Yesterdays forecast thunderstorms finally appeared late evening with heavy overnight rain, both of which continued from late afternoon today with some of the heaviest rain I,ve seen in a long time.
A dry misty morning at Fly Flatts but very muggy with a light S>2 at 15 degrees.
Torrential showers and claps of thunder late afternoon meant the reservoir would be worth a look at with the extreme conditions.
The morning watch was lifeless with nothing of note but the afternoon visit found everything brought to life, even in the heaviest of the rain and thunder. Common Sandpipers and Ringed Plovers were zipping about over the water making the best of the wet, soft mud whilst a Curlew was calling in the top fields and a Snipe was by the lagoon.
Two Common Sandpipers looked suspicious standing guard on the shore and as the rain eased, first 1 then another 2 chicks appeared probing around on the shore. When the next shower came along all 3 darted for cover under the banking, hopefully they,ll be luckier than the Ringed Plover chick.
The worst of the rain brought all the full compliment of Canada geese off the banking and onto the water with a count of 378 inc young , which are all well grown now.
A steady flow of LBB gulls were passing throughout the afternoon watch in the worst of the weather, all >NE and completely unconcerned of the downpours.
The drive home was like shooting the rapids with parts of the Mixenden road under water.
With Oxon getting more Green Sandpipers and Blackwits through we must be getting close now.
Fly Flatts
116 LBB gull.................>NE
2 BH gull.......................>NE
2 Ringed Plover
3 Common Sandpiper + 3 chicks
1 f Merlin
1 Oyk
1 Snipe
1 Curlew
378 Canadas, inc well grown young
2 Greylag + 4 near fledged young
+ usual sp.
BS