Manchester, Saddleworth area.
A slightly more pleasant morning weatherwise with a decent WSW>3 blowing keeping the temperature down. Clear blue skies and full sun at 16 degrees.
A decent start to the month with a good selection of birds though nothing other than the expected.
A group of 4 Oystercatchers were new in as well as a long staying single with his mate off sitting. The new arrivals soon headed off >NE.
Up to 6 Dunlin are now present with possibly more on the north shore but impossible to scope the shoreline due to extensive heat shimmer. Just 2 Common Sandpipers found though I believe there are around 6 in the area at present. A single Snipe flew overhead, high and >NE.
Several Curlew and Lapwing chicks about as well as Greylag and Canada goslings whilst raptor wise, just a Kestrel and Buzzard.
A poor year for Meadow Pipits, reflected by the disasterous autumn vis mig counts which were a good 80% down on previous years. Otherwise, a pair of Pied Wagtails, which are nest feeding young, plus a single male Reed Bunting.
A few Swallow over but no House Martin or Swift as yet.
Sounding better for morning with a start temp of 8 degrees on a light NNE and some cloud which sounds a bit more reasonable.
BS