Good reservoir conditions again today for mid summers day with a cold NE>4 and full cloud throughout and temperatures down to single figures in the morning at 8 degrees rising to 10 degrees pm with some drizzle. No sun to worship today though the Druids were heading for the Sacrifice Stones on the summit of the Nab as I left Fly Flatts late afternoon.
Gulls were the bird of the day with a constant flow of big gulls over >NE, 90% being LBBs with just a few Herring along with 2 Black Headed.
Waders were very active in the cold wind, flying low over the water from one bank to another making it feel like being on an estuary. I relocated the pair of Ringed Plovers and scoped them for a while giving them a good distance while they sort themselves out. No sighting again of the chick which I now have to presume gone, and the 2 adults were just spending their time foot banging on the mud for insects.
A female Merlin did a quick fly past upsetting the Lapwings and Curlews whilst 3 Kestrel were in the air together over the eastern bumps.
A bit of light at the end of the tunnel waiting for June to pass with a report from Oxfordshire , MC country, with the first returning Green Sandpipers showing up. Something to look out for amongst the Common Sands.
Fly Flatts
3 Redshank
5 Common Sandpiper
2 Ringed Plover
1 Oyk
c 30 Linnet
1 pr Tufted
2 BH gull
c 200 LBB with a few Herring..........>NE
1 F Merlin
Several Swallows and Swifts
+ usual sp.
BS