During May 2019 work was starting on Fly Flatts reservoir meaning the reservoir had to be drained leaving just a small amount of water at the western centre of the basin. The work was completed in June 2020 but the reservoir has no means of filling it other than natural rain water so it was late autumn before the water was back up to its normal level.
With acres of mud and sandy rocky shore ,over 2 spring and autumn periods, the waders piled in with successful breeding of Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Redshank, Snipe, Dunlin , Common Sandpiper and Curlew as well as Greylag and Canada goose. This in turn attracted Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Merlin and Kestrel along with several LBB and Herring gulls including Yellow Legged Herring all on constant egg and chick watch but luckily, with the amount of shore and plenty rocky hiding places the majority of chicks survived.
As well as the breeding waders present I got several visits from waders rarely seen at this sight including Little Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Sanderling, Turnstone and Ruff as well as a surprise visit from 2 Little Egret.
The spring of 2020 was also an outstanding year, at this site, for Ring Ouzel but watching was cut short due to Covid lock down being enforced.
Unfortunately this period of low water was a one off , probably never to be repeated, or not in my lifetime , but it just shows what can appear given the right conditions.
All photos BS.