Contrary to todays horrendous weather forecast Fly Flatts was quite pleasant even though it rained steady throughout the watch, which I am no no stranger to. Full cloud on a light ESE>2 at 10 degrees with the mist keeping over the moor to the west of me.
A real lively morning for small passerines with the place alive with Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings and a minimum of 20 Wheatear, one of which stood out as being a long legged, butch looking bird with much deeper breast colouring, as the Northerns, which went right down to the base of the tail. I could,nt manage a rear view to count the primary tips although this method of i.d. can be inconclusive, I,ve had Northerns with 6 or even 7 tips. The date is a little early as Greenlands are usually last through in mid September but I have had them at this location in the past in early August.
There is always chance of ' Intergrades' but I,m not going there.
Otherwise it was down to a few Swallows over the water plus a couple of LBB gulls >NE.
The good news is, with the overflow doing its job, I,ve some slight areas of shore starting to appear so hopefully the dry weather to come in the next few day, as well as the valve open, I should have enough shore to invite any passing waders down, especially as most reservoirs are still full so the waders are not spoilt for choice as they were last year.
BS