An acceptable day at Fly Flatts today with full cloud cover on a cool NE>4 at 12 degrees. By late afternoon the wind had dropped to NE>3 with dark clouds and a few specs of rain.
More Greylags on the move today with 12 then 8 over >NW and another 5 dropping onto the water before heading off, also > NW towards Lancashire. Possibly all non breeders heading for the coastal estuaries.
Plenty wader action but only the usual summer residents, most of which are breeding or have young. At least one pair of Dunlin have bred, possibly two but are a very secretive bird breeding out of sight on the moor but are now showing signs of chick protecting.
Some of the Redshank are starting on their post breeding, late June moult, losing firstly their primaries, followed by secondaries and other feathers.
No sign of the Ringed Plovers this morning but the pair were on the shoreline together pm briefly before flying over the water. No sign of the chick but I remember last year not seeing the 2 chicks for days and thinking they were missing, only for them to re appear again. The adults seem to leave their young hidden but unattended for long periods of time.
LBB gulls were in attendance on the North bank and 3 Black Headed over the water was unusual for this time of year at this location. A flock of around 40 Linnets is now moving around near the top gate.
Fly Flatts
6 Common Sandpiper
4 Redshank
2 Snipe
3 Dunlin
1 pr Ringed Plover
1 m Tufted
c 40 Linnet
Greylag goose movers......>NW 12, 8, 5.
19 LBB gull
3 BH gull
+ usual sp.
BS