A better morning at Fly Flatts with full cloud developing into breaks of sun at 10 degrees on a moderate to strong W>5 gusting 6. Very little signs of the water dropping as yet even though it is below the overflow level and the valve is open.
Raptors enjoyed the strong wind with 2 Buzzard up over the moor as well as a Kestrel whilst a single Peregrine sped over, high and fast >NE.
Another good gull day with around 150 big gulls on the NW bank, 90% being LBB and 10% Herring but far too windy to attempt the west bank to get within reasonable viewing distance.
Plenty wader activity but nothing new in with 5 Ringed Plover, 6 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank and 1 Oystercatcher, plus the usual Curlews and Lapwings.
Very poor on the small passerines, other than Reed Bunting and Mipits, with no Whinchat or Stonechat this spring and a very low count of Wheatear. Plenty Swallows and Swifts about.
Its looking like it will be a wait now until July for any new wader activity, when birds start returning, though Fly Flatts is not the best of sites for autumnal birds. Hopefully the water level will have dropped a considerable amount by then.
Talking of water levels, a forecast of rain for tomorrow, heaviest in the afternoon, on a moderate
sou'westerly.
BS