Decent conditions for most of the morning watch with full cloud on a NW>2 at 15 degrees but as the morning went on the cloud started to break up allowing the sun to appear and by late afternoon it was back to the clear skies and hot sunshine at 21 degrees.
Plenty to watch throughout the mornings session with LBB and BH gulls heading >SW whilst Swallows, Swifts and 4 House Martins headed >S. The House Martin breeding colony at Whitegate above Mixenden are still feeding young.
No surprise Terns today coming through with the Black Headeds though there are still plenty on the move plus another Osprey over Rutland yesterday.
The Ringed Plovers have moved their exposed position from the west bank and are now in a much better area away from the Crows, Kestrels and off lead dogs although they may have left it too late with only 1 chick showing today and that was out in the open on the shore with the adults some distance away.
The adult Common Sandpiper and juv appear to have left now with no sign for 2 days.
The afternoon watch was, as expected, very quiet in the hot and still conditions which just a slithering of Swallows and Swifts through. Even the boats had to pack up early through lack of wind in their sails and a similar day for tomorrow but with a very light westerly. Whats happened to the rain they keep promising us.
Fly Flatts
2 Ringed Plover + 1 chick
4 Kestrel along the west bank.
61 Swifts...........>S
75 Swallows......>S
4 House Martin..>S
17 BH gull.........>SW
42 LBB gull.......>SW
c 150 Meadow Pipit.. blogging
+ usual sp.
BS