Its a start, First juv Wheatear back at Fly Flatts, (permit only)

 

juv Dunlin

                                    Feeding well and plumage smartening up.

                                             usual female Ringed Plover

                                               1st returning juv Wheatear

                           Arrived exact same date as last year.

                                             male Ringed Plover

                                                    juv Dunlin

                                            Common Sandpiper chick, 1 of 2

Once again a nice cloudy morning with a W>3 at 18 degrees but the breeze making it feel cooler.

Late afternoon brought blue sky and sunshine but at least its letting the water level drop slowly.

                                       A walk the length of the west bank produced a distant view of the first returning Wheatear on the end of the track before flitting across onto the moor. This mornings bird arrived 12 months to the day as last years first returning juv.

                                    The juv Dunlin continues to feed well along the shoreline alongside a pair of  Common Sandpiper with 2 small chicks which are very mobile and lively.

                                   Swifts were again moving >SE but a smaller number today. Otherwise none eventful with empty skies and no gulls today. I was going to visit the gulls at Redcar Tarn this afternoon until I thought of the Friday afternoon traffic to Keighley and back so ended up at Fly Flatts.

Fly Flatts

2 Ringed Plover

1 juv Dunlin

4 Common Sandpiper + 2 chicks

1 juv Wheatear

c 20 Swifts...>SE

30 + Linnet

+ usual sp.

BS