The thick overnight fog had cleared by 0630 hrs leaving Fly Flatts slightly misty but adequate visibility over the water on a low cloud base. The temperature was reading 4 degrees but feeling more like minus 1 in the moderate SW>4. By 0815hrs the fog rolled in over the western ridge cutting visibility to half way across the water. From then on, its was one minute clear, the next, thick fog throughout the watch, until it finally cleared at 0945hrs, 15 minutes before tackling up time.
The 3 Ringed Plover were found on the east bank only just visible in the fog whilst at least 4 Oystercatchers were also present. Otherwise down to the usual Lapwings, Curlews, geese etc with very little chance of scoping around although a last minute scope round the banking and water, once the fog had cleared, failed to find anything new. MC in Oxford is now up to high double figures of Black Tailed Godwits but no reports locally as yet though all my Fly Flatts sightings in the past have been May, June and July.
As I was locking the final barrier on the way out a flock of 10 Golden Plovers were flying over
'Fill Belly Flat' dropping down on the 'Flat Moor' which was a pleasant surprise with what has been a very scarce species over the last couple of years with very few sightings. A few years ago I always had 250 + at this time of year. They have even gone from Upper Marsh above Leeshaw for the past 2 years where the field there held over 300 birds annually.
Tomorrows weather looks promising so far with a brighter day on a moderate westerly so hopefully no fog.
BS