A real horror of a morning weather-wise with clear sky and hot sunshine at 14 degrees with a very light E>1 turning SE>2. Swarms of man eating flies along the banking. Clouded over by 0945 hrs.
A bonus for putting up with the heat when 2 male and 1 female Shelduck came in from the west landing in the far NW corner. I was,nt going to walk the west bank in the conditions but the Shelduck soon made me think otherwise. They stayed on the water around one hour before settling down on the muddy bank.
The usual Dunlin etc were present but very reluctant to move and mainly sleeping on the shore with just short periods of feeding. A single Stonechat and Reed Bunting were by the feeding area.
The amount of flies got the Swallows feeding with good numbers throughout the watch but not a Swift in sight.
Conditions looking the same for the morning as this morning.
BS