A cloudy morning with some mist on a light E>2 at 13 degrees meant that Fly Flatts was worth a look at despite the longer drive round with Mill Lane, Mixenden, still closed for another 3 weeks.
Every now and then the birding God takes pity on the lost souls that trail around day after day looking for a decent bird. Well today it was my turn.
Conditions looked ideal but after a walk the full length of the west bank I got back to the boatyard with 1 Lapwing and a few Canada geese.
Moving on to passerine checking in the corners of the boatyard brightened thing up with several Willow Warblers and Stonechat as well as 1 Whitethroat and a single Wheatear. Next bird to appear was what I expected to be the bird of the morning with a Spotted Flycatcher on the fencing but very flighty. Some of the Willow Warbs were dropping down onto the east bank cobbles by the water so I walked down to see if anything else was down there, not expecting my next bird.
In the distance was a wader working its way along the waters edge towards me. With scope in the car,silly me, and not very clear conditions Ruff, Knot and Wood Sandpiper came to mind, the broad eye stripe which stood out pushed me towards the latter.
As it got closer and in photo range the pale orangy lower breast showed and a bit of tuition from MC put it as a juv Knot. No wonder I struggled, my last Knot, also at this site ,was
29/10/2006 and that was an adult.
A return mid afternoon found the wind strengthened slightly to NE>3 with DJS across on the west bank. Luckily the Knot was still present but further to the north of the east bank and well out of camera range but I was able to direct Dave onto it with his scope.
The Whinchat re appeared briefly on the fencing and a walk to the SW corner produced 5 Wheatear so all in all a satisfying day.
Well done to DJS for making the effort and reaping the reward. Dave also got 5 Curlew over >NW before I arrived and 2 Peregrine >E.
Fly Flatts
3 Stonechat
2 Kestrel
2 Peregrine
Vis Mig
1 juv Knot
5 Wheatear
1 Whitethroat
8 Willow Warblers
1 Spotted Flycatcher
1 Whinchat
5 Curlew..............>NW
BS, DJS.