoon I took a check on the weather which was hot and sunny with a very light NW>2 at 19 degrees where Fly Flatts is no place to be in those conditions so afternoon watch abandoned.
Once again this morning it was pleasant to watch the waders flying around the water and busy feeding even though they are the same species I see every day but I,ll miss them when they,re gone. A group of 5 Oystercatchers came over the water with 2 dropping down onto the peninsular whilst the other 3 carried on high and >W.
No continuation of yesterdays big gull move this morning with just 3 LBBs and 1 Herring gull. Plenty Swifts >N over the water whilst a male Merlin flew across the Fill Belly Flat area getting the Curlews up to escort it over the moor.
Much more shore showing now with mud at the North end and even a small island appearing near the peninsular. The valve is open on the reservoir as YW are obliged to keep the stream running so the water gets a steady drain although it is fast filling when the rains come.
Its a matter now of sticking it out, waiting and watching for some rare appearance or an early returning bird as MC found out today at his Oxan patch , which has been quiet there for a while, when a male Garganey in eclipse turned up to brighten his day. If you use a local patch, keep hammering away at it and you will finally be rewarded.
Fly Flatts
1 m Merlin
2 Ringed Plovers
4 Common Sandpiper
5 Oyks
3 Redshank
1 Dunlin
3 LBB gull
1 Herring gull
sev Swifts .....>N
+ usual sp.
BS