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An early afternoon visit to Fly Flatts in slightly better conditions , still in the sun but a stronger NW>3 at 13 degrees.
It just proves how this birding is all down to luck as when I was driving up to Fly Flatts I stopped near the Withins to check out 2 birds on a distant wall, which turned out to be Mistle Thrush, but as I got out of the car with the camera I immediately heard Pink Footed Geese high above me with a first skein of 75 heading >SE. If I had not stopped to check the Thrushes I would have completely missed the geese. This skein is the earliest by 3 weeks that I have recorded over several previous years.
Up at the reservoir things were buzzing with a single Curlew over high >SE as well as a continuous flow of Meadow Pipits making it look like there was a big move on this morning.
Several Pied Wagtails were ground hopping >S along the shore as well as a cracking White Wag found on the north shore as I was scoping the gulls.
A count of 41 LBB gulls plus at least 5 Herrings, one being a Yellow Legged on the waters edge of the north shore. The gulls did,nt seemed too bothered by the nearby Peregrine perched on the mud but again not a wader to be found. This is usual for waders at this site where I get inundated with waders in the spring and then very few in the autumn.
Otherwise, 2 Raven, 3 Stonechat, 2 Tufted and a Kestrel.
BS