I arrived at Fly Flatts on a bright morning but before I had got tackled up dense fog rolled in. Luckily this cleared after about 15 minutes to leave a damp but clear morning on a light SW>2 at 15 degrees.
The mid afternoon watch at Doe Park was warm, calm and sunny.
Fly Flatts was amazingly quiet with all yesterdays passerines and most of the Mipits moved on including all the Wheatears.
By 0930 hrs, after a walk the full length of the west bank, I had 3 Kestrel plus the usual geese etc but a second check of the compound found 6 Stonechat around the fencing and the first sighting of the year of a Whinchat. Whilst this was going on Swallows were moving overhead as well as a single Curlew,high and >W plus a Raven over the moor. So 2 hours wasted and a busy last half hour.
With the longer journey now to Fly Flatts for the next 3 weeks I intend to stick closer to home for the afternoon session as I already clock up 200 miles a week doing a double visit daily, even though it is only a 7 mile journey one way.
The walk from the car at Foster Park down to the reservoir at Doe Park was very productive with the hedges and trees alive with passerines. Several Coal,Blue and Great Tits along with Long Tailed Tits and Willow Warblers.
Nothing special on or around the reservoir with Heron and Cormorant as well as several female Mallard but, as also with Fly Flatts, no drakes about which is possibly something to do with eclipse. A good count of Canadas on the water whilst the 2 ad and 2 juv Grey Wagtails were still present.
Herring, LBB and Black Headed gulls flew overhead towards TMR and a very noisy Mistle Thrush was nearby.
A check on the Thornton gull fields failed to find any gulls but a call from MC saying I had missed a Hobby with prey over by about 15 minutes.
Fly Flatts
6 Stonechat
1 Raven
3 Kestrel
+ usual sp.
Vis Mig
1 Whinchat
1 Curlew................>W
57 Swallow...........>S
Doe Park
c 30 Lt tits
10 Willow Warbler
1 Heron
1 Cormorant
2 ad 2 juv Grey Wagtails
12 f Mallard
93 Canada geese
1 Mistle Thrush
+ usual sp.
BS