A hectic morning and a surprise bird. Fly Flatts

 

                Surprise bird, juv Cuckoo.

        Too fast for the cameras auto focus.

                                Last bird I expected this morning.

                                Most Wheatear gone through.

                                    Kestrel on watch.

Ideal conditions this morning at Fly Flatts with a light SW>4 at 13 degrees with 80% cloud cover and odd pockets of sun.

         A real raptor morning with Buzzards, both movers and locals, along with Sparrowhawk and Kestrels. What I nearly dismissed as one of the Kestrels low over the water came as a shock when I got it in the bins to find juvenile Cuckoo. By the time I started knocking photos off it was past and just landed briefly on a distant fence before continuing >S. I had expected missing out on Cuckoo this year with the usual annual birds never appearing.

     Only 3 Wheatear left from yesterdays 15 whilst Swallows and Linnets were on the move. A single cronking Raven was over the quarry.

Present :-

Sparrowhawk

2 Kestrel

2 Buzzard

1 Raven

+ usual sp.

Vis Mig

3 Buzzard..............>S

1 juv Cuckoo.......,>S

9 Swallow............>SW

17 Linnet.............>W

3 Wheatear

2 Willow Warblers

BS