Another of those poor weather mornings at Fly Flatts with a moderate W>5 with full dark cloud and light rain and drizzle throughout at 7 degrees.
Another morning full of expectations for Terns but very quiet skies today apart from several Swallows and Swifts heading >SE.
Just the usual waders present but a higher count of Oystercatchers with 5 in the Nolstar field and 4 by the reservoir.
Another deep coloured, long legged female Wheatear was by the water which is typical for mid May, last through birds, which are usually Greenlands with their upright stance. This bird was slightly paler than yesterdays Greenland which had 7 primary tips whereas todays bird had 6, although this is not always a positive means of identification. I suspect this as possible Icelandic or intergrade though definite i.d. is not possible.
Another look for Terns at Ogden mid afternoon in a strong westerly after firstly checking for NKs Redstart in the edge of the plantation. Having not seen or heard a Redstart for 6 years I did,nt expect much and with the combination of the strong wind and my ears I soon gave up and headed for the water where I belong, although I did pick out 3 Siskin in the Redstart area. Searching through a mass of leaves for a bird is definitely not me.
Unfortunately it was national nugget day at Ogden with undesirables down at the waters edge lobbing stones into the water so no chance of waders around the ample shore.
The visit was saved by a good count of Herring and LBB gulls out on the water but again not a Tern in sight. Our local reservoirs used to be so good for Terns annually with several reports of Common, Arctic and Sandwich plus Little gull but over the last few years is has been a difficult task to get a single Tern sighting a year.
FLY FLATTS
5 Oyks...........Nolstar
4 Oyks..........Fly Flatts
6 Dunlin
4 Common Sandpiper
4 Redshank
1 Snipe
sev Swallows and Swifts
3 Reed Bunting
+ usual sp.
OGDEN
3 Siskin
31 LBB gull
16 Herring gull
BS