Common Sandpiper.
A reasonable start to the weather early morn with a light E>2 at 15 degrees with full cloud and some mist in the valley. Rain throughout but nice to be out walking in the refreshing rain rather that hot sunshine. With the light easterly, warm temperature and rain it was inevitable that the fog would appear but luckily it rolled in at knocking off time.
Wind from any easterly direction may be alright if you are on the east coast but it never does Fly Flatts any favours. This is believed to be that anything coming from the east has a wide variety of stopping off habitats before getting this far, such as all the Ings to the east of us.
Plenty to watch throughout this morning but much quieter than yesterday with very little wader-wise to be found, probably due to them being on the north shore mud and conditions not good enough for any serious scoping.
The highlight, and a first ever for me, was watching an Oystercatcher chick wade from the shore then swim to nearly half way across the water before returning to the 2 adult birds back on the shore. Had I not seen it enter the water I,d have been screaming Phalarope!
Apparently, most waders are good swimmers though this is something seldom seen as they prefer to probe along the shoreline.
No Dunlin today but probably still around somewhere on the shore whilst a single drake Tufted was on the water as well as a pair of Teal. No continuation of yesterdays gull move with just 3 LBB gulls present with several Swallows and Swifts over the water.
Wind back to the SW tomorrow on the summer solstice,( longest day).
BS