Atrocious weather at Fly Flatts early morn with gale force SW>7 gusting 8 with rain showers throughout at 6 degrees. Odd breaks of sunshine between the showers.
A strong sou'westerly at Fly Flatts always seems to bring the best out in the birds so this morning I was hoping for something a bit maritime coming through.
As I drove down the entrance track an early Sand Martin flew across the front of the car at windscreen height nearly stopping in the wind, giving the best views I have ever had of this species. I only usually get my first Sand Martin at this site in the autumn during visible migration.
Despite the wind the sky was alive with Curlew and Lapwing along with a flock of around 150 Starling which flushed with the Golden Plover flock a couple of times, though I never got to see what put them up.
The only maritime bird was a GBB gull over on the bank at the far end of the NW corner but disappeared without me seeing it fly. A very rare gull in these parts this, and last, winter.
The 2 pair of Ringed Plover were sheltering on the east bank along with 2 Oystercatchers whilst a single Redshank flew through the wind turbines.
Just Canadas and Mallard on the water whilst Meadow Pipits were everywhere along with a couple of Skylark.
After such a good morning I had an hour at Ogden mid afternoon which rapidly brought me back down to earth with nothing other than Mallard on the water and not a gull in sight. The west bank had a few Great and Blue Tits whilst 3 singing Song Thrush were in the area.
BS