The morning was reasonably quiet with blue skies and sunshine on a W>3 at 10 degrees.
By late afternoon conditions were perfect with an increased W>4 at 12 degrees and full dark cloud cover bringing light drizzle.
A steady morning but come the afternoon the place was buzzing with waders skimming over the water in all directions. At the end of this mornings watch I was scoping the NE bank where there is a good area of new exposed peat and I could just make out several small waders darting around on the shore line. On arrival late afternoon I was a man on a mission, to get to the NW corner of the west bank and scope across the water to see what I had in waders there.
The nearest I could get was still a good distance away, and heat haze off the shore giving scope vision the shudders but enough to make out the missing pair of Ringed Plovers and several Dunlin.
Apart from the Dunlin to the NE they were spread along the west and south banking, some very timid whilst others never flinched as I walked past. A small flock of 5 came in fast and low over the moor from the west, skimming the water and settling on the east bank.
Several Swift were over the water heading >S but a great shortage this year so far with the Fly Flatts feeding parties down by 50% on last years numbers.
An enjoyable day and showers on a westerly wind forecast for tomorrow.
Fly Flatts
9 Common Sandpiper
14 Dunlin
4 Redshank
2 Snipe
1 pr Tufted duck
2 LBB gulls
1 m Pied Wagtail
1 Skylark
+ usual sp.
BS